When calculating marginal gains, clothing research is one of the most advanced. Companies with a long tradition and well-established international reputation operate on the scene. What happens when a new actor comes on stage to rewrite the script?
That's what happened in part last week in Ca 'del Poggio, a place of worship for Treviso cyclists and the scene of some of the most beautiful cycling challenges including Italian championships, the Giro d'Italia and various other races. In the presence of the Blue Flames, testimonials and testers of new products, a company already well-known in the car and motorcycle suits sector has lifted the veil on its production relating to cycling.
From engines to bicycles
To enter this field which is so different from the one we belong to and to better direct research, the company called EE has relied on some key figures in our environment. Specifically to Diego Bragato, head of the FCI Research Center, for the scientific part. And to Antonio Rossetto, a lifetime in Sidi and now a key figure for marketing and sponsorships of both Elite (since 1988) and Namedsport, for relations with the world of cycling.
The new project related to cycling is called EE, or Emotion EnergyMassimo Foffano, one of the three partners, explained what it is about. At the heart of the production and the project is the study of the human body, so that by exploiting the energy of the environment we can pursue the well-being of athletes.The way this is possible is through the use of highly innovative technologies and ongoing research.
F7 technology
The first is called F7 and it is a FIR (Far Infrared Ray)Bragato himself, who illustrated it, initially admitted that he had fought for a long time to demonstrate its uselessness, but then had to surrender in the face of evidence, embracing the project.
The FIRs are Invisible rays perceived by the skin as heat. Their action occurs at the cellular level; in particular, they facilitate exchange between cells and the external environment and increase the interaction between cells and body fluids, thanks to their electrical charge.
Essentially, the human body emits and receives beams of rays that exert a biochemical action. The frequency of these radiations can be codified and in the case of cycling clothing, the focus was on patented biostimulating frequencies.
«It is not a system that raises the athlete's maximum – explained Bragato – but isolating the human body from all external interferences, It optimizes it and allows you to keep it longer, slowing down the physiological decline of performance».
This type of technology is therefore applied to the fabrics that make up cycling clothing, so that its action takes place along the lines and in the areas that benefit most from it.
The advantages of graphene
The second technology used, which is well known in cycling for example in the production of tires and frames, is graphene.
«It is a material that causes reactions – explained Valerio Giuliano – single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon, which conduct heat like an excellent metal."
In the textile sector, Graphene becomes a very useful additive for heat conduction. In summer use, it allows you to distribute heat evenly across the athlete's body and consequently disperse it, avoiding points of high temperature concentration (in the opening photo, a demonstration of its operation is being performed, using a thermal camera and the heat of a lamp).
In winter use, it allows the creation of membranes that they distribute heat evenly and prevent its dispersionAmong the advantages, there is also the ability to maintain a constant temperature, even when the most typical cooling occurs at the end of the effort, when the body stops producing heat.
The security chip
And then there is Ice Key technology, illustrated by its creator Roberto Simonelli, which is based on NFC (Near Field Communication) transmission technology which has radio frequencies accessible via cell phone.
In essence, in the chip housed in the garment, the athlete can upload all the data he wants, be it personal information, emergency contacts and his own clinical data In the event of an accident, these allow first responders to access all the necessary information using a smartphone. Activation is obviously optional, and anyone accessing it from outside is recorded and traceable.
The garments presented, belonging to the winter collection, all revolve around these technologies. Graphene in the tights and triple layer for the jacket, called SkudoWith merino wool in contact with the athlete, then the graphene layer and an external rainproof membrane.
Among the athletes awarded, the girls were given a bouquet of flowers. Here's Paternoster. For Elena Cecchini, the European Team Relay champion's bodysuit For Scartezzini instead the tricolor body of the madison Francesco Lamon, present with the gold medal from Tokyo He is Giandomenico Basso, the driver of the rally car, of which he is the tricolor
Among the athletes awarded, the girls were given a bouquet of flowers. Here's Paternoster. For Elena Cecchini, the European Team Relay champion's bodysuit For Scartezzini instead the tricolor body of the madison Francesco Lamon, present with the gold medal from Tokyo He is Giandomenico Basso, the driver of the rally car, of which he is the tricolor
A full-throttle ride
At the end of the event and while waiting for this captivating production to be released on the market, the men of EE they drew on their original heritage, presenting Giandomenico Basso, Italian rally champion sponsored by them. And on his Skoda and the 350 horses that push it, the pilot took the athletes present up and down the Ca' del Poggio wallFrom Letizia Paternoster to Marta Bastianelli, passing through Tatiana Guderzo and the Olympian Lamon. Viviani (undercover) and Elena Cecchini, Scartezzini and the entire Fiamme Azzurre staff.
Direction Montichiari
Then when the day finished telling its technological innovations and with the buffet and the car tour the Ca' del Poggio parenthesis ended, the boys of the Blue Flames they all left for Montichiari.
The first to go was Letizia Paternoster, then gradually all the others busy with the upcoming track world championshipsOthers like Marta Bastianelli and Tatiana Guderzo, having finished the season, took it easier. While Elena Cecchini left with Viviani, on the eve of yet another trip to Holland for the last races of the season for her and the Giro del Veneto for him.
