Slovenia is a popular cycling destination. Our nature, location and terrain offer many cycling routes and opportunities for active vacation. The former is an especially hot topic in the last month when Slovenian athletes impressed with their excellent achievements at the 2020 Tour de France. Let’s remember that Tadej Pogačar achieved first place, becoming the first Slovenian in history to win this prestigious competition. And second place belongs to yet another Slovenian cyclist, Primož Rogljič.

At this point, you might ask yourself how cycling is connected with InnoRenew CoE. For Dr Nejc Šarabon, Human Health in the Built Environment research group leader, it is through a study conducted to measure power while cycling uphill.

A few years ago, the results from cyclist Chris Froome, who defeated other competitors in the Tour de France with a big advantage, resonated in the media. Because of suspicion that he was doping, Froome’s team publicly announced the results of measured power while cycling uphill. These differed from the calculations of other scientists who used theoretical models.

In his research, Dr Šarabon studied the accuracy of calculations based on theoretical models and other related issues. In this research, they compared the calculated power values and the measured power with a meter available on the market. They found that results were indeed different. The reasons for this might be that parameters such as road quality, wind and moisture should be precisely noted in the theoretical models, and when they are not, differences occur.

More details about Dr Šarabon’s research and results can be found in the article Izmera moči med kolesarjenjem v klanec published in the online version of the newspaper Delo.