Short cranks are no longer a trend in the peloton. TOUR already reported on this development last year. Among others, superstars Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) rode with shorter 165-millimetre cranks during the Tour of France, while Vingegaard was still using "classic" 172.5-millimetre cranks.
Jonas Vingegaard changes
But now the Visma pro is going all out with extremely short cranks of 160 millimetres. With the Algarve tour the two-time champion had even experimented with 150 millimetres.
Tadej Pogačar stays with 165 mm cranks
Meanwhile, Pogačar continues to rely on the 165 millimetre version. The 172.5 mm standard size, which many amateur riders rely on, is becoming increasingly rare on professional bikes. The majority of Tour de France stars tend to ride with shorter cranks. The reason: On the one hand, this would allow the riders to adopt a more aerodynamic position. In addition, pedalling efficiency should be improved by changing the position of the pelvis slightly, as a team mechanic from INEOS Grenadiers told us.
Crank lengths from the manufacturers
Shimano currently offers seven crank arm lengths from 160 to 177.5 millimetres for the Dura-Ace groupset, ridden by Pogačar and Evenepoel, among others. SRAM, which equips the Visma | Lease a Bike team around Vingegaard and many more with the Red AXS, has six options between 160 and 175 millimetres listed. The new Super Record 13 from Campagnolo is available in four crank lengths (165 to 175 millimetres).
We have everything you need to know about the right crank length summarised in the article "Shortening the crank".
The other extreme?
While Vingegaard pushes the minimum, there is (of course) the opposite example in the paddock: we discovered a crank length of 175 millimetres on Ben O'Connor's Giant Propel Advanced SL (Jayco-Alula).
Julian Schultz
Editor
