Chris Froome visits the GSK Human Performance Lab for comprehensive physiological assessment

On his visit to the lab, Froome said, “This was my first time to the GSK Human Performance Lab and it has been pretty mind-blowing. Just the level of detail involved in everything here, it really is cutting edge technology.”

One of the reasons he approached the lab was to measure and advance his progression. By carrying out the sort of physiological assessments he performed at the lab, Froome will be able to better understand his body’s performance and how he can use that science to ensure he remains at the top of cycling.

The reigning Tour de France champion said, “The main objective for me coming to the lab was to get my baseline data and an understanding of what enables me to be able to perform the way I do on the bike. This is where I could find the half a percent that I need to win a race. It could be the difference between winning and losing.”

The tests were undertaken by the GSK Human Performance Lab’s Research and Development team, focussing on aerobic physiology in addition to body composition assessment. 

Specifically on the partnership, Dr. Ken van Someren, Director of Research and Development at GSK HPL, said, “The objective of the partnership is to better understand what makes a double Tour de France winner. Chris is obviously an incredible endurance athlete and through some of the physiological assessment we’ve conducted today, we’re able to pin-point exactly what it is that helps him to achieve those performances.”

With cycling at present generating some negative headlines, Froome’s successes in the saddle have provoked some doubters. The desire to gain transparent data was therefore a motivating factor for these tests to be carried out. 

"Chris is really keen to get an external or independent assessment of his physiological capacity and performance. We’re able to provide exactly that – independent data." - Dr. Ken van Someren - Director of R&D, GSK HPL

The GSK Human Performance Lab will be submitting these and additional data for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Team Sky is proud to ride clean and win clean and they were fully behind Froome’s desire to visit the lab.