Sleep studies by Auping and Team Sunweb
Sleep studies have been conducted at Team Sunweb's new Keep Challenging Center in Sittard since March 2019.
Sleep studies have been conducted at Team Sunweb's new Keep Challenging Center in Sittard since March 2019. The riders' sleep is being analyzed under the direction of Geert Doorlag (researcher at Koninklijke Auping) and Teun van Erp (movement scientist at Team Sunweb). Because, in addition to things like nutrition and performance, Team Sunweb also understands the importance of a good night's sleep. The goal of these sleep tests is to: achieving optimal recovery for each individual cyclist .
A total of 14 cyclists from the Women's Team and the Development Team have been sleeping in Auping beds with sensors for several months. They measure, among other things, their breathing and the regularity of their heartbeat. In addition to the measurements, the cyclists keep track of how they feel during the day and whether they have a hard training day or a relatively quiet day that day, for example. This reveals patterns that are related to greater or lesser physical recovery. During the sleep test, the so-called parasympathetic process, which occurs in the body when it is at rest, is measured. The body's battery is recharged, so to speak, during this process.
Team Sunweb has long recognised that rest and recovery are important factors in the performance of all cyclists. Since 2016, Koninklijke Auping has sponsored Team Sunweb's rest and the cyclists sleep on mattresses and pillows that are tailored to the athletes' body and preferences. During the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana, the riders sleep on mattresses and pillows that are tailored to the athletes' body and preferences. Auping mattresses And pillows also travel with the cycling team, so that they are rested during the race too. Because the best way to get an optimal night’s rest is to sleep on your own mattress. Sleep research is now also being used to examine sleep patterns, habits and other factors that contribute to cyclists’ rest and recovery. Rest, recovery and recharging are at least as important as training when it comes to performing at an elite level – a good night’s sleep gives you the energy you need to perform during the day.
Read more... on the study of sleep.
