Which muscles does cycling work the most?

We take a deep dive into the many muscles used for cycling and the roles they perform

Cyclist in pink top out of saddle on Giant road bike
(Image credit: Future)

We all know that cycling is a great cardio workout. It raises the heart rate, and it gets you out of breath. But there is more to it than just heavy breathing. The muscles (and more of them than you might imagine) play a huge part too.

Top-level road cycling isn't known for its beefy physiques, so while you're not going to end up looking like Arnie (who coincidentally is a bit of a cyclist himself), your muscles are going to get a great workout.

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Andy Turner

Andy is a Sport & Exercise Scientist, fully qualified and experienced Cycling Coach, Sports Director, Freelance Writer, and Performance Consultant. He spent 3 years riding for a UCI cycling team and 7 years as a BC Elite rider, competing in prestigious events such as the Tour of Britain and the Volta a Portugal. 

 

Graduating with a first-class honours degree in Sport & Exercise Sciences, he continues to pursue his interest in research in the field of Sport Science alongside managing his coaching business, ATP Performance. He also works as a Wind Tunnel operator and Performance Consultant at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub, working with individuals, teams, and businesses to optimise performance and develop products.

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