Stages Cycling

Stages Cycling
Name	Stages Cycling
Type	Private
Industry	Sporting goods
Founded	2010
Products	Power meters, pedals, cranksets, bike components

Stages Cycling is a manufacturer and supplier of cycling power measurement systems, components, and accessories used by professional teams, amateur clubs, and individual cyclists. The company produces crank-based and pedal-based power meters, cycling components, and related software used in competition, training, and research by athletes associated with teams, federations, and events. Its products are employed across a range of road, track, time trial, and triathlon contexts, and are integrated into rider platforms, coaching systems, and sports science workflows.

Overview

Stages products focus on power measurement for disciplines including Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, UCI WorldTour, Olympic Games, and Commonwealth Games competitors. Their devices interact with head units and ecosystems such as Garmin, Wahoo Fitness, SRM, Quarq, Powertap, Assioma, SRAM, Shimano, Campagnolo, Rotor, FSA, and Pioneer. Customers range from grassroots clubs like British Cycling squads to professional organizations such as Team Sky, Movistar Team, INEOS Grenadiers, Team Jumbo–Visma, EF Education–EasyPost, and national federations. Stages products are used in research at institutions like Loughborough University, Auburn University, University of Colorado Boulder, Stanford University, and in testing by manufacturers including Specialized Bicycle Components, Trek Bicycle Corporation, Cervélo, and BMC Racing Team partners.

History and Development

Stages originated during a period of rapid adoption of power-based training in responses to advances by companies such as SRM GmbH, Quarq Technology, PowerTap, and Garmin Ltd. The firm developed crank arm–based meters that offered an alternative to spider- and hub-based systems used by Mavic, CycleOps, Pioneer Corporation, and Rotor Bike Components. Early commercial uptake occurred alongside interest from teams competing in events like Paris–Roubaix, Milan–San Remo, Il Lombardia, Strade Bianche, and Gent–Wevelgem. As the market matured, Stages expanded offerings to include left-only and dual-sided measurement, integrating protocols such as ANT+ and Bluetooth Low Energy to communicate with devices from Wahoo Sports, Polar Electro, Suunto, and Lezyne. Strategic relationships with component firms and retail networks including Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red, Campagnolo Super Record, and specialty shops in regions like California, Flanders, Basque Country, Lombardy, and Catalonia supported growth.

Race Formats and Classifications

Power meters from the company are applied across race formats governed by organizations like Union Cycliste Internationale, National Collegiate Cycling Association, USA Cycling, British Cycling, Fédération Française de Cyclisme, and Radsportverband. They are common in stage races such as Critérium du Dauphiné, Paris–Nice, Tour Down Under, Tirreno–Adriatico, and in one-day classics referenced above. Time trial specialists at events like UCI Time Trial World Championships and Olympic Games often rely on crank or pedal-based systems for pacing during individual time trials and prologues. Classification categories including UCI WorldTour, UCI ProSeries, UCI Continental Circuits, and national championships influence equipment choices and weighing procedures enforced at events such as World Road Championships and Commonwealth Games Road Cycling.

Equipment and Team Roles

Components produced are installed on frames by manufacturers such as Specialized, Trek, Cervélo, Giant Manufacturing, Bianchi, Colnago, Pinarello, and Scott Sports. Within professional squads, roles like domestique, GC contender, sprinter, rouleur, puncheur, and time trialist determine power targets and equipment selection; coaching staff including directeur sportif, soigneur, performance director, sport scientist, and coach use data from devices to manage training load, nutrition, and race tactics. Mechanics coordinate fitting with wheel partners such as Zipp, Mavic, Fulcrum Wheels, and integrate components from drivetrain suppliers Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo.

Training and Strategy

Athletes and coaches leverage power data to plan intervals, threshold sessions, and periodization aligned with calendars featuring Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, and national championships. Platforms like TrainingPeaks, Zwift, WKO, TrainerRoad, GoldenCheetah, and Strava ingest meter data for analysis. Sports scientists from institutions such as Australian Institute of Sport, US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Swiss Cycling, and British Cycling use metrics like normalized power, FTP, and critical power to guide preparation for events including World Championships, Olympic Games, and Grand Tours. Power meters inform strategy for breakaways in races like Amstel Gold Race and pacing for team time trials at UCI Road World Championships.

Major Events and Series

Stages-equipped riders appear throughout series including UCI WorldTour, UCI ProSeries, National Road Series, Challenge Mallorca, Tour of California, Critérium International, and Tour Down Under. Data-driven performances are notable in stages of Tour de France mountain stages, Vuelta a España time trials, and one-day classics like Paris–Roubaix. Teams fielding power-focused programs compete for overall victories in events such as Tour de France General Classification, points classifications, and young rider competitions at Grand Tours.

Safety and Regulations

Use of power-measurement devices must comply with technical and sporting regulations set by Union Cycliste Internationale and national federations like USA Cycling and British Cycling concerning equipment homologation, weight limits, and electronic device policies for events including UCI WorldTour races and Olympic Games. Race commissaires monitor compliance during pre-race technical checks at events such as Grand Départ ceremonies and time trials. Safety considerations intersect with helmet standards from UCI, wheel regulations by Union Cycliste Internationale, and product reliability testing akin to protocols used by ISO and laboratories at TU Delft and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Category:Cycling equipment companies