During maximal cycling, peak instantaneous crank power has been reported to increase with pedaling rate to a maximum value at a pedaling rate of 130 rpm and subsequently decrease. Peak joint power during maximal cycling has not been reported. PURPOSE: To determine if the relationships of peak instantaneous joint power at the ankle, knee, and hip were similar to the relationship of peak crank power and pedaling rate. METHODS: Five male cyclists (76 ± 5kg) performed 3 maximal inertial-load cycling trials during which pedaling rates ranged from 58 to 190 rpm. Pedal forces, and pedal and crank position were measured at a frequency of 200Hz. Two dimensional leg kinematics were determined by the geometric relationships of a five-bar linkage. Net joint moments at the ankle, knee, and hip were determined using inverse dynamic techniques. Joint power was calculated as the product of joint moment and joint angular velocity and the peak joint powers for each revolution of the cranks were identified. RESULTS: Peak instantaneous crank power increased from 1605 ± 128 watts at 58rpm to 2162 ± 166 watts at 140rpm and then decreased to 1638 ± 219 watts at 190rpm. Peak ankle power was approximately 670 ± 84 watts at pedaling rates of 58 to 140 rpm and decreased to 296 ± 35 watts at 190rpm. Peak knee power increased from 1106 ± 89 watts at 58rpm to 1481 ± 73 watts at 124 rpm (knee angular velocity 8.9 ± 0.4rad/s) and decreased to 716 ± 96 watts at 190rpm. Peak hip power was approximately 690 ± 192 watts from 58 to 140rpm and then increased to 1189 ± 395 watts at 179rpm (hip angular velocity 7.6 ± 0.6rad/s). CONCLUSION: Only the relationship of peak knee power to pedaling rate was characteristically similar to that observed at the crank. Peak hip power reached a maximum at very high pedaling rates, whereas peak ankle power decreased at high pedaling rates. The seemingly high peak knee power values may arise from the repetitive nature of cycling in which muscle contraction may be initiated prior to the shortening phase and muscle force is stretch enhanced, and to the high joint angular velocities reached during pedaling.