Andy Devaney
If pro cycling has taught us anything, it’s that pain is temporary, data is forever, and everyone has an opinion until the numbers disagree. Enter Vekta: an AI-powered training and coaching platform that’s just persuaded two WorldTour operators—Eddie Dunbar and Valentin Madouas—to put their money where their watts are.
The pair have joined as athlete investors and founding members of the newly formed Vekta Athlete Advisory Board, a move designed to keep the platform’s long-term direction pinned to the realities of elite training rather than the fantasies of a spreadsheet.
A board built by riders, not buzzwords
Vekta’s new Athlete Advisory Board is intended to steer product evolution through the lived experience of world-class athletes—what actually happens on the road, in the gym, at altitude, and in that quiet moment when the legs won’t cooperate and the calendar doesn’t care.
As founding members, Dunbar and Madouas will advise across product innovation, performance models, feature development, strategy, and athlete experience—essentially acting as a real-world stress test for what Vekta builds next.
Paul-Antoine Girard, Co-founder & CEO of Vekta said: “We’re incredibly excited to be working with Eddie and Valentin – two world-class, inspirational athletes at the very top of the sport. Their experience and analytical approach will be hugely valuable, and welcoming them as both investors and strategic advisors marks an extraordinary milestone for Vekta. Their insight will help accelerate the development of a platform built by athletes, for athletes, and shape the next decade of innovation in endurance performance.
What Eddie Dunbar brings to Vekta
Dunbar’s reputation is built on climbing, GC leadership, and stage-race results—plus a notably technical, data-driven approach. Vekta says he’s already been integral to early product development, and will now help shape the next generation of performance tooling.
Eddie Dunbar said: “The demands of training and racing are changing, and the way performance is understood has to change with them. Vekta is building something that reflects the reality of where the sport is today and where it is heading. Being involved at this stage is really exciting and is about helping shape what comes next.”
What Valentin Madouas adds to the picture
Madouas arrives with serious hardware: 2023 French National Champion and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist, widely respected for versatility across classics, stage races, and championship-level racing. His involvement is also a clear signal of Vekta’s intent in France—more presence, more credibility, and more athlete voice as the platform expands internationally.
Valentin Madouas said: “What interested me about Vekta is the ambition behind it. It’s not just about improving analysis for a small group of riders, but about raising the standard of how performance is approached across the whole sport, from young riders to WorldTour professionals. Being part of this journey matters.”
The bet: AI insights shaped by athletes
Both riders are backing Vekta on three beliefs:
- This is where performance is heading: how athletes train, analyse, and understand progress is changing quickly.
- AI only works if athletes shape it: insights must stay meaningful, relevant, and scalable.
- Access matters: high-quality tools and modelling shouldn’t be reserved for a select few.
Practically, their role covers continuous product feedback from real training and racing, input into the long-term evolution of Vekta’s AI models and performance metrics, and athlete-focused innovation across endurance disciplines—plus strategic guidance on growth, community, and competitive pathways.
How to try Vekta
Vekta is available to athletes and coaches, with a 30-day free trial and paid subscriptions after that.
To find out more about the Vekta visit: www.joinvekta.com
And for further information about the Vekta Athlete Advisory Board visit HERE
