What Gear Ratios Do Pro Cyclists Use? Tour de France Gear Analysis
Analyze gear ratio selection in Tour de France and other professional races, showing how pro cyclists respond to different stage requirements.
Professional cyclists' gear ratio selection is a precise science, very different from amateur enthusiasts' choices, and optimized to the extreme based on stage type.
Busting Myths: Pros Don't Only Use "Impossible to Turn" Heavy Gears
A common misconception is that professional cyclists, because they're strong, only use very heavy gear ratios. In reality, modern professional cyclists' greatest advantage lies in having wider gear ratio ranges and more subdivided gear choices, thanks to the prevalence of 12-speed (even 13-speed) groupsets.
Their goal remains consistent: Regardless of terrain (flat sprints, high-speed descents, steep climbs), they can select appropriate gear ratios to keep their legs in the most efficient cadence range (usually 90-100 RPM).
Evolution of Modern Pro Cyclists' Mainstream Configurations
- Chainrings getting larger: The classic 53/39T "standard crankset" is being replaced by larger sizes. Today, 54/40T has become the new standard for many teams, and even on flat stages, 55T, 56T big rings are common. They almost never use the 50/34T compact cranksets popular among amateur enthusiasts.
- Cassette ranges getting wider: Thanks to 12-speed groupsets, professional cyclists can use wider-range cassettes without sacrificing gear density. 11-30T and 11-32T are the most common choices, and in the most difficult mountain stages, 11-34T is also mounted on race bikes without hesitation.
Complete Tour de France Stage Gear Ratio Analysis
Professional cyclists' gear ratio selection is "one per stage," precisely calculated based on stage profiles.
1. Flat Stages (Sprinter's Paradise)
- Stage Characteristics: Flat terrain, extremely high average speed (45-50km/h), ending with bunch sprint, instantaneous speeds reaching 70km/h.
- Typical Gear Ratios: Chainrings 54/40T or 55/41T, paired with cassettes 11-28T or 11-30T.
- Selection Reasons:
- Giant chainrings (54/55T): For high-speed sprints before the finish line, even at 120 RPM cadence won't "spin out," maintaining maximum power output continuously.
- Dense cassettes (11-28T): In high-speed cruising pelotons, tiny tooth differences between gears (like 15-16-17T) help riders precisely fine-tune cadence for the most energy-efficient drafting.
2. Mountain Stages (Climber's Battleground)
- Stage Characteristics: Contains multiple high-difficulty climbs, gradients often exceeding 8%, mountaintop finishes or followed by technical descents.
- Typical Gear Ratios: Chainrings 54/40T or 53/39T, paired with cassettes 11-32T or 11-34T.
- Selection Reasons:
- Wide-range cassettes (11-34T): This is the key to victory. The 34T largest cog paired with 39T or 40T small chainring can provide near 1:1 gear ratios. This allows riders to still maintain 80-90 RPM high cadence on 15% gradients, using aerobic systems for climbing while preserving muscle strength for final attacks.
- Retaining big rings: The massive 54T big ring isn't decorative. On valley flats and descents reaching 80-100km/h, this big ring is the weapon for chasing and breakaways.
3. Individual Time Trials (Race Against the Clock)
- Stage Characteristics: Solo starts, riding at maximum average speed on aerodynamic bikes.
- Typical Gear Ratios: Chainrings 56T, 58T, even 60T+ single or double, paired with cassettes 11-28T or 11-30T.
- Selection Reasons:
- Super-big chainrings (58T+): The time trial goal is maintaining maximum speed at optimal cadence in the best aerodynamic position. Giant chainrings are designed for this scenario, ensuring when riders exceed 55km/h, cadence can still fall in the optimal 95-105 RPM range.
Gear Ratio Selection Summary Table
| Stage Type | Mainstream Chainring Setup | Mainstream Cassette Setup | Core Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Stages | 54/40T, 55/41T | 11-28T, 11-30T | Ensure sprint top speed, fine-tune cruising cadence |
| Mountain Stages | 54/40T, 53/39T | 11-32T, 11-34T | Ensure high climbing cadence, accommodate high descent speeds |
| Individual Time Trials | 58T, 60T+ | 11-28T, 11-30T | Match optimal cadence at super-high average speeds |
Future Trends: UCI Intervention
It's worth noting that because professional racing speeds are getting faster and faster, to improve safety, the UCI (International Cycling Union) plans to test maximum gear ratio limits not exceeding 54x11T in some races starting in the second half of 2025. This foreshadows that future professional cyclists' gear ratio choices may be directly affected by regulations.