Team Sky debut new Castelli skinsuit in Giro d'Italia time trial
Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa debut a new Team Sky Castelli skinsuit on the Giro d'Italia stage 10 time trial

Team Sky debuted what looked like a new Castelli skinsuit at the Giro d’Italia’s first time trial on Tuesday, a skinsuit that could be the specially designed kit Chris Froome will wear at the Tour de France this summer.
The new suit, which was worn by Mikel Landa and Geraint Thomas was noticeably different from the Castelli Body Paint 3.3 suit being worn by the rest of Team Sky.
>>> Tom Dumoulin powers into pink with dominant Giro d'Italia stage 10 time trial victory
Team Sky and their clothing partner Castelli have been working with researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for the last year to develop a new skinsuit for this season, ahead of Froome’s attempt to win a fourth Tour title this July. Castelli replaced Rapha as the team’s clothing sponsor for 2017.
The skinsuits worn by Landa and Thomas on the Giro's stage 10 time trial on Tuesday featured visibly different fabrics and construction to the existing Castelli Body Paint 3.3 suit, as well as featured an integrated number pocket.
>>> Is it necessary to buy an expensive skinsuit, or will a cheap one do?
While unable to confirm whether this exact suit will be worn by Froome this July as it could evolve further and change before then, it is evidence of new technologies being tested by the team and Castelli in the run up to the Tour.
Sky started working with researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology at the start of 2016, a collaboration that came about after staff at Sky read the thesis of one of the researchers in the department of physics, Luca Oggiano who has a PhD in sports aerodynamics, and got in touch.
Although details of the technology used in the suit are being kept closely under wraps, speaking to Cycling Weekly earlier this spring, Oggiano said the team had tried to take a “completely new approach” to what has been done before; rethinking the fabric and way the suit is put together.
>>> Which aero bike is actually the fastest?
The researchers also have a replica model of Froome in his time trial position for round the clock testing, and have been testing prototypes in indoor velodromes.
“We’ve been doing almost a year of intensive testing, we test different technologies and different ideas that we have and that we are either going to implement in the prototype,” Oggiano said. “It’s about one year of intensive testing through the university and some students and researchers.
“I think that what we tried to do here was have a completely new approach to what has been done before. We set up a table together with Castelli and Team Sky to think about what was done, what was the feel of the item, and try to rethink the way things were done.”
Watch: How much faster does a skinsuit make you?
This year’s Tour features two time trials at both end of the race; a 14 kilometre test on stage one, then a crucial 23 kilometre TT on the penultimate stage in Marseille after which the race winner will be all but crowned. Though there are significantly fewer time trialling kilometres this year than in recent editions of the race, the time trials remain as important to the general classification.
Simon Jones, speaking as Sky’s head of performance support and innovation before he took over as performance director at Cycling Australia in April, said they were hoping to see “continuous improvements” rather than a “step change” in performance with the suit.
“It will always boil down to seconds, we’re not going to suddenly take a minute off a 40km time trial but you can win or lose a Tour on a matter of seconds,” Jones said.
>>> How much faster are aero wheels? (video)
Froome however, is hoping he won’t even get to wear the suit by the time the second time trial comes around in France, as if he’s in the yellow jersey by that point he will be required to wear the official, race issue yellow skinsuit provided by the organisers.
“[We’re trying to] make sure things we can control we’re absolutely all over,” Froome told Cycling Weekly of the suit. “If everything goes according to plan hopefully I’ll be in a yellow skinsuit by that point, so I probably wont even get to use it.
“I guess if I need to make up time then all these little things can add up, it’s something we’re looking at now. I’ve done several fittings already, I’ve still got a couple more to go.”
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
'Unbelievable': Biniam Girmay seizes moment in watershed moment for cycling
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert rider becomes first Eritrean Grand Tour stage winner
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Biniam Girmay creates history with Giro d'Italia stage ten victory
The Eritrean becomes the first black African to ever win a Grand Tour stage
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome set for 2022 race debut in Italy
The four-time Tour de France winner will return to racing at the Coppi e Bartali next week
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Chris Froome claims 'racing has become more dangerous' due to 'abundance of data'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider suggests cycling performance has drastically improved since he became a professional, but not necessarily for the best
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome says time trials should be raced on road bikes to improve safety
The four-time Tour de France champion gives his thoughts in light of Egan Bernal's recent training crash
By Jonny Long • Published
-
'We need to see results from him': Israel-Start Up Nation expect Chris Froome's form to improve as they target a place among the super-teams
The four-time Tour winner will have to prove his form if he wants to be on the startline of the 2022 edition
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Star-studded field set to ride the Deutschland Tour 2021
The German race has attracted a large amount of big-name riders who aren't riding the Vuelta a España
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Chris Froome set to miss Vuelta a España, according to reports
The seven-time Grand Tour winner battled through the Tour de France despite an early crash
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Chris Froome and Philippe Gilbert save fan who fell down ravine on Tour de France stage 17
The incident occurred on the descent of the Col du Portet as the riders made their way back to the buses
By Jonny Long • Published