Vanmarcke tested Visma’s tire pressure system and sees the benefits — but also the disadvantages: "If I were an opponent..."

On Sunday, the spotlight will be on Visma | Lease a Bike, and not just because of the performance of their leader, Wout van Aert, but also because of the GRAVAA system. This gadget allows the Dutch team to regulate tire pressure during the race, which is ideal for the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix. Sep Vanmarcke had the opportunity to test the system on behalf of Het Nieuwsblad and saw its advantages and disadvantages.

Vanmarcke is a very experienced cyclist. The 36-year-old Belgian always knows what questions to ask. "What if you get a flat tire and have to change wheels?" is his first thought. The GRAVAA man immediately reports that the system automatically links up with the new wheel. Yet it does not work perfectly: Vanmarcke's Garmin is suddenly connected to the tire pressure system of the Het Nieuwsblad reporter. "Of course, you can also eliminate the competition this way: whop, zero bar! Flat tire," laughs the former cyclist.

Once it is working, he turns onto Carrefour de l'Arbre. One push on the button, and in no time at all, the tire deflates by two bars. "It's impressive how quickly we get to the lower tire pressure," the former classics specialist remarks. He says the tire pressure is low but a little too low. "Very comfortable on the cobblestones, but you do increase the chance of getting a flat tire."

Read more below the photo!

Van Aert has already been able to test out the system extensively during the recon.

"Van der Poel will have to sprint with flat tires"

Vanmarcke analyzes that Visma | Lease a Bike and Van Aert will especially benefit from the system on the cobblestones. "The fact that you can lower the tire pressure for the cobblestones with the simple push of a button and that it happens so fast undeniably gives you an advantage in the race. Other riders will have to find a balance between comfortably riding the cobblestones and not suffering too much disadvantage on the asphalt due to their low tire pressure."

But even in the final, when the cobblestones are behind him, the Belgian leader in Dutch service will have an advantage. Van Aert can choose the ideal tire pressure for the cobblestones and the ideal tire pressure for the asphalt. "Just imagine that he has to sprint against Mathieu van der Poel on the track: Van Aert will be able to do that with the ideal tire pressure, while Van der Poel will have to sprint with flatter tires."

Read more below the photo!

Van der Poel will ride without a tire pressure system.

"It takes quite a long time to add those two bars"

However, it is not all positive. Because once off the cobblestones, the tire has to be pumped up again. This happens kinetically, which means that the tire is inflated while riding. And the harder the rider pedals, the faster this happens. "It still takes quite a long time to add those two bars," Vanmarcke notes. Ultimately, the tire takes well over a minute to reach the right pressure. "If I were a competitor, I would attack Van Aert just after the cobblestone section because his tires would be even flatter than yours. But the fact that Van Aert then rides with slightly less tire pressure for a moment does not mean he will be unable to follow that attack."

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