According to a major new study published in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (Sandbakk et al., 2025), elite coaching has reached a point of “extreme precision.” Researchers surveyed 78 world-class coaches—the minds behind Olympic medals and World Championship jerseys—to see what is actually driving the current explosion in world records.

The “Digital Twin” Revolution Perhaps the most striking finding is the move toward “Digital Twins”—virtual models of athletes that allow coaches to predict how they will respond to heat, altitude, or increased training loads. This isn’t science fiction; 80% of surveyed coaches cited technology-driven innovation as a primary driver of recent gains.

Precision Over Power While “more is better” used to be the mantra, 72% of these coaches now prioritize “precision in execution”. Using real-time lactate, power, and HRV data, sessions are adjusted on the fly to ensure the athlete is hitting the exact physiological target intended—nothing more, nothing less.

The Recovery Shift The study also highlights that recovery is now viewed as an “active process.” It’s no longer just about sitting on the couch; it’s about periodized nutrition (matching carbs to intensity), managed sleep hygiene, and monitoring life-stress through tools like HRV.

For the amateur rider, the takeaway is clear: success in 2026 isn’t about following a generic 12-week block. It’s about understanding your unique physiological profile and using data to train smarter, not just harder.

At the Cycling Science Podcast, we’re exploring how these elite “precision” tactics are trickling down to the amateur level. Are you coaching the athlete, or just the numbers?