Providing the leader's jerseys for any stage race involves honours but also duties, especially when it comes to Tour de France. The French race has always been a challenge for all companies Partner of the most important stage race in the worldWith just under two weeks to go until the Tour concludes, we can now confidently say that Santini has risen to the challenge with flying colors.
The Bergamo-based company has worked on significant numbers. Overall they were well done 2.000 heads which affected the four jerseys awarded to the leaders of the various individual classifications: yellow, polka-dotted, green and white.
These numbers, already impressive in themselves, would be nothing if they were not accompanied by the great tailoring skill that Santini has put into creating each individual garment.
Custom made bodysuit
During an interview we conducted on the eve of the Tour de France, Stefano Devicenzi of the Santini marketing office He had confided in us that among the latest products made and ready to leave for France were the time trial suitsThe explanation was very simple.
They weren't scheduled to be used for the opening time trial of the Tour. They would only be used for the time trial on the penultimate day, the Lacapelle-Marival stage, which was supposed to decide the winner of the 2022 Tour de France.
On the eve of the time trial, the Santini staff visited the team Jumbo Visma to make them try Wout van aert and Jonas Vingegaard the skinsuits he was then supposed to use in the time trial stage. Santini has put the best of its know-how and the experience of its staff into the field to guarantee the maximum in terms of performance., specifically intervening on the garments in order to satisfy the needs of individual athletes.
It was a behind-the-scenes job, far from simple, which required skill, discretion and precision.
Jonas and Wout testers
Exceptional models could only be jonas vingegaard and Wout Van Aert, respectively yellow and green jerseys of the Tour. The bodysuit adaptation work was carried out directly on the bodies of the two champions of the Jumbo-Visma team.
Jonas and Wout were made to get on the bikes and asked to assume the position they would later have during the time trial. At this point the body was checked by the model maker and the maitre d'tailleur Santini, who, after consulting with the athlete himself, took notes and identified the changes to be made.
LThe next phase was to intervene on the body itself, making the required changesOnce completed, they were subsequently verified by repeating the analysis of the garment worn. The final result was a "tailor-made" bodysuit that, not coincidentally, brought the two athletes to the first two places in the time trial.
The same attention and care has naturally been reserved for Tadej pogacar, second in the general classification and leader of the best young rider classification of the Tour.
The Santini experience
Monica Santini, CEO of Santini Cycling Wear, was present to supervise the entire testing operation.
«It's an activity we know well – said Monica Santini – because it has been carried out for years for the athletes we dressIt is essential that the garments fit like a second skin, that the folds and cuts of the garments adapt to the athlete's physical shape and that there is no excess fabric; all of this guarantees maximum aerodynamic performance.
«It is a job of great precision that requires dedication and passion, as well as great skills.; our experience is certainly an added value both for the Tour organizers and for the athletes themselves."
