Visma-Lease a Bike Embraces AI as Deep Data Arms Race Heats Up in Cycling

Visma-Lease a Bike is pushing deeper into cycling’s high-tech arms race in a new partnership with French artificial intelligence firm Mistral AI.

The team announced Thursday that Mistral AI will collaborate on “performance-driven projects designed to enhance decision-making and create competitive advantage,” officials said.

“We are very proud that an innovative company like Mistral AI is partnering with our team,” CEO Richard Plugge said. “At the highest level of cycling, continuous improvement is essential.”

The move underscores how deep data is reshaping elite pro cycling and how the super teams are pouring money into using every available tool to squeeze out performance.

Thursday’s announcement didn’t reveal precise plans for the partnership, but officials said Mistral AI would use its “AI expertise to enhance performance, optimize decision-making, and drive competitive advantage in professional cycling.”

Branding will also appear on jerseys and vehicles, but financial details were not revealed.

Visma also recently confirmed that it is searching for a new long-term, top-line backer, and this deal is separate from the ongoing sponsor search.

Visma searching for next competitive edge in AI

Visma is no stranger to adapting data-driven tools into its performance arsenal.

The team has been cycling’s evolutionary cutting edge all decade, and already operates a dedicated data center that monitors races in real time, tracking speed, weather, road conditions, race dynamics, and GC shifts as they unfold. That’s just as much about safety as it is performance.

A mobile version was initially banned by the UCI when it was rolled out in 2024, but the team continues to use data technology from a fixed location at the team’s service course.

This new partnership with Mistral AI could elevate the team’s science and performance gains even more.

“In today’s high-performance cycling, data is everywhere, and leveraging AI is essential to staying competitive,” said Visma’s head of strategy Patrick Broe in a team release.

Founded in 2023 by former Meta and DeepMind engineers, the Paris-based company is sometimes called the European counter to OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Top teams across the peloton are using a bucket of AI tools to digest the deluge of data input from cycling’s continuing Formula One-like performance evolution.

Deep data is being used for everything from spotting new talent to aerodynamics, from tracking nutrition and interpreting power numbers to real-time racing dynamics, AI-driven coaching, and post-effort recovery.

Whether algorithms and AI are enough to help Jonas Vingegaard beat Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France remains to be seen.