The world of cycling at an elite level is extremely competitive. Cyclists at that level look for anything that will give them a millisecond of an edge over their opponents. The rewards of winning are so lucrative that top level cyclists go to great lengths to get that edge. This does unfortunately mean that they pursue the illegal as well as the legal methods to get that edge they so desperately want.

The illegal means that they use are obviously the banned performance enhancing drugs. As quick as new tests are found to detect the illicit use of the performance enhancing drugs to keep the sport clean, a new dosing or masking method is developed to hide the use. What drug use is happening is not known, but most cyclists at the very top probably assume that their competitors are doing it, so are obviously tempted to try to remain competitive. The World Cycling agencies are waged in a constant battle.

The legal means of performance enhancements include the technological development of the bike used for cycling. This makes the elite level of the sport expensive due to all the developments that goes on. Cyclists also use wind tunnels to improve their wind resistance. New training methods for cycling are being developed by the coaches and exercise physiologists. From a biomechanics perspective a lot if being done on the ergonomics of the cycling position on the pedals a d the seat so that the greatest amounts of power can be efficiently created.