Team Sky replace controversial 'vortex' skinsuit with new design for Tour de France team time trial
New skinsuit designed for higher speeds of a team time trial
One year after Team Sky created controversy with their vortex skinsuits, they race with a new one in the Tour de France 2018 team time trial around Cholet.
Chris Froome and his seven team-mates will wear Castelli's new Body Paint 4.2b Speedsuit. The Italian brand designed it specifically for fast speeds near 60kph like the riders will hit today on the 35.5km course west of the centre.
"It's faster for a course like this, the profile of a team time trial suits this kit," Steve Smith, brand manager for Castelli, told Cycling Weekly.
"When the riders are going over 60K an hour, this is the better suit – the one you want."
>>> Teams give insight into what to expect from crucial Tour de France team time trial
Fans with a sharp eye may have caught a glimpse of the coming change in the Giro time trials. Castelli already provided Froome a prototype, a mix between the vortex suit – the TT Suit 4.0 – with patches of pimples for better airflow and the new body paint.
"We were already working on it last year at the Tour de France's Marseille time trail," Smith said. "It's 11-plus months in the making. We were using computer modelling and everything to get to this point."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Sky used the vortex skinsuit in the 2017 Giro d'Italia, but it went under the radar. Not until the 2017 Tour, with their new white kit design and strong opening day ride, did it gather attention.
Team FDJ and others complained to the UCI over the pimples, saying it was added material. This year, the UCI blocked the use of Speed Gel with tiny white balls after Lotto-Soudal used it in the Critérium du Dauphiné team time trial.
Sky, however, could race with its vortex suit. Smith said that avoiding controversy was not the reason that they designed a new kit, but that speed was their main concern.
"The pimpled suit conformed to the rules," Smith said. "The pimples were woven in the suit, and Movistar's skinsuit had them on the top.
"This time, though, we ran it by [UCI manager of rquipment] Jean-Christophe Péraud on Wednesday before the Tour. He said, it's great and thank you. So no controversy this year."
>>> Tour de France 2018 stage three team time trial stage order
Péraud and the UCI are due to release more specific rules for 2019 on kit design. Either way, the Body Paint 4.2b Speedsuit should not attract much attention.
"It hardly looks that special from the naked eye," explained Smith. "There's nothing that jumps out, but just the way it's constructed, the stitching, the use of fabrics... we did multiple custom fits for each rider."
Team Sky is the second team of 22 to roll down the ramp in Cholet on Monday. They start at 15:15 local time, just after Mitchelton-Scott with Adam Yates.
Thank you for reading 20 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.
-
Tweets of the week: Pogačar can be beaten, Pidcock meets the royals, and Remco's an Arsenal fan
Sadly for Tadej Pogačar, serial winning doesn't seem to apply to go karting
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Friday roundup: Rapha does sportswear, Oakley meets PNS and Restrap makes a vest
Two new clothing lines, some hi-tech smart glasses and a hydration vest to inspire you to ride further
By Luke Friend Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2024 start list: Geraint Thomas to lead 'aggressive' Ineos Grenadiers
All the teams and riders for the 107th Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published