The Routledge Handbook of Cycling Science

The Routledge Handbook of Cycling Science brings together internationally recognised experts to showcase the growing body of both experimental and applied knowledge in cycling science, explaining how it can be used to improve and optimise performance at all levels.

With 43 chapters spanning race demands, physiology, training methods, nutrition, equipment, tactics, performance analysis, environmental factors, and health, this is the most comprehensive reference work in cycling science to date. The handbook addresses the full spectrum of cyclists, from elite road and track riders to masters, youth, female and para-cyclists, and covers disciplines from sprint track and BMX to endurance road racing, mountain biking, ultra-endurance and gravel events.

Written by leading sport scientists and coaching academics, and supported by the most recent peer-reviewed evidence, the chapters are designed to translate scientific knowledge into practical application for sport scientists, coaches, and athletes alike. The book does not shy away from areas of genuine scientific debate: topics such as training intensity distribution, relative energy deficiency in sport, and the integration of artificial intelligence in coaching are examined critically, with contributors acknowledging where current evidence is equivocal, consensus remains elusive, and further research is needed. Importantly, every chapter concludes with a dedicated future research section, making explicit the gaps in current knowledge and setting an agenda for the field.

The Routledge Handbook of Cycling Science is essential reading for sport scientists, students, coaches, and athletes in competitive cycling and related endurance sports.