A matter of numbers

Matteo Malucelli and the science of performance.

Published: May 26, 2026

Precision, efficiency and adaptability: in modern cycling, performance is built long before the finish line. This is how an engineer approaches the toughest challenges in professional racing.

When the spotlight fades after the biggest races, attention shifts behind the scenes, where performance is analyzed with clarity and precision. For Matteo Malucelli, his first Giro d’Italia has represented far more than a simple participation. It has become a real testing ground where racing experience and engineering thinking merge inside the complex system of a three-week Grand Tour.

In today’s WorldTour peloton, where every detail is measured, analyzed and optimized, the difference often lies in the ability to transform data, efficiency and technical sensitivity into real-world performance.

How do you analyze and plan a Grand Tour debut like the Giro d’Italia from a purely numerical and strategic perspective?

“For an engineer, the Giro d’Italia is not just a sequence of stages — it is a massive exercise in energy optimization and biomechanical stress management over 21 days. Before the race, everything is based on planning, but the real challenge is dealing with unpredictability inside a complex system like the peloton. Aerodynamics obviously make a huge difference, but small details in power transfer matter just as much.

This analytical approach helped me deal with difficult moments. I had set some important personal goals for myself, but unfortunately a few crashes got in the way,” explains the rider from Forlì. “You need to be ready to recalculate your plans. I kept fighting, focused on recovering, and tried to arrive as fresh as possible for the stages that suited me best in the final week.”

Modern cycling constantly revolves around stiffness, power transfer and data. How do your Nimbl shoes respond to your physical and biomechanical needs over long periods of racing?

“As an engineer, I can tell you that shoes are one of the most important contact points between the rider and the bike. That is where power becomes transmission. The structural stiffness of the carbon sole on my shoes is impressive. Every watt is transferred immediately without dispersion, but without sacrificing stability and comfort over long distances.”

What is your final assessment of your first experience at the Corsa Rosa?

“The balance is extremely positive, especially because a three-week race is the ultimate endurance test for both equipment and the human body. Overall, our Giro has been going very well: we have already won two stages and had the honor of wearing the Maglia Rosa for two days.

But the greatest satisfaction has been seeing that the entire ‘system’ worked perfectly. This Giro d’Italia has been a milestone for me, but above all a huge collection of experience and data. The interesting part now will be understanding where we can still improve.”