Advancing Endurance Sports with Artificial Intelligence: Application-Focused Perspectives

As one of the key technologies in today's society, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing every facet of people's daily routines, including sports training. This chapter explores the use of AI in endurance sports and how it enhances various aspects of the sporting world. AI can provide targeted assistance in athletes’ training through methods such as data analysis and simulation of training scenarios. In the context of cycling, an AI system can analyze a cyclist’s performance data, including factors like cadence, power output and heart rate, to identify specific areas for improvement. The AI can show the coach or the athlete training types that explicitly help the cyclist to improve his recognized weaknesses. This focused approach empowers cyclists to fine-tune their training regimens based on individual needs, ultimately contributing to heightened performance and skill refinement. In a professional context, where personalized training has long been the norm, the value lies in AI's capacity to identify weaknesses, providing insights that may surpass traditional coaching methods. This new type of intelligent data analysis can support the coach and the athlete in the decision-making process. This applies not only to training but also to the selection of races or the definition of a strategy. Specific practical examples will also be highlighted to illustrate how AI is being used in sports today. The aim is to concretize the approaches of AI in sports and explain how these tools work. In conclusion, this chapter not only serves as a compass guiding readers through the exciting intersection of AI and sports but also invites reflection on the vast potential and transformative power of technology in shaping the future of athletic pursuits.