Professional cyclists adjust their pedalling cadence based on the competition phase, adopting higher cadences during flat and time trial phases compared to high mountain phases.
During both F and TT, professional riders spontaneously adopt higher cadences (around 90 rpm) than those previously reported in the majority of laboratory studies as being the most economical. In contrast, during HM they seem to adopt a more economical pedalling rate (approximately 70 rpm), possibly as a result of the specific demands of this competition phase.
A et al. (Wed,) studied this question.