Cycling's AI arms race gets a new competitor as Jayco teams unveil partnership with motion capture and scouting capabilities

The Jayco-AlUla men’s and Liv-AlUla-Jayco women’s cycling teams have entered a new partnership with UK-based AI technology firm ai.io, marking a significant development in the sport’s growing embrace of artificial intelligence. Operated by GreenEDGE Cycling, the teams aim to leverage ai.io’s expertise to enhance athlete performance through advanced motion capture and data analysis. This collaboration extends beyond training optimisation, encompassing talent identification and innovative fan engagement strategies, signalling a broad application of AI within professional cycling. GreenEDGE’s general manager Brent Copeland emphasised the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements as the sport evolves rapidly. ai.io’s Operating CEO Andrew Day highlighted the partnership as an opportunity to apply cutting-edge AI tools to one of cycling’s most progressive WorldTour teams. The technology includes a motion capture system called 3DAT, capable of analysing human movement from any video source, which could be pivotal in refining rider technique, monitoring live race performance, and preventing injuries. Complementing this is aiLab, an AI-driven platform that integrates physiological data to tailor performance plans, alongside aiScout, a talent identification tool originally developed for football now adapted for cycling. This deal adds to a series of recent AI collaborations across professional cycling, reflecting an intensifying technological arms race. Teams such as Ineos, Visma-Lease a Bike, and UAE Team Emirates have all partnered with AI companies to gain competitive advantages, ranging from race strategy to nutrition and rider development. Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner has even created her own AI platform to manage her performance data, illustrating the growing individual as well as team-level adoption of these technologies. Jayco-AlUla’s senior advisor Darach McQuaid described the alliance as a crucial step in positioning the teams at the cutting edge of innovation within global cycling. By integrating AI into multiple facets of their operations, the teams hope to unlock new performance gains, discover emerging talent more efficiently, and transform the way they connect with supporters. As AI continues to reshape the landscape of professional sport, this partnership exemplifies how cycling is increasingly embracing data-driven methods to maintain a competitive edge and engage audiences in novel ways.