TRUE OR FALSE: A 1x chainring is faster than a classic double or triple
This one is TRUE. The aerodynamic benefit comes primarily from removing the front derailleur. The larger cassette slightly counters this benefit, but overall the 1x setup will be marginally faster. We measured gains of around 2W @45km/h (1W @35km/h).
One important consideration is that the gear ratios are typically wider apart if you have a single chainring, so gear ratios, power and cadence should be carefully considered in advance according to the course you are about to tackle.