Physics, Computer Science, Sport Science: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Race strategy in professional cycling (RS912)

Funding providers: UKRI CASE Conversion and INEOS 

Subject areas: STEM, Maths, Physics, Computer Science, Sport Science  

Project start date: January 2026**

Supervisors: 

Joint Primary Supervisors: Dr Rowan Brown, Prof Liam Kilduff

Additional supervisory team members: Prof Neil Bezodis, Dr Mark Waldron, Dr Laura Mason, Dr Mehdi Kordi (Head of Performance Support, INEOS Grenadiers) 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Sports and Exercise Science 

Mode of study: Full-time – location will be a combination of Swansea University and INEOS Grenadiers 

Project Description: 

The main goal of this project is to establish a strong evidence base on professional cycling road racing trends and identify the key tactical moments that determine race outcomes. This evidence will inform future race strategies and real-time decision-making. 

Many factors influence professional road cycling strategies and tactics, and these have evolved significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Influencing factors include course design, environmental conditions, peloton strength, team strategy interactions, rider skills, and physiological capabilities during critical race moments. These elements are highly dynamic and interact to shape racing tactics and trends.

Specific objectives: 

- Analyse race history from the past 3–5 years across Grand Tours, major one-day races (monuments and semi-classics), and selected World Tour one-week stage races. Data sources will include race videos, rider power and speed data, and race commentary to codify key race events, using expert knowledge and available evidence. 

- Develop a post-race analysis framework, process, and data toolkit that builds on the historical understanding of race trends to provide immediate feedback to Sport Directors for assessing emerging strategy and tactics.

- Research, review, and develop models from objectives 1 and 2 to create a race prediction model for stage races, aimed at informing live race decisions as events unfold. 

The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience by being embedded in a professional cycling environment, participating in data collection, analysis, presentation, and interpretation. 

Funding duration: 4 years

2:1 (or above) in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Sciences, Sport Science.

A strong understanding of the science behind cycling performance, especially the key metrics that influence race outcomes. 

It would be highly desirable for candidates to have experience in some or all the following:  

•    Experience in working or competing in professional sports environments, especially road cycling, to have a grasp of the nature of the sport 

•    Data visualization solutions (i.e. Power BI, Tableau, Google Data Studio) for producing reports 

•    MATLAB/PYTHON/R/C programming 

•    Application of Machine Learning Algorithms 

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.  

English Language 

IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees, an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26 and a minimum additional top up of £3000 per annum.  

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete the entire application form:

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required. 

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS9122)

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory) 

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input both:  
  • the RS Code, RS912 and 
  • the scholarship title.   
• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.  

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award. 

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.