Despite polls trying to prove the public hates them, the Roboref genie isn’t going back in the bottle. Like it or not, judgement calls are increasingly digital, which is particularly good news for V6 Sports. They have just unveiled a new Decision Review System for cricket, tested and trusted widely in India and now ready for rollout.

Another line being blurred is between sport and betting. Gambling addiction is rising. So is discomfort with its presence in sport. Yet right now, the market is awash with promos linked to summer competitions. The relationship isn’t new - but will this latest push finally trigger regulatory backlash?

And finally, something less contentious: Brad Pitt in racing mode. F1: The Movie has just crossed $293 million globally, giving Apple the biggest film release in its history … and another sports vehicle for Pitt. 

Here is what we thought mattered this week...

New UCI regulations mandate wider handlebars for all riders - but elite females say the rule ignores biomechanics and compromises safety.

Top athletes including Niamh Fisher-Black and Lorena Wiebes have called it out as unfit for purpose with critics claiming it's the latest example thinking of women as ‘small men’.

Liverpool John Moores University is running a global study into how elite athletes perform during Ramadan. Researchers are looking at everything from sprint speed to reaction time to see how far you can push the human body on an empty stomach.

Movetru - a Belfast-based wearables start-up founded by former ballerina, Naomi McGregor, just raised €1.4m in pre-seed to take its sensor-packed injury prevention tech global. The round was led by Two Magnolias and was supported by a group of international investors.

Scottish start-up, Theo Health, has signed PGA Tour player, Xander Schauffele, to trial its “Alpha Shorts” - wearable tech that tracks joint movement and muscle symmetry. The solution will scan his swing from glutes to hamstrings.

Detroit City FC has appointed global architecture firm, HOK, to design a new 15,000-seat stadium on the site of a former hospital and aims to anchor their 2027 USL campaign.

Interpol and Group-IB, a global cybersecurity company, say cyberattacks around sports events are skyrocketing. From fake ticket sites to data theft, stadiums are becoming digital minefields.

Decathlon Puts €40m on Yellow

Decathlon has cranked it's pro cycling budget up to €40 million in a bid to contend at The Tour de France. Under GM Paul Seixas, the retailer is shedding its budget label and going wheel-to-wheel with the sport’s biggest backers.

New research suggests it’s not just training that sets elite athletes apart, but the spring in their tissues. Energy-storing tendons and fascia could be the hidden factor behind podium finishes, meaning coaches need to consider bounce over brute force.