Sportico's Club: Tour de France Cyclists Possibly Skipping a Key Sponsor?
In the world of cycling, the Tour de France is a spectacle like no other. This year, however, the event has been marred by an unexpected dispute between the Israel Team and the race organisers, causing a halt in the competition.
At the heart of the controversy is Santini, the official jersey provider for the Tour de France. For decades, the company has been a source of contention among riders, with some finding the performance-focused skinsuits less than ideal.
The four riders who must wear Santini's skinsuits during the time trials are the leaders of the Tour's four main classifications: the overall leader (yellow jersey), best young rider (white jersey), best sprinter (green jersey), and best climber (polka dot jersey).
Recent events have shed light on a long-standing issue. On Tuesday, a teammate's actions resulted in Tadej Pogacar not having to wear the polka dot skinsuit for the first time trial. According to former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins, the teammate's actions were designed to keep Pogacar in his own skinsuit for the first time trial.
This is not the first time such a tactic has been employed. In the past, some riders have deliberately dropped time to avoid wearing the sponsor's skinsuits. Bradley Wiggins himself deliberately tried to lose the yellow jersey during the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné to avoid wearing the race sponsor's skinsuit in a time trial.
Riders have also tried to get around the rules by having their preferred skinsuits printed with other companies' logos. Lance Armstrong, for instance, wore his own skinsuit printed in yellow with the official sponsor's logo during the Tour de France.
Santini draws special attention to the challenge of reconciling advertising sponsorship with the detailed and performance-focused needs of professional cyclists during the Tour de France. The company sends tailors to measure the four riders on their time trial bikes before the time trials, ensuring a perfect fit.
However, it is not mentioned whether the disagreement is related to the skinsuit issue or any other matter. The specific details of the disagreement between the Israel Team and Grand Tour are not provided in the paragraph.
Despite the ongoing dispute, the Tour de France continues, with the four leaders donning their respective jerseys and vying for victory. The skinsuit controversy, however, remains a topic of discussion among cycling enthusiasts and professionals alike.
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