🕶️ Mad Visor, Shifting Skinsuit & Chest Pad: Evenepoel’s Trio of Time‑Trial Tricks
By Tom Wieckowski — June 11, 2025
🔍 The Setup
Remco Evenepoel, the reigning world time-trial champion, delivered a commanding performance on Stage 4 of the Critérium du Dauphiné’s 17.4 km ITT—finishing in 20:50 and clinching the stage win by an impressive 21 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard (cyclingnews.com).
1. A “Counterproductive” Helmet Visor
Evenepoel’s Specialized TT helmet featured a novel curved cut-out around the middle of the visor—an optics tweak that Cyclingnews editor Peter Stuart criticized as “blocking view with none of the eye-protection benefits” . Despite looking odd, it may aid visibility, airflow, or possibly helmet-to-suit integration.
2. Hidden Trip-Strips on a Private Skinsuit
Evenepoel donned a bespoke Castelli skinsuit—likely a pro-only prototype—complete with:
- Back-mounted zipper (unusual in modern skinsuits),
- Trip-strips on the arms and back to smooth airflow,
- Mesh under the arms to keep him cool while minimizing aerodynamic drag.
This advanced fabric engineering likely delivered measurable aero gains.
3. Chest “Fairing” Trick
Underneath his skinsuit, Evenepoel appeared to have inserted a small aero fairing on his chest—similar to the team-issued padded pocket once used by Team GB riders like Alex Dowsett and Dan Bigham. This subtle modification, possibly housing a reserved micro-pack or radio, can improve airflow and reduce drag—though its exact purpose remains unconfirmed.
🧠Why It Matters
Evenepoel’s setup illustrates how even marginal gear tweaks—visor shapes, fabric bumps, or body pads—can yield real-world time savings in elite-level racing. These innovations aren’t just flair; they’re evidence of teams squeezing every aerodynamic benefit ahead of the Tour de France.
Bottom line: Remco Evenepoel didn’t just win on raw power—he leveraged cutting-edge TT gear hacks to get marginal gains. Between his visor tweak, skinsuit refinements, and chest fairing, he’s racing with one eye on victory and the other on pushing the boundaries of equipment innovation.
