03.08.2026 20:00
Chaos erupted before the time trial stage at the Women's Tour de France. WorldTour teams filed a complaint with the UCI, alleging that some cyclists were placing illegal padding/foam in their sports bras to reduce wind resistance and gain an unfair advantage.
Following the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) tightening its standard controls at the Tour de France in recent weeks, the racing world is now shaken by an "aerodynamic padding" allegation that has emerged at the Tour de France Femmes.
INSPECTION OF SPORTS BRAS REQUESTED
According to reports in the Dutch press; a WorldTour team alleged that some athletes gained an illegal aerodynamic advantage in time trial races. The teams filed a request with UCI commissaires, demanding strict inspections of accessories placed under sportswear and sports bras.
REASON: AERODYNAMIC CHEST COVERING
According to the allegations, a noticeable increase in volume was observed in the chest area of some female cyclists during time-trial stages compared to road races. It is stated that the athletes aim to manipulate the airflow around their bodies in their favor by using chest padding or special bra inserts. Experts say that this method, called "chest covering," allows the wind passing over the torso to flow more smoothly and breaks the air resistance created by the upper legs during pedaling.