Sports Leadership: Dave Brailsford – The Marginal Gains

In a week that has blown the lid off the murky goings on inside the world of Lance Armstrong, one man has emerged as the undisputed leader in the sports post-Armstong future. Dave Brailsford took a principled stand against drug cheats some time ago, and it has informed his leadership. He recognised that drugs gave a rider and team a 15% advantage. And thus to make good this shortfall, he set about creating a leadership strategy called Marginal Gains. Marginal Gains is all about the 1%. The tiny things which on their own make little difference. But when added together, […]

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Sports Psychology: Cycling In Adversity

David Millar was the last Briton to wear the leader’s yellow jersey in 2000. He finished Monday’s ninth stage in 181st place, 42 minutes 45 seconds behind winner Sandy Casar, after a day plagued by a stomach problem and back spasms. “Today represents a brand new entry into my top five worst-ever days on a bike,” the Team Garmin-Transitions rider said. “I spent 180 km by myself convinced I was going to abandon or be eliminated. At 100 km to go I was 30 minutes down on the leaders. “All I could see in my head were the contours of […]

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