Cancellara will ride track also

thunder said:

Cancellara is eyeing off the track, in Beijing. Figure the pursuit.

I think, if he had the same skill set competency as Wiggins, he would beat him by about 3 seconds.

But never really riding the track (that I know) I think he will struggle to get in the medals in the pursuit.

Souped up Cancellara > Wiggins

Wiggins > bread and water Cancellara

That sounds interesting. But what is so difficult about adjusting to track pursuit? The start? The banks? Slightly faster cadence of a single-speed? Cause its not as if they have to rub shoulders or anything during the race.

Crankyfeet said:

That sounds interesting. But what is so difficult about adjusting to track pursuit? The start? The banks? Slightly faster cadence of a single-speed? Cause its not as if they have to rub shoulders or anything during the race.

I think a myriad of factors. Having loads of experience to know which gearing to select. Pacing. Single-speed. If you have only ever trained at 85-90 revs, and are going +110, then that being a roadie who has never trained at their aerobic threshold for a tt.

Much different, physiology all set to 90 revs. Add 25%, that is like Ullrich trying to do Armstrong's cadence, and supposedly he tried for a while.

I would not underestimate this. Physicists would say that it is the same power potential, just different equation. But try doing push ups for the rest off your life, then hop onn a bench press and stick it to 200 kgs. Wont be able to push the same amount in the same time will you.

Wiggins is a class trackie. A fluid pedaller producing close to Boardman's output and nearly as aero. Cancellara has got a lot of air to shift but as currently configured his power is gargantuan. I think it was 500+ watts plus for London prologue. Doubt if anyone else can match that and all things being equal he would open a significant gap on Wiggins-maybe up to 8 secs. Put them on the same gear, however, and the odds would start to favour the Wigster.
Not sure that Fab, or his employers, would sacrifice his whole year to getting him prepped for one pursuit. Gold medals cut little ice in the big bad World of pro cycling. It might bring him plenty of kudos in medal starved Switzerland, though. Marc Rosset has been dining out on it for long enough. And that other bloke who won the road race.