The Wind of the Tour de Taiwan: How Crosswinds, Headwinds, and Tailwinds Change Race Outcomes

Wind: The Cyclist’s Most Loved and Most Hated Element

In the world of road cycling, wind isn’t just a weather phenomenon—it’s the invisible hand that decides race outcomes.

The Basic Physics of Wind Resistance

At speeds above 45 km/h, roughly 80-90% of the energy a rider expends goes toward fighting air resistance. Wind resistance is proportional to the square of speed:

That’s why Rajovic needs such astonishing power in a 71 km/h sprint—wind resistance is 5.6 times greater than at 30 km/h!

How Three Types of Wind Affect a Race

Headwind

• Impact: Speed drops, energy expenditure increases
• Tactics: The peloton tends to bunch together; breakaways are harder to pull off
• Tour de Taiwan example: Provincial Highway 9 encounters northeast monsoon headwinds on certain sections

Tailwind

• Impact: Speed increases, average pace rises
• Tactics: Breakaways are more likely to succeed (the wind pushes you along)
• Tour de Taiwan example: Tailwinds on certain sections can push average speeds above 55+ km/h

Crosswind — The Most Dangerous

• Impact: The peloton can be torn apart!
• Tactics: Strong teams use crosswinds to form “echelons” and drop their rivals
• Tour de Taiwan example: On the flat sections of the Kaohsiung and Pingtung stages, crosswinds are a potential game-changer

The Echelon: The Tactical Nuclear Weapon in Crosswinds

When a crosswind blows, sitting directly behind the rider in front is no longer the most efficient position. Riders need to shift to the downwind side to get the best drafting effect.

Wind direction → → → → →

Normal formation (no crosswind):
[Rider A] [Rider B] [Rider C] [Rider D]

Echelon formation (with crosswind):
                              [Rider D]
                  [Rider C]
      [Rider B]
[Rider A]

The problem: road width is limited. When an echelon stretches across the entire road, riders behind can’t get any shelter and must face the full force of the wind alone.

That’s why a crosswind can instantly split a full peloton into several fragments—those at the front save energy, while those at the back fall apart.

Wind Conditions at Each Tour de Taiwan Stage

How Do Riders Fight the Wind?

1. Body position: Lower the upper body to reduce frontal area
2. Drafting technique: Stay close to the rider ahead—the smaller the gap, the more energy saved
3. Teamwork: Take turns on the front to share the wind load
4. Equipment choices: Aero helmets, tight-fitting jerseys, deep-section wheels
5. Tactical choices: Attack with a tailwind, play it conservative into a headwind

Wind-Riding Tips for Fellow Cyclists

• Don’t fight a headwind head-on: Lower your expected pace and maintain a steady output
• Enjoy the speed of a tailwind: But don’t be fooled—you haven’t actually gotten stronger
• Be careful in crosswinds: Grip the handlebars tightly on the windward side and lower your center of gravity
• Mind the wind direction when rotating through in a group: In crosswinds, the paceline needs to line up on the downwind side

In the world of cycling, those who learn to coexist with the wind are the ones who truly control the race.

Related Reading

• Harnessing Wind in Bike Racing: Speed Optimization Strategies for Tailwinds and Crosswinds
• Riding Against the Wind: Technique, Strategy, and Mental Resilience Training for Strong Headwinds
• The Art of Headwind Training: Turning Wind Resistance into Your Training Partner
• Chasing and Fighting the Wind: The Complete Guide to Crosswind and Headwind Riding for Taiwanese Cyclists