"Differently colored socks and gloves might provide a minor yet strategic edge in team time trials, according to some insights"
In a unique move to enhance team coordination during team time trials, XDS Astana, the victorious team of the Paris-Nice team time trial, donned multi-coloured gloves and overshoes. This strategic decision aimed to simplify the process of swapping turns and identifying each rider's position in the line. Paris-Nice, a traditional host of team time trials each spring, saw XDS Astana implement this innovative approach. According to Alex Dowsett, the performance engineer of XDS Astana, the multi-coloured attire was designed to reduce the need for riders to count their way to the back of the line when swapping turns. The difficulty in team time trials, as Dowsett explains, is that everyone looks the same. By introducing distinct colours, the team hoped to make it easier for team directors to identify if a rider needs to miss a turn, is struggling, or is getting in on the back. Despite the innovative approach, XDS Astana placed 13th of 22 teams in the Paris-Nice team time trial. However, without the multi-coloured gloves, it's unclear where they might have finished. The use of multi-coloured gloves was not intended to save on aero gains, contrary to some speculations. Instead, the focus was on improving communication and coordination within the team. This year, the Vuelta Femenina will feature a team time trial, and next year, the Tour de France will follow suit. It remains to be seen if other teams will adopt XDS Astana's innovative approach to team time trials. Interestingly, it was revealed that Ineos Grenadiers, not XDS Astana, were the team that used multi-coloured gloves and shoe covers during the team time trial of Paris-Nice 2023. Dowsett, however, was indeed the performance engineer of the team. The benefits of the multi-coloured gloves extend beyond the team car. Riders react to things in their periphery faster than they react to them if they look directly at them. By using colours, riders can respond quickly to changes in the line without having to focus directly on each teammate. In conclusion, XDS Astana's innovative use of multi-coloured gloves and overshoes in the Paris-Nice team time trial demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to team coordination in cycling. The success of this approach remains to be seen, but it certainly adds an exciting element to the world of cycling.
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