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Track speed system ready ahead of Rio

 

Track speed system ready ahead of Rio

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AOC
Track speed system ready ahead of Rio
The fastest performance package available. Since the London 2012 Olympic Games, Cycling Australia has been working tirelessly to ensure their athletes had access to just that.

CYCLING - TRACK: The fastest performance package available.

Since the London 2012 Olympic Games, Cycling Australia has been working tirelessly to ensure their athletes had access to just that. 

The subsequent Australian team performance reviews that came after the London Games identified a need to establish a technology and equipment department. This would ensure that all Australian national team athletes would have access to best available knowledge, expertise, technology and equipment.

The objective received full support from the Australian Institute of Sport by the way of competitive innovation funding, and human resource support. The first move was the appointment of a Performance Systems Manager, Andy Warr, jointly headhunted by Cycling Australia and the AIS.

Warr brought over 20 years’ experience through Cycling Australia’s doors as an engineer and project specialist in the motor racing industry and through Warr’s leadership, and the AIS support, the Australian track team are now accessing a level of service and support never before experienced.

"Understanding how to get the most speed from the system as a whole, the bike, the components, the apparel and rider, position is the cornerstone to the work we have done over the past two years,” said Warr, who currently leads a team that oversees more than 20 'speed system' projects, all validated and designed to integrate on race day for the fastest speed package in the world.

However, the developments are not just about equipment. They extend to the processes around how the coaching and sports science staff collects and processes data from training sessions to enable them to make informed programming decisions for performance outcomes.

Aside from the weeks spent in wind tunnels and track based trials, extensive manufacturer research and consultation has been undertaken, with an innovative solution process, often to complex problems. 

And driving the process has been the mindset that the athlete is always central to all performance developments, and all decisions.  

"Designing and testing bikes, helmets, wheels, tyres and cranks in isolation doesn’t simulate the real world use cases,” Warr explained. “We have been ruthless about making sure that everything we select or develop with manufacturers, makes a quantified contribution to the 'system' to help build the most cohesive solution Australia has ever developed.”

“What works in the wind tunnel, doesn't always translate to speed on the track and doesn't always suit every rider. Sometimes it makes them slower! 

“There is no "one size fits all, so you are always juggling engineering compromises".

At the heart of the ‘speed system’ is long time high performance track frame supplier to the Australian track team, and proven leader in track bike technology, Bicycle Technologies (BT) of Melbourne.

There is no coincidence that Australian track cyclists continue to set world records and world’s best times year after year on BT bikes who lead the world in specialist carbon monocoque track frames. 

In Rio, our Australian cyclists will be riding a combination of BT models, selected and suited to each event and rider.

BT’s latest offering ‘the Ultra’ - which was launched at the 2016 UCI World Championships in London in March - will be the frame set of choice in the timed events.

It is validated to be the most aerodynamic and lightest bike BT has ever produced with Rebecca Wiasak setting a blistering pace on her Ultraon her way to defending her world title in the individual pursuit.

Conversely, due to the extraordinary powers generated by the male sprinters, BT will supply the Edge which is known for its incredible strength and stiffness.

At the World Championships, sprinters Matt Glaetzer and Stephanie Morton both rode the Edge to the fastest Flying 200m qualifying times, validating the pedigree of both the athletes and machine.

Naturally, the goal is to give the athletes every opportunity to go even faster for Rio. 

That challenge exists within the relationship between the BT frames, the add on components, the wheels, tires, apparel, shoes and helmets - and most importantly the best athlete position for speed - maximising aerodynamics and power delivery.  Everything has been selected carefully to complement one another in the rider’s ideal position - their personalised 'speed system' package.

"Because the flow relationship between each component is critical, it also means we have had to do a hell of a lot of work testing, retesting and re-selecting to validate every decision,” added Warr. “Working within the UCI rules, collaborating with manufacturers and resourcing worldwide expertise, and then feeding it into to the process gives us great insight into the true benefits available from individual components.

“It also enables us to make qualified judgments around the constant performance claims made throughout the commercial cycling industry. The final speed packages will materialise in Rio. Testing and adaptation continues until then to make sure everything is perfect in August. 

“I am confident we have made the right decisions for each rider help them deliver maximally on their potential, in their chosen event.”

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