Cooling Down On Aero Bars —Pro Cyclists’ Secret to TT Mastery?

Cycling is suffering.

It’s sweat, spit, and legs screaming for mercy.

But the best? The best don’t stop when the race is over.

They climb onto another bike and keep going.

No, not just any bike—the TT bike. Mid-tour, post-stage, legs fried, brain fogged—they clip in, assume the position, and suffer some more.

Why? Because speed isn’t just power.

Speed is position. And the TT position is as comfortable as a bed of nails.

You don’t win time trials. You survive them. And survival takes practice.

1. Why the Hell Are They Doing This?

Pro cyclists are masochists with a plan. That plan? Adapt or die.

The TT position is a monster—different angles, different stress, different muscle groups.

The body rejects it if it’s not trained. So, when the legs are already wrecked, they hop back on the TT bike to force adaptation.

2. TT Bikes Are Freaking Uncomfortable

Ask any cyclist: a road bike feels like a recliner. A TT bike feels like a medieval torture device.

Narrow elbows, tight hips, stretched-out back—it’s a position built for aero gains, not comfort.

And like a bad tattoo, you better get used to it before committing for an hour-long effort.

3. GC Contenders Live or Die by the TT

Tour de France. The final time trial. Everything on the line. If you aren’t dialed into the position, you lose. Remco Evenepoel’s trainer said it best:
“That time trial position is very specific. You hold your muscles at a different angle than usual. You have to stay used to that.”

A GC rider cannot afford to lose time fumbling into an unnatural position when every second matters.

4. Cooling Down, But Also Warming Up

Irony alert: this isn’t just cooling down—it’s also preparing. The muscles need to stay sharp.

The more time in the position, the less it feels like a foreign language. A long stage followed by TT bike cooldown is double duty—flush the legs, reinforce muscle memory, and stay dialed.

5. The Spare Bike Logic

Logistics play a part too. Teams pre-set TT bikes for cooldowns because:

• The spare TT bike is already in the team car.
• The rider’s primary TT bike is perfectly adjusted.
• It’s efficient—why waste time setting up another bike?

6. Marginal Gains: The Cult of Crazy

Cycling is a sport of obsession. If a 1% gain wins a Tour, these guys will find it. More time in TT position = less suffering on race day. Simple. Some say crazy, they say necessary.

7. Back and Saddle Relief—Maybe?

Some claim switching to TT bars helps the back and seat bones after a long stage. Maybe. But this isn’t about comfort. It’s about commitment. Comfort is for retirees on beach cruisers.

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Quick Recap:

Reason	Explanation
Position Training	Get used to suffering in aero
TT Bikes Are Uncomfortable	The more time spent, the less they suck
GC Riders Need It	Time trials win races
Double Duty	Cooldown + muscle adaptation
Logistics	Pre-set bike, spare in the team car
Marginal Gains	Small improvements = big wins
Possible Comfort?	Maybe, but that’s not the point

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The Conclusion:

You finish a brutal stage. Your body is a crime scene. Your brain begs for rest. But no.

You clip into the TT bike, get into position, and ride. Every muscle screams, “WHY?” But you know why. You suffer now so you don’t suffer more when it matters.

Because when you roll down that TT start ramp, it’s just you, the road, and the clock. And the clock? It doesn’t care how much pain you’re in.

So, you cool down. You adapt. You endure.

And maybe, just maybe—you win.