TOTPOD 3: ROBBY KETCHELL

While the glory in cycling is reserved for those on the bike, success in the sport is predicated on the men and women in the support team doing their job well. Robby Ketchell wanted to be racing in the pro peloton, but when injury curtailed his career - he turned his hand to making cyclists quicker in anyway he could.

His innovations include the short tailed time trail helmets that became de rigeur in the peloton shortly after Garmin Slipstream adopted them; the world’s fastest speed suit, responsible for shaving tens of seconds off TT times and the BAT box, a mobile aerodynamics sensor that enabled riders to measure their aerodynamic coefficient (CDA) without visiting a wind tunnel.

But Robby is much more than an aerodynamicist. He’s also an innovator. Amongst his concepts are a piece of software that used twitter data to feedback to directeurs sportifs where their riders were on the road and ice tights, which helped Ryder Hesjedal to his Giro d’Italia victory.

Away from cycling Robby pushed the envelope in running - working on Eliud Kipchoge’s successful 1:59 marathon project.

Catch the full podcast below - or searching for The Odd Tandem on your favourite podcast platforms!