Originally Posted by
ancker
Power =/= ability.
I think that's where we're differing. At the lower levels of the sport, simply adding power can drastically increase your success. At the upper levels, power is just part of the equation that adds up to ability.
To wildly make up numbers, if at say Cat 3, power is 60% of your success. At the WT Pro level, it's maybe 25%. Sure you have to have massive power to be a Pro. But every Pro has massive power. So it takes more than that to be successful.
Rider smarter?
I think somewhere I've seen stats of the actual power riding in the middle of the peloton, and it is lower than one might think, despite the speed. Of course, the riders have to get out front every once in a while and take the wind at 25 to 30 MPH.
And, if say they're hitting 200W, and occasionally 300 or 400W, they're doing that for hours.