Podcasts · The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Cycling, Game Theory and Group 2 Syndrome / Kerr's 222 Attempt / Teenage Phenoms Set up to Fail
· 58 min
Episode Cycling, Game Theory and Group 2 Syndrome / Kerr's 222 Attempt / Teenage Phenoms Set up to Fail
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Show Notes
In this Spotlight, we kick off with cycling, and wonder whether we're seeing a tactical evolution in cycling in response to long-range attacks. We also talk about Group 2 syndrome, and why elite cyclists could be a behavioural economist's ideal cohort. Cycling safety is in the Spotlight, after the inquest into the death of Muriel Furrer concludes, and new devices over-promise on risk reduction and head impact measurement.
In athletics, Josh Kerr is going for a mile world record, and it'll actually be legitimate, while teen phenom Gout Gout is in the news, though not for winning this time. We discuss how misplaced the general expectation of teenage progress is, and why we may be setting young talent up to fail, no matter how it succeeds. Speaking of failure, Albert Korir failed three drugs tests and confessed, and is now serving a ban. Do we even care?
And finally, another teenage phenom is in the news, as Indian 15-year old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a 15-ball half century to go with a 35-ball century last year. He's now old enough to play for India. But should he? That's a different question...
Links
• Article on the Muriel Furrer inquest • A device claims to measure head impact to protect MTBers • Josh Kerr going for the mile World Record • Gout Gout beaten in what is described as an "upset", but that betrays unreasonable expectations • Article on Albert Korir's positive tests and ban • Why Sooryavanshi should not be fast-tracked into the Indian T20 squad
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Links in the notes 8
- https://www.patreon.com/c/thescienceofsport
- https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/safety/no-criminally-relevant-breach-of-duty-in-death-of-muriel-furrer-during-uci-road-world-championships-as-investigation-closed/
- https://www.bikeradar.com/features/tech/hit-connect-explained
- https://citiusmag.com/articles/project-222-josh-kerr-targets-mile-world-record-london-diamond-league
- https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/28/lachie-kennedy-upstages-gout-gout-to-win-200m-at-peter-norman-memorial
- https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/albert-korir-doping-ban-new-york-marathon-b2948281.html
- https://www.wisden.com/series/ipl-2026/cricket-news/why-india-shouldnt-fast-track-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-t20i-side
- https://acast.com/privacy
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