Doing The Joan Llaneras

Some say it should be known as doing the Donald Budge (considered as one the best backhand player in the history of tennis). While to most of us in the world of cycling, it is famously known as ''Doing The Joan Llaneras''.

''Doing The Joan Llaneras'' has to be one of the most interesting riding posture i've ever came across to date. Unlike ''Doing the Spiderman'' à la Gary ''The Wild Man'' Choong....the race proven Llaneras-style has a unique way of placing both hands on the cockpit while not compromising the power transmission of each pedal stroke.

Through observation, majority of the track racers that competed in the recent Beijing Olympics tend to stick with the more conventional/traditional way of gripping the handlebars, that is by holding onto the drops (...and pray that they do not brake due to consistent + excessive hammering...). As you can see, this kind of riding posture does not suit some of the Pros let alone lesser being like us.

I've tried to adapt (...more like force...) myself into this riding posture, only to find out that i couldn't even do 50 meters while maintaining a moderate power transmission to the pedals. It was too uncomfortable and painful for my hands!!! (...the back and also the perennial area...)

An article of Ride magazine mentioned that this style was quick to be copied/adapted by young potential racers such as Australia's Cameron Meyer. In that same article, he told readers that this riding posture allows both his hands to be placed backhanded on the bar, as a result, a flatter and a more aerodynamic posture could be achieve on the bike, hence producing more power into each cycles. In fact, his handlebars were custom made by Easton, which provides him a more comfortable position while resting backhanded on the bars.
Among other prestigious victories that were contributed by the Llaneras-style (...on road races that i can think of...) includes.

- Stijn Devolder's (a.k.a. Volderke) great escape in the 2008 Edition of Ronde Van Vlaanderen ( otherwise known as Tour of Flanders )

- Jae Won Lee ( i think he looks abit like Bike Boutique's Daniel Lim Fhu Zhen ) of Seoul Cycling solo ride to the finishing line of the third stage of 2008 Tour de Langkawi (Sitiawan - Banting, 209.4 km)

Note : Devolder was holding backhanded onto the Campy brake hoods while Jae Won was on the drops.

Conclusion : The Llaneras-style is popular on both track and road racing. It seems to be well adapted by the pursuit-er or time-trialist

Some of you might still remember that Joan Llaneras almost quit cycling in 2006 after the tragic death of his madison tag team partner, Isaac Galvez in the Six days of Ghent Racing Curcuit. After a timely consideration that track cycling is all he have, Llaneras returned to racing a year later in 2007 and finished off his career with a fantastic palmares (Gold in point race, Silver in madison) in 2008 Beijing Olympics as one of the greatest track racer of all time.

So perhaps the term ''Doing The Joan Llaneras'' could also be used to describe the resurrection of a few once-considered-retired cyclists.

Ps : Saw some photos of Joan Llaneras (in cyclingnews.com) wearing an overkilling-but-well-earned shiny gold helmet while doing a farewell ride with Paolo Bettini. Other notable gold helmets includes Vino's matte gold finished Specialized Decibel in the 2006 Vuelta a Espana.