Sports
Ironman 70.3 São Paulo: André Lopes on Cycling Tactics
On Café com Tri, the pro triathlete breaks down the cost of chasing the pack and power dynamics on the bike.
On Café com Tri, André Lopes breaks down the tactical demands of the bike leg at Ironman 70.3 São Paulo. The pro triathlete details the physical cost of bridging the gap to the chase pack and highlights the stark contrast between pro tactical racing and steady amateur pacing.
Unlike amateur racing, where athletes aim to hold a pre-planned, steady power output, pro cycling demands continuous tactical awareness and reactive decision-making. On Stemma Sports' Café com Tri, professional triathlete André Lopes detailed how race dynamics and early setbacks completely reshape effort management over the 90-kilometer bike course at Ironman 70.3 São Paulo.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
The cost of bridging the gap on Marginal Pinheiros
Following a turbulent swim and a route error at the USP roundabout during transition, André started the bike leg roughly 30 seconds behind the front chase group. In a field of this caliber, that gap forced him to burn precious matches right from the start to avoid losing touch with the race.
To bridge the gap to the second group on Marginal Pinheiros—a chase that took around 30 minutes and was completed near kilometer 20—André had to sustain close to 300 watts. As a lighter athlete, that opening effort came at a steep cost. By the time he caught his rivals, the tactical picture was already complex: Reinaldo Colucci had broken away off the front, forcing André to take pulls at the front of the chase group to keep the deficit from ballooning to seven or eight minutes.
Saving watts and draft enforcement
Sitting inside the pack offers substantial energy savings: riding sheltered while respecting the draft zone, André's required power dropped to around 220 watts—an 80-watt reduction compared to his initial chase. However, without collaboration from other riders to neutralize the breakaway, André was forced back to the front to hold roughly 280 watts, pulling competitors who were saving their legs for the run.
The conversation also touched on enforcing the mandatory 20-meter draft zone in professional racing. André noted the absence of the Race Ranger system at domestic events—an electronic sensor fitted to the bike that uses lights to signal improper proximity. He also shared that he alerted race officials to drafting infractions during the race, leading to penalties for athletes failing to maintain the legal distance.
Pro versus amateur: reactive racing versus steady pacing
The discussion underscored the clear contrast between pro and age-group racing. While amateur athletes essentially race against the clock focusing on pre-set targets and steady power (as illustrated by host Beto Nitrini, who held a normalized power of around 235 watts without major spikes), professionals must actively respond to surges and breakaways.
According to André, a 30-second misstep in transition can decide victory or defeat in the elite field, forcing an athlete to exceed their threshold power to reconnect with the pack and turning pacing into a high-stakes, high-intensity chess match.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
