Professional cycling has until recently been slow to recognise the merits of sports psychologists and mental coaches, but that is changing in the age of marginal gains. Many riders now accept that brain power can add extra watts through the pedals – and the team leading the Giro hopes that it can help them carry the maglia rosa all the way to Verona. The Ineos Grenadiers’ sports psychologist Robbie Anderson has lived & consulted with his team’s riders through the Corsa Rosa. In this episode of Kilometre 0, he tells Daniel Friebe how he works, why cycling presents unique mental challenges – and why strange rituals involving props like salt cellars have gained such traction in cycling.

Kilometre 0 by The Cycling Podcast is supported by Supersapiens. Supersapiens is a continuous glucose monitoring system that helps you make the right fuelling choices. See supersapiens.com