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Supporting athlete selection and strategic planning in track cycling omnium: A statistical and machine learning approach
journal contribution
posted on 2013-06-01, 00:00 authored by Bahadorreza OfoghiBahadorreza Ofoghi, J Zeleznikow, C MacMahon, Dan DwyerDan DwyerThis article describes the implementation of machine learning techniques that assist cycling experts in the crucial decision-making processes for athlete selection and strategic planning in the track cycling omnium. The omnium is a multi-event competition that was included in the Olympic Games for the first time in 2012. Presently, selectors and cycling coaches make decisions based on experience and opinion. They rarely have access to knowledge that helps predict athletic performances. The omnium presents a unique and complex decision-making challenge as it is not clear what type of athlete is best suited to the omnium (e.g., sprint or endurance specialist) and tactical decisions made by the coach and athlete during the event will have significant effects on the overall performance of the athlete. In the present work, a variety of machine learning techniques were used to analyze omnium competition data from the World Championships since 2007. The analysis indicates that sprint events have slightly more influence in determining the medalists, than endurance-based events. Using a probabilistic analysis, we created a model of performance prediction that provides an unprecedented level of supporting information that assists coaches with strategic and tactical decisions during the omnium.
History
Journal
Information SciencesVolume
233Pagination
200 - 213Publisher
Elsevier IncLocation
Philadelphia, PAPublisher DOI
ISSN
0020-0255eISSN
1872-6291Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2013, ElsevierUsage metrics
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