Racing cyclists get aero benefit from a motorcycle behind them, says scientific study

New research finds that a following motorcycle can benefit the rider in front by reducing air resistance by up to nine per cent

A motorcyclist following a racing cyclist can assist the rider in reducing their air resistance by up to nine per cent, a new scientific study has concluded.

Researchers at the University of Technology Eindhoven, University of Leuven and University of Liege have said that this can give a rider a significant advantage during an individual time trial. "Evidence suggests that the effect is much greater than previously thought," they report.

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Using scale models of a cyclist in a time trial position and a motorbike with two riders on board in a wind tunnel, the researchers measured the aerodynamics at various distances apart.

They also used computer modelling to determine the effect of a following motorbike on the air pressure around the cyclist in front.

Following motorcycle

Computer modelling showed that a following motorcycle can reduce the amount of low pressure behind a rider (blue areas), giving them an advantage. Image: University of Technology Eindhoven

Motorbikes with two riders on board are commonly used for TV cameras, in-race photographers and race support.

At a distance of 25 centimetres behind the cyclist, the motorbike could cut the rider's air resistance by nine per cent. If there were three following motorbikes, this was measured as 14 per cent.

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"Race pictures suggest that such short distances are certainly not uncommon in elite races," said the researchers.

Using this Friday's opening Giro d'Italia 9.8-kilometre time trial in Apeldoorn as an example, the study concluded that a rider with a following motorcycle could gain several seconds. Enough of a margin to have a significant effect on the rider's overall position.

Following motorcycle

The amount of time reduction experienced by a cyclist with a following motorbike at various gaps between the cyclist and motorbike (d), and at various race distances. Image: University of Technology Eindhoven

 

One area missing from the summary of the research published online is whether a cyclist, rather than motorbike, following a cyclist would have any effect on the speed of a rider in front.

Previously, research by University of Technology Eindhoven showed that a following car can also give a cyclist a significant advantage.

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The researchers have appealed to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to increase the minimum allowed distance between a rider and a following motorcycle to 30 metres.

The report also noted the recent incidents involving race motorbikes in causing injuries to riders, adding weight to an argument to increase the distance between cyclists and motorbikes.

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.