A new Bianchi (that looks good!), Pogačar’s fresh MET helmet, and aero tweaks from armrests to saddles.
Ronan Mc Laughlin
We are two days post time trial, and I’m back home in Ireland. I’m blaming the dodgy TGV wifi, a long drive home, and an ongoing story I am working for keeping me from getting to this sooner.
Truth be told, though, the planes, trains, automobiles, and interviews were the easy hurdles; the bigger challenge was always going to be editing and ordering the some 500 TT tech photos I shot into a sensible series of galleries. I’m not all the way there yet, but to get started, here is part one of the tech I spotted on the stage 5 time trial.
Many SRAM teams are now using the Leap Components S900 Grip Shifter, which neatly integrates an AXS blip and offers both a smoother transition from the brake lever body and a more ergonomic hand position.
The Vittoria Corsa Speed 29 Wide was made for 25 mm internal-width rims … but Visma-Lease a Bike chose to race on non-compliant 28 mm versions of the same tyre. Did the UCI enforce its rule mandating a minimum of a 29 mm tyre on a 25 mm inner rim? Of course not. 
Jonas Vingegaard proving that “dumb trainers” still have their place. The Dane did the bulk of his warm-up on a modern direct-drive smart trainer, but switched to this simpler setup just metres from the start ramp to keep his legs turning in the final minutes before his start time.
The organisers had laid on bags of ice and water at the start line, and it was needed.
Tadej Pogačar has a new MET TT helmet. It closely resembles the MET Drone Wide Body II from this angle, with only a few subtle tweaks to the side section and tail. 
But seen head-on, the new helmet is clearly very different. The vents are now wider and positioned side by side, unlike the Drone’s more central, triangular-shaped vent layout.
The profiling on the tops and sides of the new helmet is now much more aggressive and angular, creating these definitive lines running front to back. 
The side sections covering the ears appear longer and deeper, while the visor is also much larger. Finally, while the tips of the visor and side sections on the Drone Wide Body II curve aggressively back in towards the rider’s face, the curvature on this new helmet is much more subtle and mostly maintains the same width.
One last view, this time of the rear. 
Vingegaard warms up while keeping cool.
Kévin Vauquelin raced to a superb 5th on the stage on the new Bianchi Aquilla.
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