We gathered on a perfect Melbourne winter’s morning for our June Breakfast with the Bunch thanks to Cprime Elabor8, and this time the conversation took a thrilling spin as our group dove into how modern pro cycling tactics can mirror high-stakes business strategy.
Crash Zones & Feed Zones: The Domino Effect
Our discussion kicked off with how innovations in feeding protocols, allowing riders to sustain higher performance levels, have unexpectedly stirred chaos. Riders are now fighting their way to the front of the peloton to catch food, and more crashes are happening as a result. UCI regulations are being tweaked to re-establish safer “feed zones” a classic case of how one well-meaning change sends ripples right through the system.
Chaos + Calm = Success
We heard first hand how riders must instantly adapt: if a teammate crashes out, the Directeur Sportif (DS) in the team car needs to make split-second decisions – keeping cool, issuing remote instructions, and guiding the team back into the race. As our MC, Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory, reminded us, those DSs often run up the road to support riders physically, then jump back in the car, heart pounding, and re-enter the chaos – yet remain absolutely calm. That level-headedness under pressure is what makes a winning team.
Data in the Driver’s Seat
Next up: how Team Visma-LAB brings tech to the forefront. Instead of relying on isolated data streams, they’ve consolidated full real-time race data, nutritional intake, heart rate, position and even race radio chatter into one “control room.” This gives them total situational awareness and strategic clarity. It isn’t just about fancy screens: its ensuring decisions are proactive, not reactive.
What This Means for Business
The parallels? In business, many teams are drowning in lagging data and fragmented systems, leaving leadership reacting too late. Instead, if you adopt a “single view of work” layering strategy, transparency, risk, delivery, and financials in real-time, you can steer with confidence, not guesswork. It means faster pivots, less waste, more informed choices and all without chaos.
Rider Theatre vs Real-Time Tactics
One standout moment was Scott reminiscing about milder tactical games of the past – feigning fatigue to lull rivals then striking. Now? Teams rely on constant communication from the car, leaving little room for that kind of drama. Maybe there’s room for both approaches, but high-performance organizations lean heavily on data and calm decision-making to deliver results.
That’s our latest blend of cycling and business wisdom. We hope the discussion sparks a few ideas for your own team. Looking forward to the next one – it’s shaping up to be a cracker!
With thanks to our 2025 Programme Partners: Webex | Cprime | Elabor8 | Brennan | SISU Solutions | Polestar | IRIS by Argon & Co | CIOVITA
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Breakfast with the Bunch: Turning VO₂ Max into a Blueprint for Living Better