Originally Posted by
terrymorse
Yes, the Texan pedaled at an unusually high cadence, and he practiced to be able to put out high power at that cadence.
But there's scant evidence that this high cadence was any better or more effective than lower cadences.
His coach, Chris Carmichael, noted that the Texan tended to bulk up his muscles, increasing his body weight, so Carmichael hoped that using a high cadence would keep the Texan from putting on weight.
In his case, it's actually a bit on the funny/not funny side. As you know, leg speed eats oxygen, leg force eats glycogen. So very fast pedaling like that spares glycogen for the power produced, making his legs less wasted for the next stage. BUT it was obvious evidence of his doping. No way to get that much EPO out of his kidneys to be able to move that much oxygen. His and Il Pirata's hematocrits were at the legal limit and I bet they drank a quart or so of water before being tested.