THE SECRETS OF SOUPLESSE
Jacques Anquetil was the master of it in the ’50s and ’60s. Miguel Indurain made it look natural in the ’90s. And Bradley Wiggins turned it into an art form in more recent years. The special quality that all of these riders shared was their uniquely elegant pedal stroke. Exuding poise, rhythm and control, they looked less like they were engaged in brutal physical exercise and more like they were gracefully playing a musical instrument. To a coach or sports scientist, a smooth pedal stroke is all about power and efficiency. But to the cycling cognoscenti, it’s also a question of style. This hard-to-define aesthetic quality is known in France as ‘souplesse’ – a poetic word that perfectly evokes the blend of suppleness and finesse that characterises a sublime pedal stroke.
Souplesse is wonderful to observe (try watching videos of Marianne Vos in full flow), but even more exhilarating to master yourself. And this is a skill that can be learned. Yes, some riders may be more naturally gifted, but everybody can polish their pedal stroke. Even former pro David Millar carefully honed his pedalling style, by consciously copying Maurizio Fondriest. “I’ve always been a big fan of looking elegant on a bike,” he once told me. “I learned to develop my
