- Wahoo enters the pro peloton as a technical partner to EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education-TIBCO–SVB.
- Pro riders will now be using the same smart trainers and activity trackers that you do.
- And with real-world testing, in the pro peloton, there could be a valuable feedback loop, regarding future Wahoo tech.
Data is the new gold and cycling is amid the wave of digitisation, sweeping through all industries and activities.
Weekend warriors now have access to devices, sensors and
data harvesting technologies that would have been the envy of a Tour de France
pro team, in the early 2000s.
All pro teams in the peloton seek an advantage. It might be aerodynamic. Or sourcing drivetrain components that have less mechanical drag. But most pro teams have also realised that having a comprehensive digital ecosystem, is necessary.
A tech partnership with EF
Wahoo has become the latest activity tracking and training company to link sponsorship with a pro team. EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education-TIBCO–SVB have announced they will use all the latest Wahoo devices, trainers, smartwatches and software.
The array of mechatronic trainers and devices available to EF Education pro riders is vast. If weather conditions are too severe to be rolling those miles on the road, Wahoo’s Kickr smart indoor trainers will keep EF Education riders on pace, in their living rooms.
Staying on route - and pedalling with power
Supporting the EF Education pro riders on their outdoor rides will be Elemnt GPS bike computers and Rival multisport watches. Wahoo’s Tickr heart rate monitors will help team doctors harvest required data about rider health.
Pedals will be an interesting aspect of the deal between Wahoo and the EF Education-EasyPost (men’s) and EF Education-TIBCO–SVB (women’s). Riders are particular about pedal choice, especially the amount of available 'float' - the degree to which a clipped-in shoe can rotate on the pedal.
Wahoo acquired the legacy pedal brand, Speedplay, last year. These pedals have some of the most generous ‘float’ available and are now upgraded with power sensors, since Wahoo purchased Speedplay.
Reading the data
It’s great to have all the activity tracking and training hardware, but it can become overwhelming without comprehensive data harmonisation.
For the EF Education-EasyPost and EF Education-TIBCO–SVB team managers, Wahoo’s System 4DP digital platform will be of significant value.
According to Wahoo, the System 4DP software will enable riders and coaches to identify training trends within the rich data flow, generated from linked devices. This should allow strengths and weaknesses to be rapidly identified and addressed, by adjustments to bike fit or training protocols.
