2 min readThe 21-kilometer time trial stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was hotly contested by the top General Classification contenders, but time trial World Champion Marlen Reusser took the win. Bicycling’s experts were focused on another major news story about today’s stage, though: The UCI crackdown on any technology that ‘changes body morphology’—a rule that cause some teams to call for riders to be checked for chest farings and padded bras before the stage started.For everyday riders, what gear is actually worth it to make you more aerodynamic? And when should you be concerned with aerodynamics versus comfort or lighter weight for your gear?
The 21-kilometer time trial stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was always going to be the stage where the general classification riders started to show their playing cards, and it did not disappoint: Marlen Reusser took the win, but she was followed closely by Demi Vollering while other top GC hopefuls like Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Kasia Nieuwiadoma Phinney were distanced.
But the bigger conversation was the headlines announcing that the UCI would be checking riders’ bras for anything that could change the riders’ morphology, making them more aerodynamic. In this episode, the Bicycling experts are chatting about what the UCI was really looking for, and sharing a few tips that can make everyday riders more aerodynamic without breaking the bank, from making sure that kit fits properly to investing in an aero helmet and/or narrower handlebars.
Stage 4 Podium
1. Marlen Reusser
2. Lieke Nooijen
3. Demi Vollering
GC Standings After Stage 4
1. Marlen Reusser
2. Demi Vollering +14
3. Cedrine Kerbaol +54
4. SIgrid Haugset +56
5. Elisa Longo Borghini +1:03
Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.
Molly writes about cycling, nutrition and training with an emphasis on bringing more women into sport. She’s the author of nine books including the Shred Girls series and is the founder of Strong Girl Publishing. She co-hosts The Consummate Athlete Podcast and spends most of her free time biking and running on trails, occasionally joined by her mini-dachshund.