[AFP]
[AFP]

The Tour de France Femmes, the most prestigious women's road cycling race, carried out chest inspections of all riders after being swept up in a "bra controversy."

According to Canadian Cycling Magazine and Dutch cycling publication Wielerflits, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) officials conducted equipment checks up to 10 minutes before riders took to the start line Tuesday, including inspections of clothing around the chest area.

The inspections stemmed from allegations of so-called "chest fairing." Wielerflits reported Sunday evening that multiple teams had been using heavily padded sports bras to conserve power output and gain an effect similar to doping, with the added padding said to provide an aerodynamic advantage.

Under UCI rules, attachments that alter a rider's body shape are prohibited. Violations can result in disqualification and a fine of 50 to 200 Swiss francs (88,000 to 352,000 won).

Bert Blocken, a professor of aerodynamics at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and LUT University in Finland, told Wielerflits that the technique "changes the airflow around the body and reduces the pressure on the thighs, as a result reducing the aerodynamic drag on the rider."

[AP]
[AP]

Blocken added that while the gains are not measured in tens of seconds, "over a 20 to 30-kilometer stretch, you can save the seconds that decide a race." A paper he published in 2024 found that placing an object in front of the chest reduced aerodynamic drag by up to 3.6 percent.

According to US cycling outlet Velo, padded chests were also spotted in the women's peloton at the 2024 Paris Olympics time trial and at the Giro d'Italia Donne, a major women's professional road cycling race held annually in Italy, last year.

Chest fairing is not a new technique. Riders have used methods such as wrapping radios in extra padding and tucking them into the front of their race kits, and have even resorted to water bottles and dosirak containers.

The UCI recently cracked down on placing radios in front of the chest and banned ice socks at this year's men's Tour de France for the same reason. In June, it also prohibited jerseys with front pockets.


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