Swiss inSide

At this years Challenge Roth, Sam Laidlow delivered a historic race. But a performance like this does not happen by chance. In the latest episode of the Swiss inSide Podcast, Daniel and JP take a closer look at everything behind the record: • Extensive wind tunnel and real-world testing • Aerodynamics • Cooling and race-day preparation • Data-driven pacing strategies • The role of the Swiss Side Performance Platform • The mental strength required to push beyond existing limits How do countless hours of testing translate into seven decisive seconds on race day? And how much faster can triathlon become in the future? Listen now to the new episode: “7 Seconds Faster - About a New World Record.”

In this podcast episode, Daniel Jugan interviews Laura Philipp, discussing various aspects of training, racing, and performance. They explore the significance of off days, the pressure of expectations in the sport, and the strategies athletes use to improve their performance. Laura shares her experiences with wind tunnel testing and the balance between aerodynamics and power on the bike, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing conditions in races. In this engaging conversation, Daniel Jugan and Laura discuss the evolution of training and equipment in triathlon, emphasizing the importance of aerodynamics, mental preparation, and consistency in performance. They explore the significance of injury prevention and health management, while also providing valuable advice for young athletes. The discussion highlights the balance between joy and competition in sports, and the necessity of listening to one's body for sustainable training practices.

In this episode, Daniel Jugan hosts Laura Philip and Jörg from Swiss Side to discuss the newly launched Performance Platform, a tool designed for age groupers to optimize their race strategies and equipment choices. The conversation highlights the platform's capabilities in pacing and equipment optimization, as well as the importance of data-driven decisions for athletes. Laura shares her experience using the tool during the Ironman World Championships, emphasizing how it helped her execute her race plan effectively. Jörg explains the platform's features and its goal to reduce mental load for athletes, providing them with confidence on race day.

In this episode, Daniel and JP discuss the latest innovations in aerodynamics for running and cycling, including the development of the first fully aerodynamic running shoe in collaboration with Salomon. They explore the impact of aerodynamics on performance, upcoming product launches, and the future of sports technology.

In this episode, we reflect on the past year at Swiss Side in the triathlon and cycling industry. We discuss the challenges we faced, including global disruptions and product recalls. We also highlight the successes of 2025, from product launches to key innovations, while emphasizing the importance of safety and quality assurance. Our conversation touches on the lessons learned and our plans for 2026, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of the Swiss Side team. It feels great to be back with the first episode of 2026 – and we are ready to deliver at least one podcast episode per month for you. Tune in on the podcast platform of your choice. And feel free to send us your feedback and questions – we will implement what we can. Enjoy all the rides, Your #swisssidecrew

In this episode, professional triathlete Anne-Sophie Pierre shares her journey from a young athlete to competing at the professional level. She discusses her early experiences in triathlon, the challenges of transitioning to professional racing, and her goals for the future, including preparing for Ironman events. Anne-Sophie emphasizes the importance of mental resilience, the role of social media in her career, and the support she receives from her partner and family. She also offers valuable advice for aspiring athletes, encouraging them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

In episode number 16, Lisa Nordén opens up about her journey, from her Olympic experiences to the evolution of triathlon aerodynamics. She shares valuable insights on balance, the importance of pacing strategies, and how the sport has changed - especially with new equipment and testing options. We also talked about the role mental health plays in an athlete's success and her future goals. Tune in for a deep dive into the mindset and experiences of one of triathlon’s best 🎧🔥. Enjoy all the rides, Your #swisssidecrew

The goals for this season are set, now it’s time to get prepared to deliver at the most iconic races in the world of triathlon. We had a tea with Sam on his balcony and talked about the highs and lows of being a pro, his dedication and commitment to this sport and so much more.

In this episode, Flurina Rigling shares her journey in para cycling, discussing her gradual entry into the sport, the impact of adaptive technologies on her performance, and the emotional challenges she faced during competitions.

Jason emphasizes the importance of aerodynamics in racing, the balance between comfort and performance, and the support of his team. Jason reflects on memorable races, personal growth, and the significance of enjoying the sport. He also shares insights on nutrition, training, and future goals, including the possibility of competing in Ironman events.

We talk with Patrick about all things aero and about his prep for the upcoming big dance in Kailua Kona. Patrick also gave us a glimpse on how it feels to win a race on the green table and how he turns difficult situations into motivation. Thanks a lot for your time, Patrick. It was a pleasure 🔥. We wish you great last weeks of preparation before the big dance. Sit back, relax and listen to inspiring & honest stories.

What’s applicable for amateur athletes, what do you need to test your new equipment and find out if it is faster or not? Well, in this episode you’ll get all the information and in the end some „easy to adapt“ aero tipps from our engineers. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

In the third episode of the Aero Round Table our Swiss Side engineers talk about the importance of aero wheels, how to find the right setup, the myth of the 105% Rule, tubeless vs. tube and so much more. 15 Minutes of pure cycling value, served hot for all the swisssiders out there. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Have you ever wondered what a #helmet, a #trisuit , aero socks or calf sleeves really bring on the table when it comes to saving serious watts? Well, here you´ll get all the answers. The second episode is all about comparing aero gadgets based on the greatest benefit at the lowest price. Enjoy the second episode of our podcast special, that definitely makes you faster.

In this special series four engineers from Swiss Side discuss five of the most relevant topics in the world of cycling. The topic of the first episode is hotly debated among age groupers: Most amateur athletes think they are too slow and aerodynamic optimisations on the bike are just important for professional athletes. Why is this assumption wrong and why is aerodynamic optimization so important for amateurs too? Well, here you´ll get all the answers. Enjoy the first episode of our podcast special, that makes you faster.

Larry gives us a lot of insights about the life of a pro cyclist in the world tour. Larry is looking back on a long career while being only 33 years old. We talked about safety aspects, the importance of being aero, what changed the world of cycling in the past years and about his experiences with material over the years.

„What I love about what we do at Swiss Side: If it doesn't bring performance, if it's not relevant technology, it doesn't get to market. And the whole team stands behind that approach. And again, I keep saying it, that's our promise to our customers, because our customers are spending a lot of their hard-earned money on their passion on these products, and they don't want to be cheated. And I don't want to be cheated as a consumer.“ Jean-Paul Ballard, CEO of Swiss Side

We are back with season number 2, hyped and ready for a year full of highlights. We start with an episode dedicated to triathlon and besides talking about our roster and our new athletes, JP is giving you insights from a sponsorship view. Find out more about the opportunities of the new race series like the PTO100 and what aero experiments we may expect to see this year. To round up this first episode we have some funny stories from the past. If you want to hear what @janvan has experienced with a chicken in the wind tunnel and why the crew and Daniela Bleymehl almost flew away while aero-testing, listen to our new podcast episode on the platform oof your choice.

On October 14th, Lucy Charles Barclay broke the course record and became world champion, Anne Haug, who was also in the wind tunnel with Swiss Side ran to second place and our Swiss Side Pro Athlete Laura Philipp became 3rd in the world. We also had Daniela Ryf with her custom made cockpit in 5th position and Lisa Norden with the complete Swiss Side Setup was 9th in the race. A great outcome for our women. We talk about the big show, about drafting, safety and of course about the bottle-gate

How important is aerodynamics in the world of Gravel Cycling? You guessed absolutely correct: It can be as important as it is in Road Cycling. In this episode, Jean-Paul Ballard gives you the most important insights about the right Gravel-Setup for every possible scenario.

2 weeks ago our partners from canyon introduced the Speedmax CFR Track. Crafted in collaboration with pro riders and our expertise, this velodrome masterpiece is one topic we are talking about in this episode. We also illuminate why Swiss Side stands for research and development and we will take a little look into the future of riders set-ups, the Ironman World Champs in Nice and a lot more.

The importance of optimized material is on a new level these days. Reason enough for us to talk about the new world best time from Daniela Ryf at the Challenge Roth, about AERO CALF Sleeves and custom made cockpits for athletes in triathlon and road cycling.

The Swiss Side engineering team did an extensive study for Global Cycling Network on the effects of aero vs weight, also considering rotating weight. The detailed analysis was done on three types of courses: 1. Steep climb; 2. Time trial; 3. Criterium, with a light weight wheel setup and a heaver (+450g) aero wheel setup. Learn which was faster on each of these courses and what effect the wind plays in the results. “You can add weight to your bike with more aerodynamic components, and it will make you faster. It’s just a fact!” -Jean-Paul Ballard

Listen to the new episode and grab yourselves some really useful aero-tips, a lot of insights and an introduction into the world of aerodynamics, project 101, real watt-savers and so much more.

Where does the name of the company come from? What is this thing called the "wind tunnel battle", what has Bruce Lee to do with JP and whats the recipe for a successful start-up?

One bad buy led him to start a company & changed his life - and the wheel industry - forever. Listen to Daniel Welsch talking with Jean-Paul Ballard about the birth of Swiss Side. Once upon a time in Switzerland there was Jean-Paul Ballard working in the Formula One industry as an engineer. He went out for bike rides with his work colleagues during the lunch brakes and as all people with gasoline in his veins instead of blood, he wanted to become faster as his colleagues and bought very expensive carbon wheels for his road bike. All of a sudden he almost lost the complete wheel right underneath his bike frame and decided to make it better. So he did and Swiss Side was born. We recorded the first episode of this podcast to explain where JP and Swiss Side come from and how hard it was to get a step into the wheel industry. We will do this on a regular base from now on and you can find us on Spotify [Link in Bio and in the stories] and on all the other platforms pretty soon too. Enjoy the first episode and the insights about the fastest wheels in the game.