Sailing enthusiasts are now counting down the days until the 37th edition of theAmerica’s Cup, the most famous trophy in the sport of sailing, whose first edition dates back to 1851. The one that is about to start next August 29th in the waters of Barcelona is destined to be remembered for a long time for an important innovation in the regulations, thanks to which Prologo has symbolically "come on board" the team INEOS Britain, one of the boats called to compete with the aim of becoming the official challenger of Emirates Team New Zealand, holder of the trophy (in the opening photo C.Gregory).
Space for cyclists
The new regulation introduced a change that allows teams to use any part of their body to power the boats. With the new rules, “grinders” can now use not only their arms but also their legs to power the hydraulic system that controls the movement of the sails and foils.
Thus was born the role of the Cyclors, cyclist-sailors who use the power of pedaling to maneuver modern AC75-class yachts. We recently had the opportunity to tell the story on the pages of bici.PRO the story of Francois Pervis, Olympic track gold medalist enrolled in the French crew of the Orient Express.
Prologue takes care of it
To face this new “cycling challenge” at sea, the INEOS Britannia team relied on the quality and technology of Prologo. The Lombardy company will supply saddles and handlebar tape to the "Cyclors" who will literally pedal during the next America's Cup regattas, aboard the new RB3 foiling monohull designed in collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team. Prologo will support the British crew with high-performance seats featuring patented technology. CPC (Connect Power Control), the system with three-dimensional conical nanostructures that significantly increase grip and vibration absorption. In addition to the saddles, Prologo will also provide the team with the new Onetouch 3D handlebar tape, which made its official debut at the recent Paris-Roubaix.
The innovative 3D CPC technologies of Prologo products will allow the four INEOS Britannia Cyclors to maintain maximum grip on the saddle and handlebars during all phases of the race, even when speeds exceed 50 knots.
Ready for the challenge
Salvatore Truglio, Brand Manager of Prologo, commented with these words on the new and certainly stimulating challenge that awaits his company: «Prologo is thrilled to partner INEOS Team Britannia in a historic race but constantly evolving like the America's Cup, which pushes all partners to invest and innovate at the highest levels, in terms of products and technologies, to achieve ever higher performances. After racing and winning on the road with 7 World Tour teams, and off-road with over 10 supported mountain bike teams, We are looking forward to tackling a new ambitious challenge: the seaThe close collaboration with the INEOS Britannia team will allow us to further innovate our products, with the same passion for the pursuit of maximum performance that we already share with the INEOS Grenadiers team on the road and mountain bike."
Harry Leask, Olympic silver medalist and INEOS Britannia Cyclist, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Prologo as our official supplier. Their experience in designing and manufacturing saddles and accessories for teams at the highest levels of international cycling, It will be essential to be able to support our Cyclors with the most innovative and high-performance products, capable of successfully facing even the most demanding new challenges at sea."
While waiting to take to the water in Barcelona next August, all members of the INEOS Britannia crew will also be able to count on Prologo's support in their road training, thanks to the saddles supplied on the team's Pinarello bikes, and in their indoor training sessions in the gym.
