THE French media have made ANOTHER stinging attack on Team Sky’s ‘marginal gains’ mantra – with their bubble-padded hi-tech skinsuits under the microscope.
Dave Brailsford’s cycling team have been panned by the French press ever since they first arrived at the Tour de France in 2010.
And after a series of dominant performances, winning the Tour in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, Sky have seemingly had the last laugh.
But this year, the annual Brit bashing exercise has cranked into top gear, with l’Equipe running a front-page splash on Sky’s time-trial skinsuits, featuring bizarre ‘bubble pads.’
The custom-made jerseys, manufactured by new kit sponsor Castelli, have been put under the spotlight by the Paris broadsheet under the headline: “Excess of speed.”
The piece goes on to report complaints from FDJ managers Fred Grappe and Marc Madiot about the skinsuits.
L’Equipe adds: “The pill was difficult to swallow for some teams.”
Geraint Thomas triumphed on stage one of the Tour in the white team jerseys, with an average speed of 52.282km/h, as defending champ Chris Froome finished sixth on the day, 12sec back.
Vasil Kiryienka and Michal Kwiatkowski were also in the top 10 on the day, marking an excellent day for the team.
Sky have traditionally worn black jerseys with a blue line down the spine, but this year changed the kit specifically for the Tour.
And most teams competing at the Tour typically have subtly different kit on a time trial day.
Instead of having a more lightweight, more flexible cycling jersey, teams tend to go for stiffer, skin-tight all-in-one kit to save crucial energy on the bike.
In a time trial, the arms are considered to be the area where aerodynamic gains can be made and this is where Sky have added ‘bubble pads’ in order to help air move around the arms.
The team have developed the kit in a partnership with Castelli and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
But close-up images reveal rivals Movistar also used similar kit-tweaks – to far less furore.
Five ‘marginal gains’ Team Sky have introduced
MARGINAL GAINS are all about small 1 per cent improvements made to all areas of a rider’s performance.
Put together they make up a complete package of significant improvements.
Here are five that stand out…
- In their first year, 2010, Sky made sure their riders warmed up and cooled down on rubber mats laid out outside the team bus and were laughed at by their rivals.
- Sky introduced team mattresses and pillows, transported from hotel to hotel during stage races, so the riders have the same comfortable sleep experience every night.
- Dave Brailsford had the mechanics’ truck floor painted white, so that any dust accumulated can be cleaned up and bikes can be fully dirt-free.
- Anti-bacterial gel is used throughout team cars and buses to minimise spread of infections.
- Sky use colour-coded water bottles. They have a blue tip for water and white for bottles that contain an energy drink, so that they are easy to recognise for the riders.
Sky sporting director Nico Portal said: “It’s legal. Everybody knows the rules. It does not give you a big advantage but it’s those little things, so why not use them?
“Everything has been validated. We would not take the risk to cheat and lose everything on the first day.”
Race jury Philippe Marien said: “It is an actual part of the jersey.”
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