Team
Who upholds the knowledge behind CRC?
Twelve researchers and specialists. More than 25 years at the highest level of world cycling.
Leadership
Mikel Zabala, PhD
Founder & Director of CRC
Full Professor at the University of Granada, Director of the Centre for Olympic Studies and Research. Performance Director of Movistar Team (2013–2019) and Head Coach in 2020, applying the methodology that drives CRC today to Grand Tour stages, general classifications and world championship medals. Author of the Cycling 3.0 paradigm (JSC 2025) and the world's only active Full Professor of cycling.
Manuel Mateo-March, PhD
Co-founder & Deputy Director
Coach of the Spanish BMX National Team and UCI-level sports director. Former professional cyclist turned researcher. Associate Director of the Journal of Science and Cycling, specialising in durability — one of the most decisive factors in modern elite cycling.
Senior Researchers
Daniel Sanabria
PhD from the University of Oxford. Full Professor of Experimental Psychology at the UGR. Leads the Cognitive & Affect Dynamics lab — the brain mechanisms linked to physical performance.
Cristóbal Sánchez-Muñoz
Associate Professor at the UGR, Director of the HUM1063 group. Former Technical Director (2013–2024) and National MTB Team Coach (2007–2020) at the RFEC. ISAK Level II Anthropometrist.
José Joaquín Muros
Double PhD (UGR/Loughborough + Jaén/Nottingham). Leading researcher in nutrition applied to competitive cycling and ISAK anthropometry.
Researchers
Alejandro Javaloyes
More than 50 publications in exercise physiology and high-level cycling training.
José Antonio Salas Montoro
Performance scientist, Coach and Sports Director, RFEC MTB coach.
Juan José Pérez Díaz
NSCA-CSCS certified. PhD on the analysis of maximal effort in competitive cycling.
Alejandro de Rozas
Coach and PhD candidate specialising in durability. MSc · ISAK Level 1 Anthropometrist.
Ignacio Valdivia
Former national XCO cyclist. UGR PhD candidate. Coach at the Andalusian Cycling Federation.
Applied AI
Luisma Gallego
Instructor of AI applied to performance in Intervals.icu. Specialist in Python, Machine Learning and process automation in sport science.
Xabier Zabala
The union between the knowledge of a real rider and artificial intelligence at the service of performance. Specialist in generative AI applied to cycling.