The secret to Tadej Pogacar's cycling dominance lies not in his legs, but in his brain's ability to control his body. This is the revelation from an insider at UAE Team Emirates-XRG, where a quiet revolution has been taking place, transforming how riders prepare and perform.
It's a brain game, not just a physical battle. Michele Del Gallo, the team's physiotherapist, highlights a surprising discovery: many riders were not using their legs equally. It wasn't a muscle weakness but a brain coordination issue. This imbalance hindered performance, wasting energy before fatigue even became a factor.
So, the team's focus shifted to brain training. But here's where it gets controversial: instead of traditional warm-ups, riders use resistance bands to teach their brains to send better instructions to the muscles. It's about building new neural patterns, not just physical strength.
Del Gallo argues that even the strongest core is useless if the brain doesn't activate it correctly. The brain's role is often overlooked in cycling. It decides which muscles to contract, and if it doesn't include the core or recruits muscles unevenly, the body can't perform at its peak.
UAE's approach is a stark contrast to the data-driven, muscle-focused culture in cycling. They're rewiring the brain to maximize the body's potential. It's about efficiency and longevity, ensuring riders use their bodies optimally, especially when races are decided in the final kilometers.
This brain-centric method has contributed to Pogacar's success, showcasing that in a sport of fine margins, the real advantage might lie in the mind's ability to control the body.
