BALTIMORE, MD, April 7, 2025 – INFORMS, the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research (O.R.), AI, analytics and data science, announced it has awarded USA Cycling its 2025 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Advanced Analytics, Operations Research and Management Science, for its use of operations research (O.R.) and analytics in elite sports performance. With Project 4:05, USA Cycling transformed race strategy and athlete preparation, enabling the Women’s Team Pursuit to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In competitive cycling, fractions of a second determine medal positions. At the 2023 World Championships, the U.S. Women’s Team Pursuit finished in sixth place, missing the podium by just 0.159 seconds. With limited funding compared to other powerhouse nations, USA Cycling turned to operations research, machine learning and real-time analytics to optimize rider selection, race strategy and aerodynamic efficiency. Their models projected a gold-medal target time of 4:05, guiding athlete development, equipment innovation and tactical execution. In Paris, the team exceeded expectations, securing gold with a final time of 4:04.302.
First awarded in 1972, the Franz Edelman Award, often referred to as “The Nobel Prize” of O.R. and advanced analytics, recognizes and rewards outstanding contributions of analytics and O.R. in the for- and nonprofit sectors around the globe. Each year, INFORMS honors finalist teams that have improved organizational efficiency, increased profits, brought better products to consumers, helped foster peace negotiation and saved lives. Since its inception, the cumulative dollar benefits from Edelman finalist projects have surpassed $431 billion.
USA Cycling received the Edelman Award this evening at the Edelman Gala, a highlight of the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Franz Edelman Award Finalists
In addition to USA Cycling, five other organizations were finalists for this year’s Franz Edelman Award:
- Amazon for “Regionalize and Scale: Network Design for Faster and Cheaper Delivery”
- Flipkart for “Delighting a Billion Indian Customers through Supply Chain Optimization for E-commerce”
- Lufthansa Group for “Decision Support for Airline Schedule Recovery”
- SF Express for “SF Express Revolutionizes its Operations Planning Strategy using Operations Research”
- WM (Previously Waste Management) for “Dynamic Route Optimization and Automation of Industrial Routes at WM”
Additional information about the 2025 INFORMS Franz Edelman Award finalists and competition can be found at: https://www.informs.org/Recognizing-Excellence/Edelman-Award.
About INFORMS
INFORMS is the world’s largest association for professionals and students in operations research, AI, analytics, data science and related disciplines, serving as a global authority in advancing cutting-edge practices and fostering an interdisciplinary community of innovation. With a network of more than 12,000 members spanning academia, industry and government, INFORMS connects thought leaders, experts and emerging professionals who advance and apply AI, mathematics, analytics, and other sciences and technologies to solve complex challenges and drive impactful decision-making. Through its prestigious peer-reviewed journals, world-class conferences, industry-leading certification programs and a suite of professional resources, INFORMS empowers its community to enhance operational efficiency, elevate organizational performance and promote smarter decisions for a better world. Discover more at www.informs.org.
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Contact:
Ashley Smith
443-757-3578
Media Contact
Ashley Smith
Public Affairs Coordinator
INFORMS
Catonsville, MD
[email protected]
443-757-3578