Have you ever wondered how many watts are needed to win a sprint in the Tour de France? If the answer is yes and you are curious, watch this episode of Cubetti di Sapere in which Matteo Azzolini, sports technician at the Mapei Sport Research Centre in Olgiate Olona, reveals this curiosity.

In fact, an interesting retrospective study on an athlete who won several stages at the Grande Boucle provided precise and impressive numbers for any amateur cyclist. An analysis of German Marcel Kittel’s performance at the Grande Boucle showed that around 1.750 watts were required at peak, which corresponds to 20-20.5 watts per kg.

«If we consider the entire duration of the sprint, the powers remain very high, around 1.500 watts – analyses Azzolini, who trains top category cyclists as well as advising riders and teams at all levels. – It must be added that professional athletes are able to express these values during high intensity competition, at the end of long and demanding stages, even in the third week of a grand tour. Last but not least, it must not be forgotten that power is nothing without control. The tactics chosen by the team and the position in which the teammates manage to lead out the captain are crucial to the success of the sprint».