"It allows you to get more aero" - Johan Bruyneel on why Jonas Vingegaard's extremely small cranks may benefit time-trial performances
CyclingTuesday, 04 March 2025 at 09:10
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".
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- Very impressiveMistermaumau08-07-2025
- Maybe tomorrow Vingegaard in yellow.
maria2024202408-07-2025 - It says there was a crash just in front so then it’s unlikely due to lack of concentration, racing incident. At least he’s not blaming anyone ;-)Mistermaumau08-07-2025
- That is not good concentration for a GC rider in the last kms of a GT.abstractengineer08-07-2025
- I agree, the early big sprint stages in the Tour de France can be frustrating, especially when they’ve taken out GC contenders in the past. Starting with a mountain stage or a mountain time trial could tire out the sprinters early. That said, sprinters need competitive stages to justify their participation in the Tour.awp08-07-2025
- I doubt he would be at the level he is without training, perhaps some in the team were trying to pressure him into doing too much? If you consider it’s rare for a rider to do over 40k a year and that they average 35km/h (order of magnitude) that would be a little over 3 hours a day of cycling. Perhaps they expect him to do 6? But perhaps there’s a good reason nobody does more.Mistermaumau08-07-2025
- Jeez, even Roodthof said it was a racing incident, nothing more.Mistermaumau08-07-2025
- I totally agree with Adrie, it was an accident. Abbenhuijs and Roxene (who?) awful comments, really awful.maria2024202408-07-2025
- You can clearly tell by some of these arrogant and shameless comments who has class, and who does not.
santiagobenites08-07-2025 - I can recall a DS at Visma saying earlier in the year I think that Jonas V needs to get training or words to that effect, as Pog. is at a higher level... maybe she needs to be a wife, that guy's paid well! and you respect that...
leedorney08-07-2025
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.
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.
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.
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?