UCI launches investigation into special aerodynamic gel used by Lotto Soudal at Critérium du Dauphiné
At least four riders had the so-called 'Speed Gel' on their legs on stage three


The tiny white balls on some Lotto Soudal riders' legs during their team time trial ride in the Critérium du Dauphiné on Wednesday raised some eyebrows, including those at the UCI.
At least four riders - Thomas De Gendt, Jelle Vanendert, Victor Campenaerts, and Jens Keukeleire - were spotted with small white dots on their legs during the 35km stage three, in which they finished third behind Team Sky and BMC Racing, with team staff explaining that it was a special gel designed to improve aerodynamics.
"It's an aerodynamic gel", team doctor Servaas Bingé told Sporza. "It's Speed Gel. The gel reduces air resistance."
"The higher your speed, the more profit you can get from aerodynamics, all small bits help and we try to support our riders in any way, so the speed gel provides an aerodynamic advantage and perhaps also a mental advantage."
>>> Lotto Soudal reveal new name and kit ahead of 2018 Tour de France
However questions have been asked about whether this gel could contravene UCI rules which state that “it is forbidden to wear non-essential items of clothing or items designed to influence the performances of a rider such as reducing air resistance or modifying the body of the rider."
UCI jury president at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Jean-Michel Voets told Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab) that the technical committee would examine the gel's use, but that no decision would be made until after the race.
"Whether that is legal or not, I cannot say anything about it at all," Voets said. "I reported it to [UCI Manager of Equipment] Jean-Christophe Péraud. It is better we make a judgement after the Dauphiné about this to see what should be done in the Tour."
Team Sky raised eyebrows too in the 2017 Tour de France when it departed from Düsseldorf with its vortex skin suits. The Castelli TT Suit 4.0 featured patches with patterned nodes on the sleeves to enhance airflow. Despite the controversy and complaints from teams including FDJ, they continued to use them.
>>> Five things to look out for at the 2018 Tour de Suisse
"You know that all of this adds up and it's a marginal gain," Team Sky's sports director, Nicolas Portal said last July. "All the teams have those little things that makes them X faster over 100 kilometres when testing.
The 2018 Tour de France features a team time trial of the same distance for stage three and for stage 20 in Espelette, an individual one of 31 kilometres.
However Bingé, using one of cycling's famous phrases, said the attention is unwarranted, "You cannot make a racehorse out of a donkey, and that line applies in all circumstances."
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
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Fabio Jakobsen 'fairytale' keeps Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl flying high at Tour de France
Yves Lampaert might have lost the yellow jersey, but two wins in two days mean an almost-perfect Grand Départ
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout Van Aert into yellow on Tour de France stage two after 'boring' bridge
Belgian finishes second for 25th time, but this podium placing came with a bonus
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I’m still having to pinch myself a little bit, what a ride!' : Reinardt Janse van Rensburg’s journey to a sixth Tour de France
The 33 year old South African rider feared his career was over before Lotto Soudal came calling.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Lotto Soudal pins Tour de France hopes on 'one of the fastest riders of the peloton', Caleb Ewan
Caleb Ewan, Philippe Gilbert, Andreas Kron and Tim Wellens all make the team's Tour de France lineup
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Meet Florian Vermeersch, the history student and local councillor who finished second at Paris-Roubaix
The Lotto Soudal rider on living up to new expectations, the new approach of his team, and how time trialling helps in the Classics
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Paris-Roubaix runner-up Florian Vermeersch posts incredible ride to Strava
The 22-year-old Belgian put in an astonishing ride on his 'Hell of the North' debut
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Caleb Ewan out of Tour de France 2021 with collarbone fracture
The Australian crashed in the final stretch of stage three, bringing down Peter Sagan with him
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Lotto-Soudal rider sent off course as he led solo in final kilometre at Ronde van Limburg
Brent Van Moer looked in with a chance of taking his first pro victory before he as sent off course
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Lotto-Soudal down to just two riders at the Giro d'Italia 2021 after Thomas De Gendt abandons
The team have struggled with injuries since Caleb Ewan left the race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published