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There have been some strange helmets in professional biking of late within the title of aerodynamics, however on stage 3 of the 2024 Tour de France Dylan Groenewegen rapidly turned the highlight on sun shades.
The Jayco-AlUla sprinter was sporting a black angular nostril piece on his Scicon sun shades as he lined up in Piacenza. Trying to seize the primary dash victory of this yr’s Tour was critical enterprise however the Batman-like stylings of the glasses nonetheless brought about loads of bemusement.
There was definitely no shying away from the problem within the Australian group’s day by day stage video, which began with the Batman theme track and a blunt first query to Groenewegen: What’s in your face?
“Nostril items … for the aero, so I’m going quicker,” stated Groenewegen, who additionally appeared bemused however not by the glasses, however fairly by the quantity of consideration his eyewear was receiving earlier than the beginning.
“I just like the glasses and in sprinting you need to [be as] quick as attainable and for those who can change small issues, then that may change lots,” the rider added in an interview with ITV Sport.
Groenewegen may very well be seen sporting the distinctive glasses through the 230.9-kilometre stage 3 however he didn’t get to search out out whether or not the addition would actually assist him on his manner within the dash to the road in Turin.
Because the rider completed fifth on the stage gained by Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) there was no signal of the eyewear with the part that lined the nostril and had drawn a lot consideration – maybe a bit an excessive amount of because it seems.
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“I wanted to place it off, from the UCI,” stated Groenewegen by means of rationalization after the stage within the group video. “That was a giant shock.”
When requested in the event that they have been a bit too aero, he added with a chuckle: “Yea I feel so. They didn’t see me pedalling so they are saying this isn’t honest sufficient, so we’ll cease these quick sun shades.”
The main points of why are unclear – Cyclingnews has requested additional data from the UCI – however one factor is certain, there can be no want for the aerodynamic benefits for the sprinters on stage 4. The race is heading into the mountains so they’re way more more likely to be that includes in the back of the sphere on Tuesday fairly than the entrance of it.
🎥 VIDEO 🎥Batman has arrived at @LeTour 🦇 Dylan’s new glasses make a stir 😎 the boys have good stage 3 recollections 💭 mountain phases or dash phases 🤨 and it’s a busy dash to finish day 3 😵💫All of the motion from #TDF2024 🎬⤵️July 1, 2024
