The article shows that the effort at the middle of the pack is much lower than previously thought.
“A new study based on wind tunnel research on a peloton of 121 cyclists may explain why so few 'breakaways' in professional cycling races,
like this year's Tour de France, are successful. It is well known that in the middle of a cycling peloton you ride 'out of the wind' and therefore experience less air resistance. How much less has never been thoroughly investigated. From previous research
with smaller groups of riders, estimates have been made of 50 to 70 percent of the air resistance is experienced when compared to individual riders. Professional cyclists however, suggest that in a peloton you 'sometimes hardly have to pedal', which assumes
that air resistance must be much lower.“
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180711105539.htm
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Joe Cote
"Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else" Stephen Dobyns