In this article, I will dissect the bike position of the 2024 Tour of Flanders winner Elisa Longo Borghini (ELB).
I will use the Bike App Bikefit Simulator tool to do so and present the main points that stood out to me.
The Bike
Elisa Longo Borghini is 170cm in height. She rode a Trek Madone Gen 7 in size 52. At her height, Trek's size chart actually recommends a size 54, but it isn't uncommon to see professionnal riders size down.
Of her bike setup, here are the relevant parts:
- Stem: 130mm, 7°
- Bars: 370mm wide / 6° flare / 124mm drop / 80mm reach
- Seatpost:~20mm offset*,
- Saddle: +5mm FWD*
Unfortunately there is no way of knowing the crank length she was riding.
*Estimations
The saddle height in this picture was set to 714mm
Thanks to her 130mm stem, ELB’s bar reach was 40mm longer than the Domane Gen 7's stock setup (size 52). The bar stack was 5mm higher.
The seat angle was also reduced by 1° with her estimated seat post and saddle setup.
Here's an comparaison of Trek's stock setup with what ELB rode on race day.
| Reach+ | Stack + | Seat Angle | Seat Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 507mm | 570mm | 74.1° | 714mm |
There is a great article on Lidl Trek's website that goes into detail over every single part of the Italian’s bike setup. If you want to know more, I recommend you head over there.
The Position
Most of the time, Longo Borghini’s hands were seen on the drops, with a notable amount of elbow bend as well.
In this a screenshot, I had set the elbow bend at 62° with 10° OUT.
Results
Now let's talk about what stands out.
Takeaways
Dynamic Elbow Bend
There is no such thing as a single best elbow bend on a bicycle. On the contrary, your elbows act as a lever that controls your center of mass and aerodynamic drag.
On the hoods, Elisa Longo Borghini's position is not particularly aggressive. She has a trunk angle of 41° and a handlebar drop of 88mm. But, by placing her hands on the drops and bending her elbows by 62°, she's able to change her base position to a trunk angle of 24° and a drop of 205mm.
145.5
If there has been one thing that has been studied in cycling, it is the optimal saddle height.
Again and again, research papers have demonstrated that for most riders, a maximal knee extension angle between 142 and 150 degrees is best.
It is most likely to maximize pedaling efficiency and minimize injury risk.
Elisa Longo Borghini's seat height puts her smack dab into that range.
Very steep torso angle
Now, this you should NOT do at home.
As we saw in RVV 2024, Borghini's hand position of choice for riding in the breakaway is the drops.
While the bike she is riding doesn't have the most aggressive geometry in the pro peloton, the fact that she rides it with 62 degrees of elbow bend puts her trunk at a very extreme 24° incline.
Conclusion
As always, the position of pro riders is unique to their own body and is the result of tens of thousands of kilometers on the saddle. It is not wise to try to imitate them directly without understanding the nuances and intricacies involved. However, analyzing their setups can provide valuable insights into bike fitting and optimization techniques that can be applied to recreational and amateur cycling.
Elisa Longo Borghini's position on her Trek Madone Gen 7 during the 2024 Tour of Flanders exemplifies how adjustments in saddle height, handlebar reach, and hand position can impact performance and comfort. By studying such setups, cyclists of all levels can fine-tune their own positions to enhance their riding experience and potentially improve their performance on the road.
