Mikel Zabala, PhD, is director of the Cycling Research Center in Granada, Spain, and editor in chief of the Journal of Science and Cycling. His research interests are cycling performance and doping prevention. He is a senior lecturer on the faculty of sport sciences at the University of Granada, teaching students seeking advanced degrees in cycling. He has authored numerous scientific papers about cycling and training and coached a number of international professional cyclists, serving as performance director for the renowned MOVISTAR professional cycling team since 2012.
Beginning his career as a professional motocross rider and amateur bike racer, Zabala still competes as a masters cyclist. In 1999, he began working as a coach for the Spanish Cycling Federation and later served as manager of Spain’s national mountain biking team. He currently works with the Spanish Cycling Federation as a project director, coordinating their doping prevention efforts. In 2013, he was named director of teaching and research for the Spanish Cycling Federation.