AI Enters the Team Car: WorldTour Cycling Embraces Vekta for Data-Driven Performance

At the sharp end of endurance sport, the demands have evolved. While a stopwatch, a keen eye, and resilience were once paramount, artificial intelligence is now becoming integral to success. Vekta, an AI-powered training and coaching platform, has rapidly gained traction within professional cycling, becoming a core component of daily routines for WorldTour teams and their development programs.

New Partnerships for 2026

Lidl-Trek, DECATHLON CMA CGM Team, and Team TotalEnergies have all adopted Vekta for the 2026 season, announced on February 23, 2026 [1]. These teams join existing partners Team Jayco AlUla, Liv AlUla Jayco, FDJ–SUEZ, and Team AMANI in utilizing Vekta as a central element of their performance strategies [2], [3].

From Data Deluge to Actionable Insights

The volume of data generated in modern professional cycling is immense. Josu Larrazabal, Head of Performance at Lidl-Trek, explains, “The capacity to collect data has increased exponentially in recent years, far beyond what we can realistically analyse.” [1]. Vekta addresses this challenge by automating data synthesis, interval detection, and session classification, reducing the manual workload for coaching staff [1]. The platform surfaces patterns and signals – changes in workload, trends in execution, potential fatigue, or emerging talent – allowing coaches to build informed decisions while there’s still time to act.

Beyond FTP: The Critical Power Framework

Vekta differentiates itself from legacy tools like TrainingPeaks by utilizing a Critical Power (CP) framework. CP defines the boundary between sustainable and unsustainable effort, while W-Prime quantifies a rider’s capacity for perform above that threshold. This approach helps predict how many high-intensity efforts a rider can sustain before fatigue sets in [1].

Talent Identification and Development

Vekta’s AI-powered talent identification tools are used to identify promising riders within development and junior teams whose performance markers might otherwise go unnoticed. This streamlines the scouting process and helps teams bridge the gap between potential and opportunity [1].

Official Platform Status and Team Integration

For Lidl-Trek and Team TotalEnergies, Vekta has been designated the Official Training and Coaching Platform across their men’s and women’s WorldTour teams, as well as their development programs [4]. DECATHLON CMA CGM Team is also integrating Vekta across its WorldTour, development, and junior structures, emphasizing the importance of a robust data infrastructure [4]. Paul Barratt, Head of Innovation at DECATHLON CMA CGM Team, stated, “We are thrilled to have Vekta as our data partner to assist us on this journey, and to drive data-informed decisions to support our World Tour and NewGen riders.” [4].

The Future of Endurance Sport

Vekta’s co-founder and CEO, Paul-Antoine Girard, believes these partnerships signal a broader shift in elite cycling, towards modern, data-driven coaching and athlete development [2]. While currently focused on cycling, the platform’s principles apply across the endurance spectrum – triathlon, marathon running, gravel, and ultra-endurance events – where training load, recovery, and adaptation are critical for success.

The increasing sophistication of data systems in endurance sport is accompanied by a renewed emphasis on the “human connection” between coaches and athletes. The goal is to leverage technology to enhance, not replace, the vital relationship between rider and coach, allowing for sharper decisions, earlier warnings, and smarter scouting.