It just can’t be. I think most of the “tests” were done on s3 lites were they not?
I had Elite Road tires. They were more sluggish than the Conti GP3K’s or the Vredestein Tricomps.
These were tubular clinchers mounted to the same wheels. No “data” behind this test other than my own feel for it - and when you ride the same route enough times, you can feel it when things are a bit off.
On the plus side, they are really durable tires.