Aero everything, gorging on sugar and Tadej Pogačar: why Tour de France speeds have just gone up again - BikeRadar

What the report says

BikeRadar reports that the 2026 Tour de France produced another jump in race speeds, with Tissot’s official timing putting the overall average at 43.227km/h, the first time the Tour has exceeded 43km/h. The article says several records fell in what it describes as the fastest edition yet, including Stage 11, won by Norway’s Soren Waerenskjold at 50.91km/h over 161.3km, aided by a flat route and tailwind.

The report frames the surge as part of the “Tadej Pogačar era” since 2020, noting that Pogačar also lowered the Alpe d’Huez mark by riding the 13.8km climb in 35 minutes 27 seconds, nearly two minutes quicker than Marco Pantani’s 1997 benchmark. BikeRadar acknowledges fan scepticism because some old records came from cycling’s doping-scarred period, while arguing that current riders face stronger anti-doping systems, including testing, whereabouts rules and biological passport monitoring.

BikeRadar points to several performance factors rather than a single cause. Modern bikes are described as lighter, more aerodynamic and more reliable than 1990s machines, with wider tyres, wind-tunnel-developed components and rider clothing all contributing. The article contrasts Pantani’s heavier Wilier and bigger climbing gears with Pogačar-era equipment, and cites Australian pro Luke Durbridge saying cycling has become an equipment “arms race.”

Nutrition, tactics, routes and training are also highlighted. BikeRadar says riders have moved from roughly 60g of carbohydrate per hour to 120g or more, with some reports of even higher intake and customised feeding plans. The article links better-fuelled riders and faster equipment to more aggressive racing, fewer easy days for general classification contenders, shorter and more unpredictable stages, and greater use of strength and mobility work off the bike.