If you've ever watched a professional peloton on TV – perhaps during the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia – the pace often seems surreal. What's a sprint for amateur cyclists appears to be a leisurely warm-up for the pros. But how fast are professional road cyclists really? And how do their speeds differ from those of ambitious amateurs?
By Vincent Augustin
3 minutes read time
About the author
Vincent Augustin
Vincent founded MYVELO together with Fabian. The two share a long-standing passion for cycling. Together they have cycled thousands of kilometers and fought for victories in the German racing bike league. The idea of founding MYVELO arose from their many years of experience and knowledge of what makes a good bike. Find out more about MYVELO now
Published: September 17, 2025 | Updated: June 17, 2026
Average speed in professional cycling
The numbers speak for themselves. In major cycling tours like the Tour de France, the average stage speed is usually between 39 and 42 km/h – and that's over distances of 150 to over 200 kilometers. Individual flat stages can even be ridden at an average speed of over 45 km/h .
For comparison: Ambitious amateur cyclists often reach speeds of 28–32 km/h on longer routes, which is already very respectable – but significantly below the professional level.
Tour de France 2022, Stage 13 (Flat Stage): Average speed of 49.4 km/h – one of the fastest stages in Tour history.
Overall average over three weeks (2022): Jonas Vingegaard rode into the yellow jersey with an average speed of approximately 42 km/h .
Mountain finishes (e.g. Alpe d'Huez ): Here the average speed drops to about 18–22 km/h – which is still impressive given the gradient.
Individual time trial – maximum efficiency
In time trials, the so-called "king discipline of solitude", professionals can reach speeds of 50-55 km/h on flat terrain – and maintain this for 30 to 60 minutes.
World-class time trialists like Filippo Ganna or Remco Evenepoel average over 400 watts , with optimal aerodynamics and perfect pacing.
Watts per kilogram: The true measure
Speed depends on many factors – wind , route, group – but at its core, it's about how much power a rider puts onto the road.
In high mountain regions, this is exactly what separates the wheat from the chaff – anyone who can't put out 6 W/kg can't compete at the front of the tour.
Factors influencing speed
1. Slipstreaming & Teamwork
In a well-organized peloton, a professional cyclist can save 30% energy – while maintaining the same pace. This explains why the average speed on flat stages is so high.
What does that mean for you as an amateur athlete?
The comparison with the professionals is fascinating, but not frustrating. Because:
You can learn a lot from them: seating position, pacing, nutrition , training methods.
Even professionals do relaxed base rides – at 25–30 km/h , depending on the terrain.
And most importantly: your personal development counts. If you increase your average speed over 100 km from 26 to 30 km/h, that's a remarkable achievement – regardless of what Pogacar rides.
Conclusion: Professional racing cyclists are extremely fast – and efficient.
Maintaining speeds of 40+ km/h for hours on end, over mountain passes and through wind and weather – that's the level of the best. Their average speeds are impressive not only on paper, but above all because of their consistency and the conditions under which they are achieved.
For ambitious cyclists, it is worthwhile not only to look at the speedometer, but also at the factors that lead to this performance: training, aerodynamics, pacing – and years of discipline .
Tip for you: If you want to increase your speed, try structured interval training or ride in a group – it's not only faster, but also more motivating.
