As part of our commitment to world leading practices Team Sky are set to work closely with partners Gatorade at the upcoming Tour of Britain to help audit the team’s hydration and recovery procedures.

The project, led by the Performance Support team within Team Sky headed up by Tim Kerrison, will see Matt Evans, a Sport Scientist from Gatorade, embedded within the squad to allow both parties to actively seek out improvements in these all-important areas.

Throughout the race Team Sky’s Head of Nutrition Nigel Mitchell will work alongside Evans in a partnership which will allow Gatorade to get an even greater understanding of the demands placed on a team and rider during a race environment.

Working under the supervision of Mitchell and integrated as a fully-functioning member of the team, Evans will monitor the hydration status of the riders during the stage race as well as preparing drinks and musettes – all the while observing the team’s practices throughout the eight days.

Striving to improve

The biggest race on the British domestic calendar kicks off on 9 September with Team Sky arriving at the start in Ipswich with a strong six-man line-up including Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and reigning road world champion Mark Cavendish.

As Head of Nutrition Mitchell welcomes the opportunity for team and partner to work closer than ever before. “A key part of any professional organisation is the ability to step back and scrutinise what we are doing in terms of our practices,” he said. “Team Sky are no different and as a result we are working closely with our partners at Gatorade to look for ways to improve.”

The number one ranked team in cycling and recent Tour de France winners, Team Sky have worked very hard during three seasons on the road to establish best-class practices, something Evans is looking forward to putting to the test.

“Being embedded within the team allows us to get a much greater understanding of the demands involved,” he said. “To see it first hand is different to any lecture or conversation you can have with someone. It’s about how the best apply that theory into making it work for the athlete. And at the end of the day that’s what we’re here to do – help the athletes.”

You can follow Matt and Gatorade for all the latest updates on their Facebook page here.