Multi-coloured bar tape at the Tour de France? Bahrain Victorious emulate Dowsett's TTT hack at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Bahrain Victorious introduced a distinctive visual element during the team time trial at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by outfitting each rider with a different colour of bar tape on the lower deck of their time trial handlebars. While the team’s kit remained uniform, the varied colours—ranging from blue and white to red, orange, and yellow—offered a subtle yet effective way to differentiate riders during the high-speed, closely packed effort. This innovation echoes a similar approach pioneered last year by the XDS-Astana team, who used different coloured gloves and socks to help riders identify each other more easily. The concept originated from performance engineer and former professional rider Alex Dowsett, who explained that in team time trials, riders often struggle to distinguish teammates due to identical clothing and riding positions. By assigning unique colours to gloves, the team could quickly recognise each other’s positions without relying on counting or memorising riding styles. Although XDS-Astana employed this tactic successfully in events like Paris-Nice and the Vuelta a España last year, they have since reverted to standard gear for 2026, leaving room for Bahrain Victorious to adopt and adapt the idea with their coloured bar tape. The choice of bar tape as the medium for this visual cue is notable given the limited space available on time trial handlebars, where riders primarily maintain an aerodynamic position on the extensions. However, the lower deck—where the tape is applied—is used during corners or when slowing down, moments when quick identification can be crucial. Bahrain Victorious’s use of this technique at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, widely regarded as a preparatory event for the Tour de France, suggests the team may showcase this innovation on the sport’s biggest stage when the Tour opens with a team time trial in Barcelona next month. This development highlights a growing trend in professional cycling towards subtle yet practical equipment tweaks aimed at optimising team coordination and performance. As teams continue to seek marginal gains, such visual aids could become a standard feature in time trials, improving communication and reducing errors during high-pressure efforts. Bahrain Victorious’s adoption of this approach may inspire other teams to explore similar strategies ahead of the 2026 season’s major races.