The % gains are bigger at higher speeds but at slower speeds you spend longer in the wind so they say you save more absolute time. Given the route involves 2,000km across a flat desert mostly in crosswinds, followed by 1,000km riding along a mostly flat coast, I reckon they will make a bit of a difference - more than, say, on the TCR last year.
There will be enough stretches where the effective wind speed might be 25-30mph with a 10-20 degrees of yaw (say, wind 25mph cross headwind + rider, eg me, 10-12mph). In those conditions, aero wheels should be working well.
How much? I don't know, and haven't tried to work it out properly, but I'd guesstimate a couple of hours over the course of the 2-3 weeks. Nowhere near as much difference as optimising body position, pedalling slightly harder, taking fewer / shorter breaks or even getting rid of a dynamo, but worth having.
The % gains are bigger at higher speeds but at slower speeds you spend longer in the wind so they say you save more absolute time. Given the route involves 2,000km across a flat desert mostly in crosswinds, followed by 1,000km riding along a mostly flat coast, I reckon they will make a bit of a difference - more than, say, on the TCR last year.
There will be enough stretches where the effective wind speed might be 25-30mph with a 10-20 degrees of yaw (say, wind 25mph cross headwind + rider, eg me, 10-12mph). In those conditions, aero wheels should be working well.
How much? I don't know, and haven't tried to work it out properly, but I'd guesstimate a couple of hours over the course of the 2-3 weeks. Nowhere near as much difference as optimising body position, pedalling slightly harder, taking fewer / shorter breaks or even getting rid of a dynamo, but worth having.