Top-level cycling is all about the details. It's no longer the case that just getting on a bike and spending long hours in the saddle is enough. As the new millennium dawns, data analytics has entered the peloton. A factor initially overlooked by many, it has gradually become the key to success, without which you can't win.
The bike race is a huge generator of data that spectators love to watch. Not just in the current Tour de France, they can clearly see how the breakaway peloton is stealing seconds from the escapees' lead. They shake their heads in amazement at the speed of the leader on a stunning climb, and then cross their fingers that the sprinters make it to the top of the hill within the given time limit, which they often beat by a few seconds. Thanks to data analytics, fans have a great overview of the stage's progress, including the virtual standings, which can change as the stage progresses.
But modern cycling goes much further in data analytics. At the turn of the millennium, a certain Dave Brailsford and his theory of marginal gains entered the world of the professional peloton. In other words, cyclists were given the task of improving all the little things they do by one percent and the total gain would change the rules of the game.
It's about optimizing athletes' performance (in a legal way, of course, without banned substances) so they can perform at their best. Data is recorded and then used to identify strengths and weaknesses in sprinting, breakaways, downhill, uphill. Crashes and their causes are also counted. Of course, training, nutrition and health are not missing from the records. Elite teams also require their charges to record their sleep levels, fatigue, moods, soreness, illnesses, injuries in the morning and then in the evening via various sophisticated apps. Trainers react immediately in training according to the data, optimizing hydration, recovery-oriented nutrition and the amount of time in the saddle.
Of course, these are highly sophisticated programs. Need to speed up your bike? Take the speed data, bring in engineers ideally from Formula 1 and have them create a new bike that is as aerodynamic as possible. Have a jersey brand that's great but could be better? It's absolutely standard for teams to take cyclists into wind tunnels and have them create jerseys, helmets, shoes etc. based on computer data. It's all about seemingly small things. A simple seam in the jersey was slowing the riders down. So the designers, using data from engineers, came up with a design for stage racing overalls based on time trial jumpsuits. Some teams scoffed; in fact, they were afraid.
Data analytics covers all areas of performance. Teams include nutritionists who determine what is ideal for cyclists to eat for breakfast, lunch, during training, dinner, and of course the amount, as the weight of the rider is very important in converting performance per kilogram, or the ability of each individual to push a certain amount of watts into the pedals. The ideal is to have experts in everything. The best mechanics, the best trainers, the best physiotherapists.
And quite possibly soon, meteorologists will be part of the teams. After all, the Visma | Lease a Bike team came up with a special data car during the 2024 Tour de France to collect weather information as well. For example, the wind, its strength or direction, plays a crucial role in the battle for victory. And being prepared is always better than being surprised.
If you need to win key stages at high altitude, there's simply no choice but to go to an environment where you can simulate the stages. And, of course, bring in data analysts to assess performance practice by practice.
However, there is still one area that remains underserved. As much as it is possible to quantify performance, physiological and weather factors and measure everything in detail, it is impossible to assess the psychological state of an athlete at a particular point in time in relation to fatigue, stress and race conditions. However, combined with perfect data analytics, there is a high probability of minimizing external factors and achieving maximum success.
The Czech Tour is supported by Billigence, a global professional services company transforming the way people work with data. Billigence provides expert consultations and cutting-edge technologies in the field of data analytics, helping its clients increase work efficiency, optimise processes and gain a competitive advantage.