Guess This Suited Lance Just Fine...
Pehaps one of the many innovations that helped Lance Armstrong cinch his record-breaking sixth Tour de France win might have been the special suit he wore on Stage 16, the L'Alpe d'Huez climb. This time trial forced the riders to attack a steep average gradient of eight percent for over 40 minutes. Knowing the challenge the course would pose, Nike's Advanced Innovation Team (AIT) developed a special suit to meet the demands of such an unusual stage: lightweight, cool, but still fast.
The Nike Swift Spin Suit is nearly 22% lighter than a standard Tour-issue short-sleeve time trial suit, and up to 35% lighter than a standard jersey and bib shorts. Design highlights include: Lightweight power net mesh placed along the side of the torso and down the spine (the most effective locations for cooling), and along the side of the thighs which balances cooling with leg compression; Waist expansion panel stretches to improve comfort while standing yet returns to provide a close fit when in the riding position; Eyelet mesh on the front chest balances cooling with surface turbulence concerns; Finely tuned textured fabric on the arms and legs generates surface turbulence in these zones where airflow typically detaches from the body. The suit also features an articulated cut that is most form-fitting when in a time-trial tuck, and seams have either been eliminated or moved from areas where they cause excess drag.
