Simon van Velthooven has spent countless kilometers and hours on a bike throughout his cycling career, achieving Olympic, World, and Commonwealth medals on the track. Now, however, his cycling pursuits have taken a different course.
Van Velthooven’s experiences markedly America’s in his new role as a ‘cVelthooven’ sd an America’s Cup sailing yacht.
“You’re constantly being tossed around, trying to hold on while turning cranks that are moving erratically,” Van Velthooven explains to BBC Sport.
“It’s all about RPM, power, watts, cadence amidst shaking, high turbulence, and bumping your head on the walls. You monitor numbers on your screen, listen to sailor communications, and manage your energy for upcoming maneuvers.”
Van Velthooven is part of a growing trend of cycling experts transitioning into sailing as the 37th America’s Cup the oldest international sailing competition approaches this autumn in Barcelona.
Traditionally, 75-foot yachts relied on grinders, sailors who used their arms to power the sails, mast, and winches. However, this year’s rule changes have reduced crew sizes from 11 to 8, allowing any body part to be used for generating power.
Cyclors, who use their legs to produce power, have been introduced, with static pedaling systems now installed on the boats.
This innovative use of technology has led to a 25-30% increase in power output per athlete compared to traditional arm-powered grinders, adding an exciting element of innovation to the sport.
Cyclors were first introduced during the 2017 AAmerica’sCup in Bermuda by Emirates Team New Zealand, which is how Van Velthooven transitioned from cycling to sailing.
The technology proved successful, contributing to their Cup victory. Although the 2021 edition required a return to grinders, all six teams now employ cycler technology in this competition.
This year’s America’s Cup boats, the AC75s, are engineered to ‘fly’ over the water on foiling monohulls, reaching up to 50 knots (58 mph).
This unique design presents a thrilling challenge for the athletes, adding an element of intrigue to the competition.
For athletes new to sailing, overcoming seasickness is a crucial initial challenge before becoming effective cyclors.
During trials with the New York Yacht Club American Magic, two athletes experienced seasickness and were ultimately dismissed.
“They need to perform under high-G forces when the boat is spinning around,” explains Terry Hutchinson, president of sailing operations at American Magic.
“They must also handle the sun and heat of Barcelona consistently. It requires a very unique athlete.””
Cyclists differ from professional cyclists seen in the Tour de France or Olympics, where body weight and watts per kilogram are critical.
Cyclists, however, don’t need to climb mountains or race on tracks; their goal is to deliver maximum wattage when needed on the boat.
“We’re looking for specific attributes in this sport,” says Ben Day, head performance coach of the American Magic team. “Our de France cyclists might weigh between 60kg and 75-80kg, but our cyclers are generally 90kg or more. It’s about raw power rather than climbing ability.”
Former cyclist Ashton Lambie, who has transitioned to sailing, exemplifies this unique skill set. A retired individual pursuit world champion and the first rider to break the four-minute barrier for a 4km track, Lambie joined the American Magic team based on his cycling credentials.
“even among cyclists, I was considered fairly large due to my big legs, which have only grown since joining the team,” Lambie says. “I was around 70-74kg during my racing career, and now I’ve gained over 10kg, mostly muscle. This change has significantly increased my power output.”
Lambie, 33, notes that while the pedaling motion is similar to that on a regular bike, the experience is vastly different.
“pedaling itself feels quite different, and the sensations of moving on water, whether laterally or vertically, are unlike anything in cycling,” Lambie explains.
“n a track, the banking and G-force naturally pull you into the corner, which feels familiar.
“ut on a boat, you’re upright and suddenly whipped around, experiencing a purely lateral force. It may look stable on TV, but the boat moves a lot.
“We do a lot of stability and mobility training in the gym, which helps when you’re being jostled on the boat while still needing to pedal.
“When the boat is unstable, and you are getting thrown around, it is crucial to pedal effectively. Being able to produce power even when not in an ideal pedaling position is essential
The American races consist of head-to-head events divided into two stages.
The first stage, the Louis Vuitton Cup, determines which of the five challengers will compete against the defending champion, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the second stage, the America’s Cup.
Each race lasts about 25 minutes and runs from August to October.
Endurance is crucial for cyclers, who must consistently generate high wattage throughout the races and maintain their performance over the 10-week period.
“We need a powerful and reliable engine for the entire three months of racing,” says Van Velthooven. “ig days are demanding, and even the easier days still require substantial power. IIt’srelentless.””
Although the UUK’s Ineos Britannia team, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, has not recruited professional cyclists like some rivals, it benefits from its connection with the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, formerly Team Sky, winners of seven Tour de France titles.
Matt Gotrel, part of Ineos BBritannia’screw, is entering his second America as a cyclor rather than a grinder.
A former Olympic gold medalist rower with Great Britain at Rio 2016, Gotrel has found training for a different muscle group to be a significant challenge despite considering himself a cyclist recreationally.
“As rowers, we had an upside-down pyramid body shape, but now it’s flipped, “Gotrel explains.
His crew aimed to produce 400 watts over 20 minutes as grinders, but they now exceed that figure significantly as cycles.
Training has mainly been on the road or in the gym rather than on the water. It includes long rides of four to six hours, three times a week, along with high-intensity intervals on a stationary bike and weight trainer.
Hutchinson describes the America’s Cup as a “design competition as a sailing competition,” with boat development spanning over two and a half years.
Integrating a bicycle concept into the boat’s design is a significant challenge. Most teams have opted to position the cyclers upright, similar to a traditional bike, even though the “like” setup consists only of a seat, seatpost, and crank.
“We began by scanning a standard bike and experimenting with its placement on the boat to determine the optimal position for the cyclists,” explains David Adcock, Ineos BBritannia’s lead mechanic.
Early designs looked unusual from a cycling perspective, like having the rider’s head almost touching their feet. We eventually returned to a more conventional bike position that proved most effective for power output.”
Cyclors are positioned below the deck to enhance aerodynamics with only a data screen in view. “Getting someone 6 ft 3in has been quite challenging,” Adcock adds. “They have adjustable handlebars to accommodate their size.”
In contrast, the American Magic team has opted for a recumbent position, in which cyclers lie nearly flat on their backs.
“It is America, so innovative thinking is essential for success,” Hutchinson notes. “Ook at Team New ZZealand’s victory in 2017 they were the unconventional choice and won the regatta.”
“We’re afraid to be different and fully understand the power requirements,” he adds.
Adcock likens the AC75 to “1 car on water,” and the connections between the America’s Cup and Formula 1 are evident.
Ineos Britannia shares its UK base with the Mercedes team and is also a sponsor. Adcock, who previously spent 22 years with Mercedes, joined Ineos Britannia in 2022.
American Magic has also collaborated with the Williams team to gain insights into their operations.
Each AC75 generates over 3,000 data points every half second, which are transmitted to onshore engineers for real-time analysis.
“The steering wheels on the boats resemble F1 wheels, with similar functions and automatic mode shifts,” Hutchinson explains. If you are skilled at Call of Duty, you might excel at sailing an AC75 because the controls are pretty comparable.
The AAmerica’sCup’s technological innovations have significantly distanced it from traditional sailing experiences, and this year’s introduction of cyclers has pushed the sport even further from its conventional roots.
“Challenging for the average sailor to relate to what we are doing,” admits Hutchinson, who has competed in five America. “Here are many traditionalists who look at the boat and say, ”he isn’t really racing.
”But, just like you and I might struggle to operate an F1 car, we understand the concept but couldn’t drive one. I compare it to that.””
“The AAmerica’sCup has always been at the cutting edge of the sport,” Hutchinson adds.
While the blend of cycling and sailing might seem unusual, Day sees a strong connection between the two sports.
“There’sa shared passion for high-performance ”oys”between sailors and cyclists,”
Day observes. “We both enjoy the freedom of engaging with nature, whether with the wind in our hair on a bike or a boat. This common ground has integrated cycling into sailing.
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