Cycling's Tech-Driven Future: A Podcast with Lance Armstrong

In a podcast conversation between Kyriakos, the CEO of Terra, and former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, they discussed various topics related to the sport of cycling and its future. Armstrong shared his thoughts on the importance of data and technology in the sport and how it has changed since he was a professional cyclist.

One of Armstrong's main points was the democratization of data and technology in cycling. He talked about how when he was a professional cyclist, only the top athletes had access to data and technology to track their performance. However, now with the advent of wearables and other technology, even amateur athletes can track and analyze their performance data. This has led to a democratization of the sport, making it more accessible to the everyday warrior.

Armstrong also discussed data's importance in monitoring and understanding an athlete’s body. He talked about how when he was a professional cyclist, he would wear a heart rate monitor during time trials to track his heart rate. He even shared a story of a time when his heart rate never dropped below 200 beats per minute during an hour-long time trial. This level of monitoring and understanding of an athlete’s body is now possible for anyone with access to wearables and other technology.

One of the key areas that Armstrong discussed was the use of data and technology to optimize performance. He talked about how data can be used to track things like heart rate variability, core temperature, and resting heart rate, which can all be used to optimize an athlete’s performance. He also discussed the potential for data to be used in other areas, such as nutrition and sleep, to help optimize an athlete’s overall performance.

Another important point that Armstrong discussed was the potential for data and technology to be used for telemedicine. He talked about how data from wearables and other technology can be used to track an individual’s health in real time and over time. This can be used to provide doctors with valuable information about an individual’s health and can be used to prevent and treat illnesses.

Kyriakos also asked Armstrong what he thought the future of cycling would look like in 10 years. Armstrong responded that he thinks the sport of cycling should not aspire to be an Olympic sport, but should instead aim to become a major professional sport like the NFL or Formula One. He also said that he thinks in 10 years, the Tour de France, which currently dominates the sport, will be owned by someone other than the French and will have a new set of eyes and perspectives that will help to evolve and grow the sport.

Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of data and technology in the sport of cycling, both in terms of understanding an athlete’s body and optimizing performance, as well as its potential for use in telemedicine. Armstrong also discussed his vision for the future of cycling, where it should aim to become a major professional sport rather than just an Olympic sport.

Also published here.