How Team Sky Have Changed Cycling

How have they become one of the most successful teams in pro cycling?

With well over 200 victories to their name in the space of 6 years, including 4 Tour de France titles, it's safe to say Team Sky have had a massive impact on the way we look at pro cycling. We take a closer look at how they're a bit different from other teams, from 'marginal gains' to tech to nutrition.

What do you think about Team Sky's methods? Have you adopted any marginal gains of your own? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Leave us a comment below!

[qlezkhk]

Team Sky is simply outstanding. Hard work. team work and good management always payoff

[NielsHeldens]

A tenth of a percent is Permille Tom. Dan should've know this because it's a common figure in blood alcohol testing.

[patrickarredon]

I know I talk a lot of smack on here sometimes, but I'm just teasing/having fun. I love GCN. You guys are the best cycling channel anywhere!

[astronomenov]

Well done GCN for creating a video that has flushed out almost every Sky Team hater, troll and grammar pedant. Oh I love the internet but my car crash addiction syndrome means I have to read the comments section. I see even Team GCN are now getting stick for making Youtube boring by being so successful that big companies are paying for adverts right in the middle of the videos. Before the internet, how did the trolls exercise their twisted attitude? Did they get punched a lot in pubs?

[garethhall]

You totally missed the unbelievable amount of effects put into the kit by Rapha. They have worked with Team Sky for the last couple of years it development from the ground up and developed more kit innovations than we have seen any other manufacturer before or maybe will again. Without doubt more developments than anything else they've possibly done with anyone

[dansneyd]

I think alot of the anger directed towards sky is because of their dominance not their riding style. If tinkoff had won 4 out of the last five I'd be a bit bored. As it happens im British, so im loving it!

[PaulJakma]

So... Eddy Merckx was famous for paying enormous amounts of attention to detail. E.g., on every aspect of the frame design, wheels and components, with Ernesto Colnago and other suppliers. He analysed his body with one of the earliest VO₂Max measurement systems, etc.

Lance Armstrong was also renowned for his attention to detail and focus on equipment and small gains. His tubular tyres were cured in a dark shed for a year before use. Trek built a special 'narrow' bike for him (which he then decided wasn't good enough). There's a whole documentary I watched sometime in the 00's all about Lance's extreme attention to detail, and interest in squeezing out drop after drop of little performance gains, to get an advantage over others.

I am willing to bet that _every_ top rider, and many of the people around them, are detail freaks and have OCD about squeezing out every last bit of performance, and leaving no stone unturned. Every biography I've read suggests this has been the case of top riders in _every_ period.

So it's just patronising to say that Sky somehow discovered paying attention to details, that other top riders and teams were just lounging around lazily and ignoring free speed. Indeed, it's ridiculous.

[THEdavehogue]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if cycling had a "salary cap" like the NFL in the US. As it stands, the team with the biggest budget can afford to buy the most marginal gains, in the form of tech, coaching, nutrition, etc. Team Sky is basically the New York Yankees of Cycling

[MattDion]

Just watched Justin Rose win Olympic golf gold, and in an interview afterwards credited his 'focusing on marginal gains'. Couldn't help but think of Sky and had myself a chuckle.

[PatrickMinotti]

I think the real difference is that they brought a level of professionalism in the management of the team and a readiness to innovate that maybe pro cycling had never really seen before.

[donaldtryk]

Learned about incremental improvements by reading Atomic Habits. This really fleshes out the concept—thanks!

[TheOfficialDJAVI]

That awkward moment when you realize Team Sky and GCN share many of the same sponsors...

[jocstaula]

you forgot the most important factor...money. With money Sky hire a team of cyclists that individually could make a top 10 in Le Tour. But instead of running for them, they run for Froome.

[mirceaandreighinea]

Tom Last, you are the best there, at GCN ;)

G rides 131mm stem (not 121mm, that's Froome's stem).

[johnbouttell]

A good video. Well done. I won't suggest any marginal gains as I know you are working as hard as you can already. Chapeau.

[tb]

It's pretty simple when you think about it, i wonder why no other team thought about it, just take a bunch of English speaking asthmatic cyclists and put them all together in a team with sir brailsford ! Magic !

[frankiea.]

Thanks Dan for the work!. I think that (whole Team Sky) invest their money and knowledge to win, and that is the most outstanding compliments as team goals!. Well done!!!

[guest_informant]

In my opinion the best GCN video of the lot, and I think I've watched them all. Well done to all involved.

[darrenhayes]

I think British Cycling has changed cycling and Sir Dave has ported that to Sky with incredible success.

[D.Eldon_]

Team Sky's secret sponsor: the Ministry of Magic. :-)