The Science of Cycling: Marginal Gains, Talent ID, and What Actually Drives Performance with Dr David Bailey & Prof Paul Laursen

What actually drives performance in professional cycling, and how much of it is science versus experience?In this episode, Dr David Bailey joins us to unpack over two decades of work across Olympic sport and WorldTour cycling. From talent identification and training philosophy to nutrition, heat, altitude, and the evolving role of data, David shares what really matters when building high performance athletes.We dive into the concept of marginal gains and why most people misunderstand it, how teams prioritize what actually moves the needle, and why talent and training still outweigh everything else. The conversation also explores real world applications of AI, individualized nutrition strategies, and the complex mix of physiology, psychology, and race strategy that ultimately decides who wins.___________________Today’s speakers:Prof Paul Laursen  https://www.paullaursen.com/Dr David Bailey https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bailey-77111640/