A nose for speed – Dylan Groenewegen’s ‘beak’ sunglasses miss sprint test at Tour de France

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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 12 months’s Tour was severe enterprise however the Batman-like stylings of the glasses nonetheless induced loads of bemusement.

There was actually no shying away from the difficulty within the Australian staff’s every day stage video, which began with the Batman theme music and a blunt first query to Groenewegen: What’s in your face?

“Nostril items … for the aero, so I am going quicker,” mentioned Groenewegen, who additionally appeared bemused however not by the glasses, however somewhat by the quantity of consideration his eyewear was receiving earlier than the beginning.

“I just like the glasses and in sprinting you wish to [be as] quick as potential and should you can change small issues, then that may change so much,” the rider added in an interview with ITV Sport.

Groenewegen might be seen sporting the distinctive glasses throughout 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 approach within the dash to the road in Turin.

Because the rider completed fifth on the stage received by Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) there was no signal of the eyewear with the part that coated the nostril and had drawn a lot consideration – maybe slightly an excessive amount of because it seems.

“I wanted to place it off, from the UCI,” mentioned Groenewegen by the use of rationalization after the stage within the staff video. “That was a giant shock.”

When requested in the event that they had been a bit too aero, he added with a chuckle: “Yea I believe 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 info from the UCI – however one factor is bound, there might be no want for the aerodynamic benefits for the sprinters on stage 4. The race is heading into the mountains so they’re much more more likely to be that includes in the back of the sphere on Tuesday somewhat than the entrance of it.