What is the average and fastest downhill speed in the tour de france?

Question

I am curious how fast professional riders are going in the downhill portions of the tour de france. What is the fastest ever? What is the average?

Answer 1

Actually and unfortunately, that American ceded the yellow jersey in spectacular fashion today, losing about 10mins to the winner of the stage, Rassmussen.

Apparently the record speed for the TdF is 74.5mph.

Answer 2

it's really variable, you can see on tv that with turns and switchbacks, there are very few times when they are able to really get going.

I don't know about that 74mph, never have heard that. It's possible though.

I've gone down lots of big steep mtns in various places, and it's quite easy to get up to 45-50 mph, at which point pedaling does you no good anymore, the wind becomes a tangible force, your eyes water so you can barely see, the noise in your ears is so loud you can barely think, and the slightest undulation or bump or crack in the pavement can send you flying. To get above 55mph, you need a clean, open road that's pretty darn steep for at least a a quarter or half mile.

Sometimes they show the motorcycle speedometer on tv, remember they are in metric so 80kph = about 50mph. So I figure those guys are spending a lot of time in the 30-55mph range, and occasional (brief) sections of 55+.

Answer 3

I don't know but an american is ion the lead so he has the fastest over all speed so far. Go USA. This is why we don't need the world's gay sports like soccer. We dominate in everything else

Answer 4

Both Marco Pantani, and Richard Virenque have reached speeds of 127 km/h

Answer 5

Oscar Pereiro is the new leader of the tour, again, after Landis faded on the last climb.

Answer 6

i garuntee the 74 i have gotten up to 50 flat land buddy its not that bad