Nix Biosensors has announced approval from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for the use of its personal hydration monitoring technology in competition, allowing UCI teams to integrate the Nix Biosensor and corresponding Nix Pro app into their hydration strategies during races, whereas the device was previously only permitted in training.
“This is a critical advantage, as race conditions can significantly differ from training conditions, giving rise to dramatically different biomarker values. Real-time hydration data empowers early intervention, allowing for adjustments to be made before performance-impairing levels of dehydration set in. This is even more valuable in staged races, where short recovery times and cumulative effects of dehydration from one day to the next can potentially derail an athlete’s performance, showcasing how staying ahead of hydration and ensuring quicker recovery times can offer a competitive advantage,” explains Nix Biosensors.
The importance of such real-time monitoring was underscored by multiple dehydration-related incidents during the record-breaking heat of the 2024 Tour de France, with riders including Mark Cavendish, Michele Gazzoli and Alexis Vuillermoz forced to drop out of stages due to heat exhaustion and dehydration, highlighting the urgent need for effective hydration management strategies during high-stakes competitions.
Dr. Kevin Sprouse, the Director of Sports Science at EF Pro Cycling, shared his positive experience training with Nix Pro during the 2024 season, stating, “EF Pro Cycling places great importance on hydration to ensure peak performance. We have tested several hydration sensors in recent years, and have found Nix’s platform to be very accurate and easy to use. Our excitement about the technology led us to roll it out for all athletes across both the men’s and women’s teams in our continual effort to gain every edge we can for EF Pro Cycling.”
“Nix Biosensors has been at the forefront of revolutionizing hydration monitoring in sports, supporting teams like EF Pro Cycling with advanced technology that provides real-time insights into fluid losses, electrolyte levels, and hydration status. Nix Pro empowers coaches by providing real-time insights and alerts on individual hydration status in a single dashboard, allowing for proactive intervention to prevent performance loss and heat-related injury. The platform also performs trend and correlation analysis across different environments, exertion types and intensities to elucidate key patterns and differences day to day, or subject to subject. Using these data, Nix Pro delivers accurate and personalized recommendations for optimal electrolyte and fluid intake required for future sessions to maintain safety and performance across the full team. We are committed to empowering athletes with the tools they need to optimize their performance, and the UCI approval signifies a new era of enhanced hydration management in competitive cycling,” says the Boston-based firm.
You can learn more about Nix Biosensors here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
