Why Pro Teams Secretly Buy Their Rivals' Gear - GCN Tech Talk Ep.1

In this episode of the GCN Tech Podcast, we sit down with Dr Xavier Disley, the founder of AeroCoach and a leading cycling performance consultant. Xavier shares behind-the-scenes insights on working with WorldTour teams, national federations, and Olympic champions to optimise bike fit, kit, and equipment setups. Discover how aero testing, tyre selection, and marginal gains truly impact real-world performance on the road and track.

Chapters: ⏱️
00:00 - Intro & The Aero vs. Speed Myth
00:20 - Introducing Dr. Xavier Disley & AeroCoach
01:09 - What Does an Aerodynamic Consultancy Do?
04:24 - Working With WorldTour Teams & Riders
08:00 - Managing Confidentiality Across Rival Teams
10:01 - The Importance of Tyre Testing & Rolling Resistance
15:14 - Benchmarking Every WorldTour Wheel Set
17:43 - Sponsor Constraints vs. Pure Performance
21:00 - Dealing With Poor-Performing Sponsor Tech
23:47 - How Pro Tech Decisions Have Evolved
27:54 - Are Aero Sensors Good?
34:25 - How To Make Yourself Aero For National Hill Climb Champs
38:45 - Does Aero Matter?
41:10 - Fake Wind Tunnel Testing
48:14 - Aero Hacks

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Do you think pro teams should prioritise sponsor commitments or have the freedom to buy and test whatever equipment makes them fastest? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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