No, they do not on average. Yes, the speedsters in the very top womens’ group have same issues as males, but on average, the women average speeds are lower than men.
While both men and women may need 2mph to pass, the power required will be far higher for a male going 25mph than a woman going 20mph.
Similarly, a 50 watt power differential between 2 male competitors going near 25mph will result in a very small speed difference compared the to speed difference for a 50 watt difference for 2 females going near 20mph.
As the power demands per mph added increase exponentially, the fastest riders (males) will get ‘compressed’ together, both on steady state riding and in passing.
This reminds me of those math questions about train A and train B. I was always terrible at those!
Are you suggesting that more drafting happens at the front of the race than at the back? I suspect that if it’s happening at the front it’s probably happening at the back.
The big thing that I find that makes the women’s race unfair is having the 30 something men start right after. The men get a bit clumped together and then invariably a couple women will jump in there too. If it’s a flat course they get a really nice ride!
And don’t forget, people are supposed to let you pass once you get your bike wheel is in front of their wheel, but they don’t. I have never been in a really big race with draft lines. However, I know the difference between passing someone way slower and going by people more or less in your own ballpark. Most people like to go by with as big an mph differential as possible.
Agree with most of the other… More men in most fields, and DEEPER mens age groups when compared to women. Therefore you get many men of similar ability who end up riding near/with each other. I saw lots of women drafting at IMC, it was just usually 2 or 3 together at a time.
I brought up this issue because I thought I was nuts thinking that men drafted more than women (proportionally more men in the race so it just seems that way). Then I started looking at different races and the % of drafting penalties. Yes women draft but not nearly at the % men do, I don’t believe the theory that the refs aren’t paying as much attention to the women. I DO think that cycling is a male dominated sport, men are more aggressive and have a bit more testosterone to deal with. Most women are kinder and gentler, actually apologizing to each other if they run into you during the swim.
personally, I don’t think ethics have anything to do with it…carry on
7m in 15 seconds is 0.466m/s or 1.04mph (now we need a 3rd person to check my math just in case I screwed it up and you are right. )
Or in numbers all ST’ers understand about 18 watts at 20mph or 30watts at the standard slowtwitch speed of 26mph
But lets not cut it close and have a few seconds to spare. So 7m in 12 seconds is 0.583m/s or 1.3mph faster, which takes 38w more than somebody doing 26mph (or 24W to pass somebody doing 20mph)