IBM will conduct a pilot project when the Tour de France sets off from Dublin this weekend. The BigMat Auber 93 team, sponsored by IBM, will be equipped with a Polar watch connected to a real time heart-rate monitor that measures their efforts. During the race the data will be automatically radioed to a powerful mobile IBM ThinkPad. This will allow the team coach to monitor the performances of the team as it progresses, and optimise their racing tactics directly from his car.

After each race the team will be able to analyse the data, and team members can compare their own heart-rate curves with those of their team-mates. By analysing speed versus effort ratios they can compare the day's race with previous performances, and calculate optimised strategies for the next stage of the race.

This is the first time IBM in Ireland has sponsored a professional cycling team for the 1998 season. Its partnership with BigMat Auber also includes the creation of a Website (www.bigmatauber-cma93.asso.fr) for fans across Europe to keep up to date on their team's progress.