Female riders at the Tour de France Femmes have been accused of adding extra padding to their sports bras to improve aerodynamics. The technique, known as “chest fairing”, changes the rider’s body shape and can help air flow more smoothly around the torso, reducing drag.
Aerodynamics expert Professor Bert Blocken says an optimally positioned chest fairing could reduce drag by up to 3.6 percent. That might sound tiny, but in an elite time trial where races can be decided by seconds, it could provide a genuine advantage.
Tour officials responded by introducing additional clothing inspections, checking for non-essential items designed to alter a cyclist’s natural shape.
So yes, cycling now has what’s inevitably being called “bra doping”.
Forget performance-enhancing drugs. Apparently, the latest secret weapon comes with extra padding.
