Tour de France organizers urged to check female cyclists' bras
Female cyclists are deceiving rivals by using laws of physics.
A scandal related to aerodynamics and clothing has erupted in professional women's cycling, Wieler Flits reports. Several teams have appealed to the International Cycling Union demanding urgent measures against athletes who artificially augment their breasts during individual races.
By using special padding in sports bras, riders increase their breast size, not for beauty, but for a speed advantage.
The essence of the trick is that the padding changes the body shape and directs air currents during movement. This reduces air resistance and allows precious fractions of a second to be saved.
Scientific research confirms that such a "pseudo-bust" can reduce air resistance by up to 3.6 percent, which on a distance of 20-30 kilometers yields a gain of several seconds, and in professional sports, these seconds often decide the fate of a gold medal.
Although the rules strictly prohibit the use of any pads or altering the anatomical shape of the body during races under threat of disqualification and large fines, judges have almost never checked athletes until now.
Teams are urging the regulator to introduce mandatory checks and examine riders immediately after the finish to restore fair competition in the sport.