Stage 2, The Queen Stage - Gunnison to Aspen, August 24, 2011

Results

1 George Hincapie

2 TeJay Van Garderen

3 Tom Danielson

23 Rory Sutherland 0:00:45

Rory Sutherland's SRM Data

Total Time = 5:27

TSS = 266

KJ= 4515

Average Power = 231 watts

Normalized Power* = 280 watts

Avg HR = 137 bpm

Max HR = 180 bpm

Mean Maximal 1-minute power = 493 watts

Max Maximal 5-minute power = 407 watts

Mean Maximal 20-minute power = 371 watts

Avg Cadence = 85 rpm

Avg Speed = 23.8 mph

Elevation Gain= 8642 feet

 

Race Analysis

Rory rode to a stellar 23^rd place today in the Queen stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, finishing in the yellow jersey group only 23 seconds back on the winner George Hincapie. Today’s stage was absolutely epic with two MASSIVE climbs, Cottonwood and Independence Pass, and Cottonwood was all gravel for the 13 miles. Rory rode well on the Cottonwood pass and averaged 280 watts normalized (3.7 w/kg) for the 58 minute climb and saved his energy for the big final climb up Independence Pass. For the entire 49 minute climb, he averaged 345 watts normalized (4.5 w/kg), but when the attacks begin with 4.5 miles to go, Rory really shined!  He rode at 418 watts(5.5 w/kg) for nearly 4 minutes in order to make the select front group of climbers.  From there to the top of the climb he averaged 392 watts normalized (5.1w/kg) in order to make it right behind the very best climbers in the world.  Remember that this was done between 10,000 and 11,400’ of elevation! We normally see a 10-15% decrease in power from wattages at sea level and to see these incredible numbers only means that Rory rides extremely well at altitude and can also really crack out big numbers at sea level!

 

Be sure to view Sutherland's actual race file in the TrainingPeaks.com Interactive File Viewer. Or, download his original file to view in TrainingPeaks WKO+ for your own in-depth analysis.

---

File Analysis by Hunter Allen, Co-Author of "Training and Racing with a Power Meter" and Co-Developer of TrainingPeaks WKO+ analysis software. Browse Hunter Allen's training plans on TrainingPeaks.com.

Thank you to UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling  and Rory Sutherland for allowing us to share race data and provide analysis on today's stage.

Data captured by SRM

* Click here to learn what TSS (Training Stress Score), IF (Intensity Factor), NP (Normalized Power) and FTP (Functional Threshold Power) are, and how you can use these metrics along with a power meter to optimize your own training and racing just like pro's. Click here if you don't have a power meter but still want the benefits some of the same metrics in your training and rackng.

Click to View, Share or Download Today's File.

Download WKO File