💡 Weight & performance in cycling: beyond the W/kg myth 🚴‍♀️🔬

At the last Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering was asked if she should lose weight to improve performance.

Her answer was clear:

“I will always prioritize my health.”

As a coach who works with science, I can tell you her stance isn’t just sensible — it’s backed by solid evidence.

📊 Weight matters — but it’s not everything. The power-to-weight ratio is famous in cycling, especially for climbs. Yes, in steep ascents gravity is your main enemy.

But in flats, descents, rolling terrain, and windy conditions, aerodynamic drag dominates.

Drag depends on absolute power and frontal area — not body weight.

That means a heavier rider with higher absolute power can still be faster (or save energy) in most of the race.