"It allows you to get more aero" - Johan Bruyneel on why Jonas Vingegaard's extremely small cranks may benefit time-trial performances

Cycling
Tuesday, 04 March 2025 at 09:10
jonasvingegaard
Cycling is a sport where in recent years there has been an enormous revolution when it comes to training performance, nutrition and aerodynamics. All this allows the riders to perform at an ever-increasing level, and this winter Team Visma | Lease a Bike extensively worked on a 'revolution' in the time-trial bikes for it's riders. Johan Bruyneel discusses his thoughts on the now famous 150mm cranks of Jonas Vingegaard.
This was spotted at the Volta ao Algarve time-trial, where the Danish rider's bike was completely different than what he had been on last year. Vingegaard was already a brilliant time-trialist, but against an unbeatable Tadej Pogacar, every detail matters and Visma not only began using a very different saddle on his and Wout van Aert's bike, but also severely shortened the length of the former Tour de France winner's cranks.
"Jonas Vingegaard's cranks... Tadej Pogacar comes into the 2024 season with radically shorter cranks, 165 milimeters. I think Vingegaard was on slightly longer ones, and instead of matching him, they jumped to 150 milimeter cranks," Spencer Martin said in 'The Move' podcast. "What were your thoughts when you heard this? I think they're too small in my opinion".
Johan Bruyneel commented, pointing out that obviously this wasn't first tested in Portugal, but was a project during the winter and the team already knew it could work well. "He did win the time-trial and won the overall, so they worked for him. The thing is... I heard in the off-season somebody who said Visma is working on very short cranks 150 with SRAM. 'I said wow 150 that's really short'. Back in the days it was 172.5, 175... Riders who were shorter were using 170 cranks... 165 Pogacar was kind of, I won't say a revolution but it was not usual. But man 150 is 2 centimeters shorter than the shortest cranks we were used to".
During the road stages it does not seem to be the case, but against the clock this detail seemed to have contributed towards a brilliant performance that earned the Dane the stage and GC win - whilst both João Almeida and Primoz Roglic struggled quite a lot.
On the why this change has been made, the Belgian pundit has one clear point in mind that may have been decisive: "...I think there's two things to consider: Time-trial bikes where it kind of makes sense because it allows you to get more aero, because obviously your knees and your upper leg don't come as high so you can bend over better. Do you lose power? I would say with my own way of thinking yes, but apparently it's not the case".
claps 8visitors 3
14 Comments
JoshuaCharter 26 June 2025 at 21:14+ 47

I'm exploring shorter cranks even in MTB because of limited hip mobility due to how my hips are. I haven't ridden them yet, but my experience with 170 over 175 is that 170 is a lot more comfortable in a low position. I bet that going even shorter is going to be really beneficial for me.

Mistermaumau 26 June 2025 at 22:48+ 4037

Please give feedback if you do,

Not sure what they’re officially called as I’ve never been to one but to anyone who’s been to any of these specialist bike posture outfits that claim to optimise your position and bike for you, did any of them do any testing with varying crank lengths? Never heard any such feedback from people I listened to.

FredMan 27 June 2025 at 18:08+ 175

They're often referred to as bike fitting specialists, Mau.. Just Google "bike fitting" and you'll find the basic things you need to consider. In general, shorter cranks allows you to spin the pedals better (higher cadence, ala Tadej), at the expense of torque (like when you stand on the pedals, ala Jonas). It allows the bike geometry to be altered such that the rider is closer to the ground (more aero) because the bike's bottom bracket can be set lower to the ground. Just my 2-cents worth.

Mistermaumau 27 June 2025 at 23:58+ 4037

Thanks for that, shorter cranks could also allow you to continue pedalling in sharper turns I guess. But, are you saying that commercial bike frames might now start being adapted with a lower option in vue of mounting shorter cranks?

Mistermaumau 27 June 2025 at 18:08+ 4037

TT is a highly uncomfortable natural position, you have to practice it a lot, anything that makes it more comfortable will make it easier to keep up high power.

awp 04 March 2025 at 18:23+ 1452

I'm 5'11" and use 160mm cranks, this was a game changer for me. You can get more aero because the hip angle is more open. Make a BIG difference on the TT bike and if you stay pretty aero on the road bike it helps there as well.

Cyclingsbestfan 04 March 2025 at 11:44+ 169

Good post AWP. There is more to this than you would initialy think.

Mistermaumau 04 March 2025 at 17:57+ 4037

As I posted elsewhere, it would be ludicrous to expect a one or two or 3 size(s) fits all optimally for maximum efficiency. It’s like saying all runners should run with the same shoes in their size.

awp 04 March 2025 at 18:06+ 1452

Yes, I've test 152mm up to 172.5.

Mistermaumau 04 March 2025 at 18:27+ 4037

How do you consider your lower/upper body ratio, standard or do you have overlong legs or torso, arms? Also how about upper/lower leg proportion?

Anyone who’s gone through bike fitting, did they advise on crank length?

awp 04 March 2025 at 18:28+ 1452

I've never been advised about cranks and I've ridden a 54cm or medium my whole adult life. I'm a bit leggy, not too bad though.

Mistermaumau 04 March 2025 at 21:57+ 4037

Thanks, I’m a bit the opposite, not really useful in cycling ;-)

Mistermaumau 04 March 2025 at 22:35+ 4037

Actually, 54 seems rather small considering height, is that because of the legginess, does your saddle stick out quite a lot?

awp 04 March 2025 at 22:50+ 1452

Yes.

Just in

Popular news

Latest comments