Visma-Lease a Bike is looking to amp up real-time data collection at the Tour de France with a rolling control room, leaning into a digital solution to help aid decision-making and performance on the road as the team embarks to secure the yellow jersey for the third year in a row.
However, the UCI quickly reacted to the news with a statement saying they were "currently carrying out verifications to ensure that the setup put in place by the team is compliant with the regulatory framework in force, notably regarding the capture and transmission of data."
Rule 1.3.006 bis of the UCI general regulations cover onboard technology. While distribution of data such as riders' location, speed, and power can be transmitted broadly, other data such as physiological data can either be only viewed by the rider in question or not at all, in the case of metabolic data such as glucose or lactate.
Visma-Lease a Bike plan to use a van filled with state-of-the-art technology and equipment to analyse generally available data – from TV footage to weather information and race radio – to provide a new tool for the team, led by two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard.
"We are very happy that we were able to develop the Control Room with our innovative partners, which allows us to collect and analyse even more live data and get a better overview of the race," said the team's head of performance Mathieu Heijboer.
"This will enable us to support the coaches in the car, and help them make the best possible tactical decisions faster,” he added.
The team's manager Richard Plugge denied the data analysis falls afoul of UCI rules, telling Wielerflits: "We use publicly available information for the control room. We are not in any way entering a grey area. And we are making the work of the team leaders safer. We will inform the UCI and they are of course more than welcome to come and take a look."
It would be a particularly welcome advantage this season, as while Visma-Lease a Bike's Vingegaard had been looking every bit on track to make it three titles in a row his April crash at Itzulia Basque Country that left him with broken ribs, a broken collarbone and a punctured lung initially raised doubts about whether he would even be on the start line.
Now his attendance has been confirmed, but given he'll be lining up with such a challenging lead-in, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) has assumed the role of race favourite.
Visma-Lease a Bike said it will be using the control room – set up through a collaboration between main sponsor Visma, a software company, and gaming group BetCity – from the first stage of the Tour de France, with is setting off from Florence on June 29.
“We are thrilled to provide continued software expertise via the Control Room to help Team Visma-Lease a Bike perform their best," said Visma CEO Merete Hverven. "Together, we are breaking new ground in elite-level cycling, demonstrating the power of digital solutions to support decision-making and improve performance, not just for business and society, but also in the world of sport.”
The team has never shied away from stepping out new approaches, the most obvious example this season being the new time trial helmets, with a huge visor, massive protruding leading edge and wide rear wings.
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