Cycling's ChatGPT? UAE Team Emirates confirmed to be among teams who use AI to better manage rider's training, recovery and tactics
Cycling
It is no exaggeration that 'modern cycling' is evolving at an extraordinary speed when it comes to it's use to technology as means of improving the rider's performances, training, nutrition, recovery and as many aspects of being a pro rider as possible. As 2025 begins, we learn that several teams are considering using AI in order to micro-manage rider's programs within World Tour teams and that there is a great belief that it can help riders' performances improve even further.
“We’ve been working for years with our partners in the UAE on our own data platform. It’s now getting to the stages that are really phenomenal. The capabilities are crazy. That’s where we’re heading at the moment. It’s in the process of being transformative,” Jeroen Swart, head of performance at the team, told Velo.
This is called 'Anna', a data bot the team is developing which could potentially have a big role in aiding coaches, nutritionists and sports directors at the top of the sport.
At the end of the day it shouldn't come as a major surprise, as many look to be always a step ahead of the competition in testing new technologies to try and have the upper hand on rival teams. UAE's success in 2024 is undeniable and the constant pursuit of performance gains is one that proves successful. How much of a role the use of aritificial inteligence can be at this point is a big question, but there may be answers soon.
Swart is tasked with being the head of performance in the Emirati team and that is currently a task that is quite demanding, as with it's budget and riders in the roster, the team has the pressure to perform at the very top level of the sport.
He explains exactly what the AI can assist with: “We have the ability that we can ask the AI for insights, and it’s giving back to us very unique answers. The hardest part now is thinking about what to ask. We’re getting the answers, but we need to know what the questions need to be, and unique questions that are not immediately obvious. So that’s really what we have to do now. Because we have the capability".
Furthermore, the team consider it's use when it comes to possible tactics to use in key days of it's calendar. “They brought up a 3D profile of one of the stages of the Tour. And then we could ask ‘Anna’ to show us how the race unfolded using little miniature cyclists".
“It could tell us key stories, particularly focusing on Tadej and the data it has on him. ‘Anna’ could show us how his performance was and how that unfolded in the race. So you get a narrative. That starts to give you insights that you didn’t necessarily pick up elsewhere. And I can do that in a matter of one minute, in any language in the world.”
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