A scandal is brewing around the women's Tour de France: riders are suspected of using artificial inserts to improve aerodynamics. Organizers may start checking athletes' bras after accusations of unfair advantage, reports infohub.kz.
According to The Telegraph, several women's WorldTour teams have complained to organizers about rivals. Individual riders are suspected of using extra padding under their jerseys.
The teams believe some athletes artificially increase their bust size to gain an aerodynamic advantage during races.
The accusations have a scientific basis. The technique is called "chest fairing." Extra volume in the chest area changes the airflow around the body, reducing drag. In time trials, where races are often decided by mere seconds, even this can be an advantage.
Aerodynamics professor Bert Blocken said he has received photos showing suspicious objects under some riders' kits. According to him, the same issue has been noticed in men's cycling since 2023.
"It was found that chest fairings can reduce air resistance by 3.6%, and it was concluded that the time gain from chest fairings could decide who wins or loses in a time trial," the publication quotes Blocken's research.
Following these accusations, teams have called on the International Cycling Union (UCI) to conduct additional checks of riders' clothing, including bras.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that Kyrgyzstan's ITF taekwondo team was unable to fly to the Asian Championship in Mongolia. The athletes fell victim to scammers.