Swiss bicycle aerodynamics expert Swiss Side has launched its Performance Platform, which it describes as a decision support system to help cyclists and triathletes choose equipment and develop pacing strategies.
The Performance Platform is designed to take the guesswork out of choosing what equipment to use in races and how to pace rides. Swiss Side says the platform can be used not only for time trials and triathlons, but also for road races and other challenges such as KOM and FKT attempts.
It’s based on a simulation developed by Swiss Side that uses physics to make data-driven decisions, with factors such as the course, weather and wind conditions feeding into a quantification of time gains available from optimal choices.
The simulation also takes account of rider and bike parameters, such as aerodynamics, rolling resistance, bike and rider weight, and the rider’s physiology. Swiss Side uses its database from its own testing and work with pro athletes to estimate factors that riders may not know themselves.
Optimal pacing strategies
Swiss Side claims the simulation can identify savings of several minutes over 100km, with the same effort output.
It can be used for equipment comparisons and pacing strategy optimisation, with features such as subdivision of courses into, for example, steep descents and flat sections with tailwinds. These are used to provide an accessible pacing strategy and power-output targets, with time gains and losses for alternative pacing approaches.
As well as uploading users’ own route files, there’s a built-in library of official courses that they can access.
The tool provides feedback to help athletes learn from their simulation results.
Developed with WorldTour teams
Swiss Side says its Performance Platform has been used by WorldTour teams and triathletes to improve results. Beginning in 2014, it applied methods used in Formula 1 racing in work with Team Sky on time trials, team time trials and key segments of road stages. It continued to work with the team once it became Ineos Grenadiers and has more recently worked with Decathlon CMA CGM.
Swiss Side gives the example of a simulation of Laura Philipp’s 180km Ironman Nice bike leg in 2024, when a tri bike was shown to be more than eight minutes faster than a road bike, despite its heavier weight and the technical, hilly course with 2,500m of ascent. There were more than two minutes to be gained over a steady effort by over-pacing on climbs and recovering on descents.
Another example given is wheel choice, where a heavier, more aero wheelset was shown to be faster than a lightweight climbing wheelset on mixed courses.
The Swiss Side Performance Platform is web-based and can be accessed via a phone, tablet or computer. Public access is available immediately and priced at €19 per month or €119 per year.
