On Strava, when viewing the segment details inside your ride, you can click "compare" to match against your best efforts, or select the KOM, etc from the list underneath. The chart shows how far you are ahead or behind all through the segment--hit the play button or drag the position. (This might be a strava premium feature?)
There must be diminishing returns up near 40 mph. For example, using this
bike speed calculator:
I took the defaults, except for Position=drops, grade=-10%.
Rider A does
150 watts for
47.25 mph, Rider B does
600 watts for
52.24 mph.
4 times the power to go
+5 mph, 10% faster. (Or coasting at zero watts gets 45.20 mph.)
I would try full speed through the start, and spinning any flatter sections, then tucking.
Equipment
A while back, HED announced a
specialty set of downhill wheels. Woah!