Science to Sport
Personalised Coaching | Performance Testing & Biomechanics | Providers of ErgoFit
AT SCIENCE TO SPORT, WE OFFER PERSONALISED AND INTERACTIVE COACHING FROM SOME OF THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPERTS.
WHY WORK WITH A S2S COACH?
Our experienced coaches use scientific tools and knowledge earned from research and practical involvement at the highest professional level to provide you with the latest, scientifically validated training techniques specific to your sport and discipline.
OUR COACHING METHODS
With an understanding of your short- and long-term goals, we provide a framework of training prescription and recovery personalised to your training status. Training load is carefully and continually monitored and adjusted to suit your training adaptions.
BENEFITS OF A COACH
Working with a S2S coach, your training and recovery is optimised for your individual goals, within your lifestyle. Together, we maintain focus and motivation that results in your optimum performance.
FIND A LEVEL THAT WORKS FOR YOU
Whether you’re a keen amateur looking to improve, a competitive club or a professional rider, there is a package to suit your needs. Select from our 3 coaching options, the one that will suit you best.
MEET OUR COACHES
Each of our senior coaches is a managing partner at Science to Sport. The combination of industry knowledge and experience is invaluable to each of our athletes.
Associate Professor Jeroen Swart
MBChB, MPhil (SEM), ACSEM, FFIMS, PhD
Senior Coach
Jeroen is a professor of Sports & Exercise Medicine and Exercise Scientist. He has over 50 publications in his fields of expertise which include high performance cycling, cycling physiology, performance testing and medicine. Jeroen has coached numerous leading international cyclists for nearly two decades and is a Coach and Head of Performance at UAE Team Emirates World Tour Cycling. He has had the privilege of working with 3 different Tour De France winners. Jeroen’s personal experience as a multi-time national champion in XCO mountain biking also contribute to his personal success.
John Wakefield
Senior Coach
John Wakefield is highly experienced and well known for his broad expertise in cycling science. He is currently the Director of Development and Performance Coach at Redbull BORA-hansgrohe World Tour cycling team. Before this, he spent four seasons with UAE Team Emirates, with the role of Performance Coordinator and Coach. His expertise spans over a decade earning him multiple accolades including working with Multiple Tour de France and Cape Epic winners, World Champions and numerous National titleholders while being advocate for developing youth riders and shaping their careers. In addition, John manages our performance laboratory based in Girona, Spain. In his free time, he remains active in the cycling community, contributing his insights through interviews and articles in sports science publications.
Associate Professor Mike Posthumus
Senior Coach
PhD, Dip.IOPN, BSc(Med)(Hons) Exercise Science
Mike’s passion for the science of training and conditioning is demonstrated not only his competitive nature that started in provincial rugby, now focussed on mountain biking, but also in his coaching accolades. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, with several published manuscripts. Mike is currently the Head of Performance for the Specialized Factory Racing (XCO) mountain bike team. He is dedicated to working with like-minded athletes striving to be their best. Mike is also a qualified Performance Nutritionist and is passionate about fuelling correctly for optimal performance.
Benoit Capostagno
Senior Coach
BSc (Med) (Hons) Exercise Science
Ben is a sport scientist, currently completing his PhD, with a focus on training adaptations and fatigue in cyclists, with publications on this topic. As a sought-after coach, Ben has guided both amateur and professional athletes to complete their first one-day or multi-stage event as well as several championship titles.
Reece McDonald
Senior Coach
MSc (Med) Exercise Science
Reece began coaching a decade ago, focusing initially on schoolboy and high-performance rowing before transitioning to a full-time cycling coach. He works with a diverse range of athletes, including male and female road and mountain biking professionals, as well as recreational cyclists of all levels. Reece is dedicated to optimising athletes’ performance while ensuring they enjoy their cycling journey. Currently, he serves as the performance coordinator and coach for the Imbuko professional mountain biking team and manages operations at our Cape Town performance laboratory. Reece’s passion for cycling extends beyond coaching; he is an active member of a local road team, regularly competing and enjoying riding his bike. This firsthand experience enriches his coaching approach, as he intimately understands the challenges and joys of the sport.
Darrel Fitzgerald
Senior Coach
Darrel transitioned to coaching after enjoying a decade of professional motocross (MX) racing. An experienced ErgoFit bike fitter, he has been coaching athletes at Science to Sport since 2019 after completing a Cycling South Africa Level 2 accreditation, Triathlon South Africa Level 1 accreditation, USA Cycling Level 3 accreditation and the Science to Sport Cycling Science online course.
David de Klerk
Associate Coach
MBChB (UCT)
Student of MPhil (SEM)
David is a doctor who, before beginning his medical education, spent three years competing at a national level in cycling. In 2024, David stepped into a more senior role at Alpecin-Deceuninck where he now works on both the medical and performance teams, co-ordinating functioning between the two departments and carrying out research on altitude training. He is currently specialising in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Cape Town and has particular interests in both cycling and running. His experience in both medical and performance physiology give him a unique insight into the optimal coaching and management of athletes.
Peter Leo
Associatiate Coach
Peter has a sports science and academic background and works as a performance coach and sports scientist in professional cycling, currently with World Tour Team, Jayco AlUla. He also worked with triathletes, cyclists and runners because his passion is to advise, inform and motivate athletes of all ages and abilities.
Craig Uria
Associate Coach
Craig Uria is doctor of Chiropractic, dedicated to enhancing health and performance. He owns Spine and Sport Centre, managing athletes and offering a clinical approach to bike fitting. Dr Uria is a qualified performance nutritionist with a passion for coaching athletes to optimum health and performance. Craig is from an extreme sports background and is a passionate mountain biker, having participated in 10 Cape Epics, winning the Masters category and multiple podium finishes. He has multiple SA XCM Vet titles and numerous victories and podium finishes in XCM and stage races, including Cape Pioneer, Sani2c, Tankwa Trek and W2W.
Felix Imbery
Associate Coach
Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering
Currently completing Masters in Sports Sciences
Felix expresses his passion for endurance sports by competing in triathlons, cycling and (trail) running. He has been sharing his passion and experience by coaching athletes of all abilities and ages for just over a year, and his degree in Sports Science helps him to get the best out of each athlete.
Nicola Freitas
Associate Coach
As a medical doctor specialising in sports and exercise medicine, Nicola brings a deep understanding of performance physiology and medical insight into her coaching practice. Her passion lies in optimising performance through evidence-based approaches, and is dedicated to helping individuals reach their full potential by tailoring strategies that enhance performance while promoting long-term health and resilience.
Her own background in elite-level cycling, including competing in the Cape Epic and the MTB Marathon World Championships, provides her with valuable practical experience. This experience enables her to offer insights and guidance that are both scientifically grounded and shaped by firsthand knowledge of the demands of high-level competition.
Tim Klein
Associate Coach
BSc (Med)(Hons) Exercise Science
Tim is a sport scientist and coach who is currently completing his MSc focusing on strength and conditioning for cyclists. His coaching journey has mirrored his own sporting pursuits – beginning with running before focusing on cycling.
His work in our Cape Town Performance Laboratory, and at the High-Performance Centre at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, provides him with valuable experience in both understanding endurance performance as well as how best to apply it to each athlete. Tim is passionate about helping all athletes achieve their goals and have some fun along the way.
SCIENCE TO SPORT ANTI-DOPING PLEDGE
Science to Sport takes a firm stance in support of clean and fair sport. We do not wish to be associated with any athletes who breach the anti-doping regulations. We require all of our athletes to sign a pledge in support of these principles.
Furthermore, Science to Sport will report any suspicious behaviour, actions or associations we feel may implicate any athlete in any doping, to relevant anti-doping governing bodies such as the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and cease coaching services with immediate effect.