Could someone like Mark Cavendish or Peter Sagan win the Kentucky Derby?
Assume that the cyclist can ride on smooth asphalt alongside the horses using a road bike (not something for the velodrome).
Some stats:
- The Derby is ~1.25 miles long (2k)
- The record by a horse is 1:59 (~37 miles per hour)
- Some cursory research shows that Cavendish hits 48 miles per hour in a top sprint, but will need more time to accelerate than the horses.
What about a track cyclist? Would they fare better?
I’d go with a cyclist if you allow full tt gear. The 1k record is 0:56, getting up to speed is the hardest part.
a hoy wrote:
I’d go with a cyclist if you allow full tt gear. The 1k record is 0:56, getting up to speed is the hardest part.
Will Cavendish have a 123 lb . Jockey riding his back ?
No. Cyclists have raced against Standardbreds and then it's pretty much even.
A Thoroughbred racehorse can hit top speed in 2 seconds.
Secretariat is laughing wrote:
No. Cyclists have raced against Standardbreds and then it's pretty much even.
A Thoroughbred racehorse can hit top speed in 2 seconds.
Thank you S!
The King of Kings of all organized foot/ hoof races .
a hoy wrote:
I’d go with a cyclist if you allow full tt gear. The 1k record is 0:56, getting up to speed is the hardest part.
The horse record is faster. They have no trouble getting up to speed.
I think the cyclists are going to have the advantage here. On a bike the 1k record is 56 seconds and the 4k record is 4:07, so they can maintain speed fairly well. Got to believe a top sprint cyclist could routinely do 2k under 2 minutes. The Kentucky derby is usually won in the 2:02-2:03 range.
However, this all changes if the cyclist has jostle for position with the horses. In that scenario I'd give the cyclist a 50% chance of winning (start slow and swing well clear of the horse in the home-straight for the win) and a 50% chance of mortality.
Cyclist for sure wrote:
I think the cyclists are going to have the advantage here. On a bike the 1k record is 56 seconds and the 4k record is 4:07, so they can maintain speed fairly well. Got to believe a top sprint cyclist could routinely do 2k under 2 minutes. The Kentucky derby is usually won in the 2:02-2:03 range.
However, this all changes if the cyclist has jostle for position with the horses. In that scenario I'd give the cyclist a 50% chance of winning (start slow and swing well clear of the horse in the home-straight for the win) and a 50% chance of mortality.
What if the horse is allowed to ride a bicycle though?
Aquaturf wrote:
What if the horse is allowed to ride a bicycle though?
Winner of thread , lowering my snout I snort .
I gallop home deva..........