Mattresses designed for champions to help them win F or bodies as specific as those of elite cyclists, standard solutions quickly reach their limits,” explains François Pugliese, CEO and owner of Elite. It was to address this issue that the Tudor Pro Cycling team came to the Aubonne- based manufacturer to develop bespoke mattresses perfectly adapted to the body shapes and needs of its riders. This expert work of art is already bearing fruit.
The scientific data confirms this: the best Grand Tour riders have a BMI of 19–20, with very little body fat, but legs, hips and lower backs that are under almost permanent tension. “A mattress that is too firm or not zoned enough increases the number of pressure points and makes sleep that is already fragile thanks to the travelling, stress of racing and changing hotels even more so,” says François Pugliese. If the springs are too firm, the body remains under tension instead of entering the recovery phase, the muscles cannot relax and the back muscles contract around the spine in a defensive reflex. If the springs are too soft, they allow the pelvis to sag, accentuating the postural imbalances caused by thousands of kilometres in a bent position. François Pugliese and his teams have created mattresses that avoid these specific biases through targeted
A recent study published by the Department of Sport Science at the Miguel Hernández University in Elche (Spain) showed that 41% of elite cyclists present dysfunctional sleep quality. And this is despite often spending more than eight hours in bed. The study’s four authors insist on the imperative need to better protect riders’ sleep. As a result, Raphael Meyer and Fabian Cancellara decided to focus on night-time comfort to improve the performance of their champions.
François Pugliese explains the approach: “At Elite, we have been crafting mattresses for 131 years. Our expertise allows us to meet the needs of the riders’ demanding and sensitive bodies. Professional cyclists have a BMI that is among the lowest in elite sport. They are very slight with muscle mass concentrated in the legs, hips and lower back. Their muscles are constantly under tension. Everything remains contracted well after they have put down their bike. Our challenge was to design a mattress capable of inducing deep muscle relaxation from the very beginning and throughout the hours of sleep to prolong what begins with massage and stretching.”
measures: “It is important to have a mattress with different support zones, softer at the shoulders to allow them to decompress, with precise lumbar support to neutralise the pelvis tilt so typical of cyclists, and suitable hip support to allow the major muscle groups to finally relax completely. It is this work on the springs that makes the difference between sleeping and recovering.” Challenge accepted because the Tudor Pro Cycling team has noted a significant improvement in how its riders recover. With more wins thrown in for good measure!
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ELITENESS 2026 | Elite Performance
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