Optimal hand position for individual pursuit athletes

Aerodynamic drag and power output data were collected for elite athletes for a number of different hand positions to determine whether an optimal hand position existed for Individual Pursuit (IP) athletes. The data was extrapolated to determine the drag at the actual speed of the rider during an IP event, and an estimated finishing time was calculated for each test.Results showed that aerodynamic drag can be reduced by adopting an arrow-style hand position, which also results in a corresponding reduction in time without significantly affecting power output.