How Long Can We Hold Record Climbing Pace Up Sa Calobra?

Sa Calobra, the famous 9.4km Mallorcan climb and renowned training ground for pro cyclists, where Tom Pidcock set an eye-watering Strava KOM time of 22:46 He maintained a 24.9km/h pace up the vicious 7% climb, but how long can Ollie and Alex hold his rapid speed? Will they get dropped early or cling on?
00:00 Intro
01:50 Climb start
03:00 Wrong time
04:12 Dropped?
05:00 Climb PB
05:35 Climb end
05:50 Results
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[@gcn]

How long could you hold the KOM pace? 👑

[@squngy0]

10s

[@Choedron]

HA! Being a genetic sprinter, I have no hope in hell to even hold it for 5 s. I hate hills 😂🤣

[@core-i7413]

I'm a good climber so MAYBE a few minutes but after that I'd be dead

[@dakalla]

How long i could hold 6,5w/kg? 2 minutes, maybe 3 with an mallorcan shepherd dog behind me.

[@matthewnormand2041]

About a minute. Maybe a little more if I'm fresh. But that's a one-off effort, not a pacing up a category one climb.

[@williamsylvia3962]

I liked how they blew past 2 mortals on their right saying I’m done! I’m sure they were thinking to themselves “wtf” 😂

[@zacharybarker4300]

😂

[@MrSmoothasf]

I rode up there while on holiday, the pros went past me as if it was dead flat. Didn't even look human

[@BaukeMollema]

Haha, was thinking the exact same thing.

[@themusette5894]

I loved it when Alex realised they had been pacing against his own pb effort... 'Pidcock must have been pacing himself here - we're 15 seconds up!' 😂

[@gcn]

Is Alex our secret weapon 👀

[@kevin._.farren]

I love these videos where you get a true appreciation for just how talented the top tier riders are. The television just doesn’t do it justice.

[@CastleKnight7]

Yeah, especially when you know the GCN presenters are no slouches.

[@robertgiles1071]

Distinctly quicker than my best - 1:12:17 (at 72 yrs).

[@gcn]

Well done to you! That is awesome!

[@ianball7559]

Wowzer!

[@mikedittsche]

If I will manage to get up there at all at age 72, I will consider myself very lucky. Hats off to that extraordinary achievement!

[@ollieelgie]

Woah! That's amazing! Great stuff.

[@FlatSpinMan]

This was great. Short, to the point, and really highlighted the difference between excellent normal people and the top of the World Tour.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

Excellent normal people? One is an ex-pro and the other has elite watts per kilogram. Oli's watts per kilo could get him on a continent pro team if he had those same numbers but at 20yrs of age.

[@gcn]

Great to hear you enjoyed the video! 🙌Can you think of any other top pros we should take on?

[@James-J-J-J]

@@gcnTadej Pogacar

[@secretagent86]

How not to pace a hill climb 😅

[@secretagent86]

Yes pidcock’s climb speed is a out my flat road speed lol…the pros are amazing. Great fitness you guys have. Chapeau off

[@leonbroekx]

Alex did really good considering his PB improvement!

[@gcn]

Smashed it! He's got a habit of doing that this weekend 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqaZId4YqukndE

[@duanebosch9508]

My wife and I were the first up there in 2019. New years day. FREEEZING COLD. Drove to the top from Soller. Dropped in. Rode out. We then drove to Port de Pollenca and rode to Cap Formentor. That was a good day.

[@tomrachellesfirstdance7843]

Just shows how alien the pros are, got to say it is a cool thing about cycling how you can compare yourself to pro riders

[@gcn]

It's so inclusive, it's what makes it such a special sport in our eyes😍

[@johnterry5409]

I think he was being led out by ganna and the rest of his teammates tbf

[@st.peterunner8758]

Alien=performance enhancing substances

[@stoempert]

Running is great for that as well. Try and keep up with the recent 2:00:35 marathon record pace. Most people struggle to do it in full sprint. It's mind boggling 🤯

[@veganpotterthevegan]

To be fair, Alex raced professionally and Oli likely could have if he weren't so studious. His watts per kilo would grab interest of Continental Pro teams if he were in his early 20s

[@icurt06]

You two guys are hilarious together. Seriously your challenges are very enjoyable to watch!

[@TheSeanJohnston]

Ollie is a legend, look how far he has come.

[@scottriley7215]

Olli didn't get dropped

[@TheSeanJohnston]

@@scottriley7215 Watch previous years

[@2.old4this]

Thank you guys! 2 observations: 1. Making Alex do that after his greater-than-average bonk around the island was cycle-abuse. Well done Alex. 2. Thank you for the School of cycling 101 lessons: inner tubes and pacing. You teach us mere mortals sooooooooooo much. Great shows, thanks.

[@xtrailz]

I don't normally click the Like button on videos (I'm too lazy) but I clicked Like this time because I really want to see a presenter race on Sa Calobra

[@iconhotel182]

GCN presenters challenge videos are the best...so fun seeing everyone all together. doing it at one of a famous climb is just the bonus!

[@xraydoc22]

These videos are really fun. It is humbling to see how far we mortals are from the Pros. More episodes like this would be great! Thank you GCN 😊

[@gcn]

What the pros are doing is amazing! 🤯 Are there any other KOMs you think the team should have a stab at?

[@StanWatson]

I did this once back in 2019 as I turned 60 years old, not knowing what I was subjecting myself to, and it took me 1:00:13. I've got "big boy disease" at around 110 kilos, so for me that was pretty special. I'd sure like another go at it some day.

[@stevenbird1431]

Great Video Guys!! Massive Efforts💪

[@mike_p10]

Bravo, gentlemen. Great efforts !

[@jackholloway272]

as a bigger rider, working out for me to do 6.5 wats per kg, needing to do around 650ish watts, i would guess i would hold on for half a second before being dropped. Think i should keep my day job

[@tattedup7031]

I love how you guys post everyday! And funny guys .

[@patty109109]

These guys are fit but the camera man running backwards up the hill while filming them is the real hero.

[@gcn]

Our Camera crews are exceptional athletes🏃‍♂

[@nicholasfitzgerald1999]

You guys need to go to Mallorca more often for these type of videos and the lap around the island, great entertainment. Get Alex and Ollie more of those trips

[@MichelBertrand]

I got you all beat. During a tour of the island in 2009, going from Alcudia to Port de Soller, I had an AMAZING ride down to Sa Calobra under dark, angry clouds. As I was preparing for the climb back up after a short rest, the heavens opened and it started POURING rain, with lightning and thunder booming. Pretty soon, there was a river of water coming down the road. So I took all of my courage, and the little Spanish I could speak, and asked a tour bus driver that was getting ready to leave to drive me back up the climb... So it took me about 10 minutes - crying all the way up because I wasn't going to do it on the bike. It was just too dangerous with the weather at that point. But man, just going down that 270 degree switchback at the top and then doing the descent was a highlight of this trip! And doing 24kph average going up is INSANE (although I am 16kg heavier than Tom - yeah, that's my excuse :) )!

[@anthonyhatter196]

This is a great way to show the gap between our amateur skills and the pros. However, don't forget, this climb is stunning, don't forget to take in the beauty as you climb back up. Sometimes we need to ignore the odd KOM.

[@triathlonsteve9675]

Great vid guys:,olys training must be working as he looked so strong all the way, Alex needs to train more and then race up there again 😁

[@jamieatkinson9288]

Great episode

[@billmontgomerie9526]

Love to see the race

[@DarkpowderUK]

Previous GCN SA Calobra challenge: Si/Tom: 29min 41sec (Team Crusty) Dan/Matt: 29min 37sec (Team Lusty) kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4G0iIJsoKl9jJosi=lkX3ycHHa0sfL68d

[@Yourivanhien]

Really love that climb. Been there once, but I want to go back so badly. Every time I see it in a video like this I want to go.

[@gcn]

Any plans to head back soon? It's a really great climb 🙌

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

Best video ever Ollie&Archibald!

[@SODtv]

33mins 37secs this year on my own bike (4.3w/kg) for the first time ever, normally on hired bikes. Very pleased. Profile pic is from the descent on a hired bike my first year there. Love Mallorca.

[@lilbruin]

Added my like. A presenter race in a venue like this would be great.

[@budholeboodoo2308]

How good was that that to see Aled get a new PB on Sa Calobra, great effort.

[@archy_bold]

"Oh yeah, we're behind". Sorry Alex, but I laughed out loud!

[@Frostbiker]

You guys are rapid! World Tour folks are something else altogether.

[@billmontgomerie9526]

Great job. Lads

[@paulwynne1811]

Really love to see the presenter sa colabra race

[@krehme]

Great job guys! I vote for a little zwift training camp to pump you 20 min power number, then another go at your PRs. Like a "scale down" competition only where the winner makes the best percentage improvement.

[@TheBridgee100]

You wanted to know how long you think I could sustain those watts? Guys the problem would even being able to hit those watts on the climb in the first place. Well done! Was a totally enjoyable video!

[@raybarber9837]

I did the Tacx route yesterday on my trainer in 52.40. My first crack at it and I think I went too slow for the first half. 30th in my age group (70-74) this year. When you do the GCN race, let me come and give me a 20 minute start. :)

[@WattWireNet]

That was so funny in the beginning when they thought they were crushing Pidcock's pace. What I love is they owned up to it and just kept going with a proper reset. I would have rested an restarted.

[@seancarter7805]

I definitely want to see all of the presenters race up! Perhaps we could all start some fan clubs to support the cause. 30 minutes is an enviable accomplishment boys. Would absolutely love to see how each of you rank against each other up the most contested climb of all.

[@gcn]

We love this idea! Who do you think would take the race? 🚴 Ollie is looking pretty speedy 💨

[@nmgn]

I am proud about my 298 watt FTP. These guys have that for breakfast with one leg!

[@user-vq7yb4cn1b]

Let's goooooooo 20k

[@capt_darling9454]

Can't believe you were out there while the Mallorca Masters race was on and didn't take part 😜 GCN team for next year maybe?!

[@gcn]

How do you think we would get on?🤔

[@capt_darling9454]

@@gcn better than I did I should imagine 🤣

[@capt_darling9454]

@@gcn fun race though! You should bang a team in next year

[@Schabo1234]

You can feel " The Rivalry " from Ollie´s side against Alex !🤣🤣💥💥

[@gcn]

He's always on 👀 No such thing as a chill ride with Ollie 😬

[@Phil24620]

Having made the journey to Mallorca (and Sa Calobra) five times, it lives on in my daydreams.

[@jamiemarmont8342]

At the same weight as Olie, but 51 so I reckon about 30 seconds to a minute max..crazy stats from Pidders!!

[@rioenriquez2499]

hahaha! You guys are so funny! Luv it

[@andrewtowers9712]

I use my winter training to reduce my mileage. But also prepare myself for the much longer rides during the summer. As Manon stated, the cold will eventually get to you, and trying to ride with cold hands and feet, runny nose, and just feeling miserable wishing the ride would finish.

[@Shadowboost]

Insane. And to think Jonas can blow him away

[@derickcastillo9083]

I liked the point that you made, that you both did respectable times. We see Tadej Pogacar or Tom Pidcock on Strava and we think, "why can't I do that? or "I suck because I am not as fast as them". But no one ask, why they are not as good as Steph Curry or Lebron James in basketball or Lionel Messi in football.

[@WarHammerWH]

Despite improper pacing, Alex beat his PB by over a minute. Please do another video, it’s a no brainer that Alex will beat this new PB by a fair margin. It would be nice to have the four horsemen of the apocalypse duke it out on a race too… GCN please oblige!

[@TwoTroutCreations]

Go get em Alejandro!!!

[@jonathanrobinson2628]

As a tall chap (203cm) who loves to climb, I'd have to do 650w. Not ideal. But the pacing point is an interesting one. I'll never be a champion hill climber, but by pacing climbs to start steady and finish strong, I often do better on climbs than my physical stature would suggest. Either way, a very entertaining video and more hill climb challenges please!

[@gcn]

Thanks! Do you find yourself enjoying longer climbs rather than short and steep if you are pacing yourself?🚵

[@jonathanrobinson2628]

@@gcn Here in SE Sweden we don't really have long climbs. Mostly in the 2-8 minute effort range. But I enjoy all climbing and have started to make a concerted effort to do hill repeats regularly. The access track on our local ski slope is the most convenient - 3 minutes at 90% effort up 8% gravel, 8 to 10 times.

[@stevenagy7152]

To the point, Pidcock is about 57 kilos at about 167 cm, Ollie is super fit at 69 kg, that watt/kg difference may as well be the ocean. For context, sprinters at the tour are typically under or at 70 kg.

[@chinaiwei]

Race it next tiime! Also do a comparison ride between ease-in early climb to find pace than finish strong up top and go hard at the beginning of the ride and finish top before tank empy.

[@mischief2168]

Good entertainment lads. Next can you please take on The Struggle to see how long you can hold Andrew's 2023 Nat Champ pace?

[@gcn]

We'll have some content from the Nat Champs soon 😉

[@mischief2168]

@@gcn ... Thanks I'll be looking forward to seeing that. My favourite content despite not having the legs and lungs for it myself.

[@anthonyfarrell5162]

To put this into some context I’d consider myself a “decent” amateur and managed this climb in 35 mins 2 weeks ago averaging 330w. Just highlights that the gap to the top amateurs such as the GCN presenters and the huge chasm to the top pros

[@nisched.]

Kudos Alex on the PB. Olly still leaving you when you need it though just to be 3s ahead. and then winges about pacing meaning he didn't PB. Sore winner! Well done both.

[@shavedheadwonder]

Do I want to see a big race between all of gcn including Si and Dan! Yes please

[@veloman59]

Go for it Alex 😁 and Ollie - great rides by both of you. I could match Tom Pidcock I reckon 🤔..on a 500CC Yamaha! 😂

[@gcn]

500cc... you might need more than that 😂

[@ajbluefish]

You can do it Alex!!!

[@pratravla7420]

Ride at pogacars pace up the col de la loze where he got dropped

[@jdwyer2685]

It would have been amazing if INEOS had filmed Pidcock’s KOM, must have been gunning it. 👌

[@tmaxtmax9861]

Yes a race please

[@tamazoid]

Should bring Andrew Feather to do this climb!

[@gcn]

We'll get him on the next flight out ✈

[@stevedouglas3975]

As it happens I'm off to Mallorca tomorrow and Sa Calobra is my goal and I'm worried enough about it as it is whether I can even get up it let alone compete with anyone. I literally just want to complete climb, nothing more.

[@richardprice4611]

Awesome, think i can sustain for around 45 seconds,maybe a bit longer on Zwift

[@MichaelZ-1]

Oh man, this was nice. I guess I would probably be still at the foot of that hill 😂 Did get curious though, how would GCN do in a tour the France? So the full tour, of course before or after the real one. And how would a real amateur do it? Since, hey, you guys are getting payed to ride… doesn’t that make you pro’s? 😂

[@lio220]

23s behind after 3min30( 210s) is a great performance ! Just 10% behind! Thats great

[@bubblesezblonde]

I'm all in for the presenters race.

[@cameronstockton1657]

Lets see that Presenter race!

[@hotsky83]

Would love to see a presenter race!! Let's make this happen guys😊

[@mommamooney]

Definitely am up for a presenter race!

[@marcm9074]

Definitely want to see Alex redeem himself. Please do the race!!

[@user-ti5or4ny1e]

Next let Andrew Feather try this

[@CoreyMcCarren]

I'm curious how long (distance/time) was the course you used to compare the bikes? I don't think it was mentioned

[@paveltomsik2610]

Tom had serious team Ineos leadout, you should try to keep his tempo at last 2-3 kms, that would be more doable.

[@SteveJobt]

The Wahoo/Garmin takes the average gradient of the overall climb and uses it to calculate the gap/lead. He does not have the current position from Tom Pidcock in the climb. This means you have an advantage in areas with less gradient.

[@whatwelearned]

Alex channeling his inner boomer there

[@nenobike]

Ah yes. 'today' section on strava, my favorite lol.

[@BoogieMan568]

You dont need 20.000 likes. its soon s ummer. Come on GCN. Give us a Race up this climb

[@SlingsAxes]

I want to see the whole lot of you race up it.

[@serisingh]

8:34 presenter race!!! Yes please.

[@indysbike3014]

Try the time trial from Remco Evenepoel during the World Championships where he beat Ganna.

[@hbrameus]

I shudder when I think of what output I would need to do 6.5 w/kg

[@daviddaniels6335]

Still cannot work out the obsession over Sa Calobra!

[@contactking]

FUNNIEST video. "We appeared to be ahead."

[@archy_bold]

"That was the hardest thing I've ever done". So was this before or after the lap of the island?

[@andrewmcalister3462]

No spare tubes, wrong PB loaded onto the head unit….. Did Alex and Ollie do ANY forward planning for their Majorca trip?

[@gcn]

We should have shown them Manon's video about "everything you need to take on a bike ride" before they left... You can see that here👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/epynhqJ-ha9pr6s

[@philipk4475]

I would have to be putting out 550 W. I would be happy to last 1m30 at that! I weigh almost 30 kg more than Tom Pidcock and would be very, very pleased with his 20 or 30 minute power!

[@whereirun]

Ha, I created that segment on Strava back in 2011, decided on the sign as the start point, and had the KOM crown at 29:25. Thought I crushed it with those 370 watts. Now I'm probably back in 1000th place?

[@davidshardlow4369]

Do a presenter race on Sa Calobre! Go Manon & Chloe..!

[@waluta]

500W for about 1 minute, after that I'm dead

[@EnricoDellaDora]

There are many pro KOM around where I live, and even if I've never gone for one at 100%, there are some I've tried at maybe 90% and pros are about twice as fast as I am 😱

[@gcn]

Humbling isn't it 👀 Keep searching and you might find a cheeky KOM to grab!

[@dionisiuskusuma1462]

Should have brought Feather to crush the climb

[@oneilwolfe407]

I’m sure you guys will be having a presenters race up there. Dibs Manon on an E-bike. Let’s go 😊

[@CatManDoSocial]

Nice effort. I could hold it for 10 seconds, max.

[@Millicente]

Get those likes in I'm always down for a presenter race, and at Sa Calobra? Please!