Taylor Phinney: limitless

Triathlon Forum
1

Taylor just qualified #1 in the 4km pursuit in Copenhagen, Denmark for the UCI Track World Cup

Not a huge shock i suppose, he’s won a world cup before. He’s not been doing much prep for the event, but the most suprising thing is the 4:15.2 time. That’s insane. I think it is a US Record (even w/ UCI illegal bikes & positions considered) and may be one of the top 3 people ever with current rules to hit that mark. He is #1 qualifier by almost 10 seconds in a 4 minute race.

He recorded negative splits all along the way, clocking the last 1km in 1:00. Try that sometime on your TT bike: see if you can hold 60kph for a minute under any conditions.

I know track is a fringe of a fringe sport, but he’s already something special. To think what he’ll be capable of in 2012, 2016…?

AC: Care to guess wattage output for him? He’s got to be 175# I reckon.

Anyhow, thought you closet track fans would like the update.

-SD

2

Here is his race report from his Twitter account, brief, but to the point.

4:15? How do you like that!?! Can you say SLAYED??

3

I know track is a fringe of a fringe sport, but he’s already something special. To think what he’ll be capable of in 2012, 2016…?

 You're kidding, right??  Look, I know you're a track guy and all, but there's no way the track will still have that guy in 2016.  By then his focus will be his 2nd or 3rd TDF win.

I’ll guess 580W for the event.

4

Thats huge news (and there was me thinking us Brits had monopolised the track for a while Dave !). 4:15 is decent whenever and i’ve been watching his progress for a while now.

I suspose the big question is how long will he be kept on a track program and can he handle the massive expectations already on his shoulders…

5

there’s no way the track will still have that guy in 2016. By then his focus will be his 2nd or 3rd TDF win.

I think he’s built more like a man for the Classics (remember, he’s only 18, and almost certainly hasn’t hit his last growth spurt). The only TdF winner close to Phinney’s (likely eventual) size was Indurain.

6

4:15.2 is huge.

From his Twitter posting, did’nt he say he was going to do the Kilo on Sat - for giggles? That should be interesting as well !

Thanks for the update, I looked this morning but too early !

DB

7

AC: Care to guess wattage output for him?

Tell me his CdA from the wind tunnel and I’d be happy to provide a very precise estimate. :wink:

Short of that, I’m going to be lazy and just say that I’ll stick with the figure shown in the 9th slide here:

www.fixedgearfever.com/downloads/PASO.ppt

8

Truly kick azz. I was always a Davis fan and as a result am rooting hard for a solid career from Taylor. I hope he continues to do well on the track, but I’m REALLY looking forward to when he hits the road and the classics and Pro Tour.

9

That’s freakin’ ridiculous…

Love that kid. er… man.

Fuck it - he’s still a kid to me!

10

When Boardman set the record (~4:11), were the rules regarding bikes and positioning the same, or could he use his superman position and the (now UCI illegal) bikes?

11

I know track is a fringe of a fringe sport, but he’s already something special. To think what he’ll be capable of in 2012, 2016…?

You’re kidding, right?? Look, I know you’re a track guy and all, but there’s no way the track will still have that guy in 2016. By then his focus will be his 2nd or 3rd TDF win.

I’ll guess 580W for the event.

I won’t go puting any limits on his ability, but TdF is daunting for someone 2M tall. The course will have to favor a TT guy. I think Taylor’s love of the track will keep him on the boards for a while, you’re right though, '16 maybe not unless they are on US soil.

UK: I don’t think he’s on a track “program”. Sure he trains, and puts in the correct rest, but he’s not been doing huge weeks, 10hrs or so, and no specific prep for this World Cup.

I was thinking he’d do the kilo to prepare for the Omnium at the World Championships, but with that 4km time, he’s a favorite for the IP and I don’t know how that would affect his goal.

AC: His 3km split vs. his final time are crazy. 1:00.X for the final km?

http://www.tissottiming.com/sports/cycling/track/classics2009_copenhagen/Mens_Individual_Pursuit_Qualifying_Results.pdf

He predicted this performance before he left, but the splits suggest a perfectly paced race would have him get the UCI-legal WR.

A 1:02 1km and <11s flying 200m also seem crazy numbers for someone as lean as he is. I agree though that the Classics are perfectly suited to his ability to sustain 500w for an incredible period of time. The new Livestrong/U23 team should give him his chance with all the U23 specific spring classics later this year.

-SD

12

When Boardman set the record (~4:11), were the rules regarding bikes and positioning the same, or could he use his superman position and the (now UCI illegal) bikes?
Boardman’s 4:11.1 was using a now illegal bike with now illegal position. Should/Could save 80w or so…

13

Interesting, what’s the record with “current specs”?

Is Taylor still riding a Felt on the track?

14

When Boardman set the record (~4:11), were the rules regarding bikes and positioning the same, or could he use his superman position and the (now UCI illegal) bikes?
Boardman’s 4:11.1 was using a now illegal bike with now illegal position. Should/Could save 80w or so…

But, it does still stand as the offical WR.

Based on my wind tunnel tests, I’d put the potential power savings with use of the Superman position as more on the order of 25-50 W or so (i.e., 5-10% of the quasi-steady-state power).

15

Interesting, what’s the record with “current specs”?

Is Taylor still riding a Felt on the track?
He just got a Trek TTX track bike a few weeks ago. I assume that is what he used.

16

Is it custom? I didn’t realize that they had a track bike (other than the T1).

17

Not really sure if it’s custom, but this is from his twitter: http://twitpic.com/18u0t http://twitpic.com/18u2c
.

18

It looks like it is aluminum with the joints the way they are. Maybe it is a full custom ride.

19

From the twitter pics, it appears to be an in-house aluminum custom. Given his power (and his likely growth) an aluminum bike where thy can continually change and amend the geometry is probably the best thing for him. Trek used to make aluminum customs for Tim de Boom, back when the TTT was the only TT bike they had, as that didn’t fit him (slack geometry and Tim rides steep). I wouldn’t be surprised if even with beefy aluminum tubes if that wasn’t lighter (or as light) as a carbon bike. The Felt had to be seriously reinforced to handle his power output. The Tk1 was quite a different bike than the DA (1 1/8 vs. 1 inch steerers, and a whole host of other differences).

If USA Cycling can get some money going into the sport, I see no reason why he wouldn’t stay on the track (a la Chris Hoy). Otherwise, I think he’ll be the next Fabian Cancellara. Probably never a GC contender (he’s already 6’4" and relatively heavy, i.e. massive track thighs), but similar to Fabian, Bradley Wiggins, and other TT specialists. Regardless, it’s amazing to see his growth on the track. As if there was ever any doubt that he did a good job picking his parents!

20

If USA Cycling can get some money going into the sport, I see no reason why he wouldn’t stay on the track (a la Chris Hoy).

man, you’re funny.

Otherwise, I think he’ll be the next Fabian Cancellara. Probably never a GC contender (he’s already 6’4" and relatively heavy, i.e. massive track thighs), but similar to Fabian, Bradley Wiggins, and other TT specialists. Regardless, it’s amazing to see his growth on the track. As if there was ever any doubt that he did a good job picking his parents!

Let’s face it–for good or bad, the TDF is the pinnacle of the sport of cycling, and if you’re that good, at some point you’re going to turn your attention to winning it. Sure there aren’t a lot of guys that big who’ve had success there, but if anyone defines ‘outlier’, it’s that kid!

When I lived back east and did silly things like ride the trainer, I remember watching a cycling video and listening to Phil Ligget mispronouncing some giant Spaniard’s name as he won San Sebastian “he’s a giant man, he’ll never win the grand tours, but he’ll be a man for the classics for years to come…”

It’s instructive to remember that he didn’t just win 5 tours, he completely dominated them. None of his victories were even that close.

http://i43.tinypic.com/1534nit.jpg