Modeling bike racing: An in depth look at how groups of lycra-clad middle-aged men choose when to leave their friends behind

Abstract: Have you every wondered how the Tour de France teams decide when to send their riders ahead of the pack? In this talk I will present a model for strategic decision making in bike racing presented in the paper 'A mathematical model for optimal breakaways in cycling: balancing energy expenditure and crash risk` by J. Chico-Vazquez and I. M. Griffiths. This model is based on a little bit of physics, some probability theory and a lot of assumptions, which means it is easy to work with, while still providing results which match our intuition. At the same time it yields some surprising new insights and highlights the fact that both maximizing physical output and minimizing risk play important roles at the elite level. At the end of this presentation you will be prepared for your inevitable passion for road cycling when you hit your midlife crisis and know how to abandon the few friends you have left in the most energy-efficient way.

Mathematics

Audience: general audience

Gothenburg PhD seminar

Series comments: Rooms and times may vary, please check the latest update. In-person only.