From Zwift Academy winner in 2020 to Maglia Bianca winner for Best Young Rider at the 2024 Giro d'Itlaia, Neve Bradbury has quickly proven herself amongst the top ranks of the sport.
We broke down her heat data from her Stage 7 victory at the Giro d’Italia where she pulled away from the peloton in an impressive attack on the final climb. Heat played a critical role for every rider with ambient air temps in the 30C+/90F+, but Neve was able to keep her cool and finish strong, earning herself the Maglia Bianca for Best Young Rider at the Giro.
Stage 7 by the Numbers
1. PRE-COOLING
Despite 30ºC+ ambient air temps, Neve Bradbury avoided Heat Strain before the race by keeping her skin and core temps low with a cooling vest.
2. HEAT ADAPTED
Neve's Heat Adaptation Score was 68% at the start of the stage, giving her substantial thermoregulatory benefits throughout the race. She used ice socks in her jersey to help keep her temps from rising too high.
3. THE ATTACK
Neve's attack on the final climb pushed her HSI to 7.5 and core temp to nearly 40ºC. A decrease in skin temp during the final push suggests she managed to cool herself effectively, preventing a further rise in HSI.
4. VICTORY
In the end Neve spent over 30 minutes in Heat Zone 4 and earned a Heat Training Load of 10/10 for the day, further boosting her Heat Adaptation Score from 68% to 76%. "It was full gas, I had to go so deep, so far into the red zone. I don't think I've ever pushed so hard in my life."
5. POST-COOLING
A few minutes after finishing, Neve's skin temp and HSI dropped significantly, indicating effective cooling strategies. Rapidly cooling the body and reducing heat strain after completing and activity can enhance recovery.
Analyzing Neve's Heat Data chart below, we can see that she gained a competitive advantage from sufficient heat training prep as well as strategic cooling strategies. A Heat Adaptation Score of 68% at the start of the race indicates Neve benefited from substantial thermoregulatory adaptions throughout the stage. She successfully avoided heat strain before the start by keeping her core body temp stable and her skin temp decreasing with a cooling vest.
As the race began, we see the standard rise in core temp and heat strain. Decreases in the skin temp and HSI during the downhill segments indicate effective cooling. Despite going all out in the final climb and attack, Neve had a slight decline in core temp towards the end indicating that she effectively implemented cooling strategies to avoid further increase in HSI.
"I'm really cooked to be honest. It was full gas! I had to go so deep, so far into the red zone. I don't think I've ever pushed so hard in my life."
A few minutes after the finish, Neve's skin temperature and HSI dropped drastically as she recovered with a cooling vest. Rapidly cooling the body and reducing heat strain immediately after completing the stage can enhance recovery.
Stephen Gallagher, CANYON//SRAM's Performance Director said, "The environmental conditions during this years Giro was extremely challenging with temperatures hitting close to 40 degrees on consecutive days. Consistent exposure to such temperatures meant that heat adaption and performance monitoring within this environment were essential in allowing us to gauge fatigue and predict athletic capabilities. With the CORE devices, we could monitor the acute response to different interventions within the race environment. Crucially, we could use the heat adaption score to see the progressive adjustment in Neve's thermoregulation to close to 80% by the end of the week. The heat adaptation score helped us predict optimal performances on keys days during the Giro."
