Purpose: The purpose of this paper is: 1) to present field test data descri
bing the power requirements of internationally competitive individual and t
eam pursuiters, and 2) to develop a theoretical model for pursuit power bas
ed upon on these tests. Methods: In preparing U.S. cycling's pursuit team f
or the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, U.S. team scientists measured cycling power o
f seven subjects on the Atlanta track using a crank dynamometer (SRM) at sp
eeds from 57 to 60 kph. By using these field data and other tests, mathemat
ical models were devised which predict both individual and team pursuit per
formance. The field data indicate the power within a pace line at 60 kph av
erages 607 W in lead position (100%), 430 W in second position (70.8%), 389
W in third position (64.1%), and 389 W in fourth position (64.0%). a team
member requires about 75% of the energy necessary for cyclists riding alone
at the same speed. These results compare well with field measurements from
a British pursuit team; to recent wind tunnel tests, and to earlier bicycl
e coast down tests. Results: The theoretical models predict performance wit
h reasonable accuracy when the average power potential of an individual or
learn is known, or they may be used to estimate the power of pursuit compet
itors knowing race times. The model estimates that Christopher Boardman ave
raged about 520 W when setting his 1996, 4000-m individual pursuit record o
f 4 min 11.114 s and the Italian 4000-m pursuit team averaged about 480 W i
n setting their record of 4:00.958. Both used the "Superman" cycling positi
on. Conclusions: These records would be very difficult to break using less
aerodynamic riding positions, due to the extraordinarily high power require
ments.