Danish IT firm aims to revolutionize cycling with AI proposals

The Netcompany Ineos cycling team is set to gain a significant technological boost with the development of an AI platform named Pulse. Danish IT firm Netcompany, a partner of the team, is creating the system to provide a competitive advantage through advanced data analysis and real-time tactical advice.

"If it just has two percent influence, it's the difference between winning and losing," stated André Rogaczewski, CEO of Netcompany. He believes that while data is already important, it's not being fully utilized. The Pulse platform aims to consolidate all measurements, correlate them, and identify patterns that are currently overlooked, promising a "huge gain."

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Vi skal sørge for, at alle målinger bliver samlet op og korreleret, så vi kan finde mønstre i dem. Det gør man knap nok i dag. Fremover kan vi gøre det uden at skulle tænke over det, og jeg tror, det bliver en kæmpe gevinst

The technology behind Pulse has been applied in major airports like Heathrow and Munich. Netcompany is confident that this concept can be successfully transferred to elite sports. The platform's development is in three phases: first, consolidating information on equipment, procurement, and logistics; second, integrating rider data such as physical condition, sleep, and training into the algorithm; and third, the AI simulating races in real-time.

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Ligesom i al anden sport kigger man hinanden over skulderen. Der var nogen, der kom på omgangshøjde og overhalede os. Vi har nok været lidt bagud på den front. Det kan man vist også se på resultaterne.

During live races, sports directors will receive concrete suggestions on strategy, such as which riders to monitor in breakaways, when to attack, or when to ride cautiously on descents, based on rider health data, race progression, route, and weather conditions. This initiative aims to help the team, which was once known for its data usage as Team Sky, catch up with competitors who have since advanced in data analytics. "We have probably been a bit behind on that front. You can probably see that in the results," admitted Carsten Jeppesen, director of performance operations.

Rogaczewski acknowledged that not everything can be quantified, especially in the unpredictable world of cycling. However, he emphasized the platform's potential as a "huge competitive parameter." He also noted that ultimately, having the right riders, like Tadej Pogacar, is crucial for success, but the AI could aid in identifying future stars.

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Men i sidste ende handler det også om at have de rigtige ryttere. Det kan godt være, du kan måle det hele, men hvis du har Tadej Pogacar, skal du nok vinde et eller andet