Giant-Alpecin to wear protective shorts at Tour de France

In the Tour de France, crashing and the associated injuries are an unfortunate reality. Especially, in the first week's flat stages and on the cobbles of this year's stage four.

Team Giant-Alpecin, in collaboration with Royal DSM (a global life sciences and materials sciences company), have announced that the team will be wearing new protective shorts in the Tour de France.

Protective lycra cycling shorts are not unheard of, in fact Scott released its own set of gravel rash avoiding clothing at the end of 2014.

Team Giant-Alpecin's bibshorts feature Royal DSM’s new fabric which contains Dyneema which is said to offer greater protection to a rider’s thighs. The CEO of Team Giant-Alpecin, Iwan Spekenbrink, claims “The protection and safety offered by incorporating Dyneema helps substantially in the reduction of wounds and injuries of the riders which give a positive impact on their performance.”

Although Marcel Kittel won't be involved in the sprints, John Degenkolb and his lead-out train can sprint safe in the knowledge that when the unfortunate inevitably happens they might hold up a bit better than others.