– Batman won today! That’s what Matt White, the sports manager at Jayco-AlUla, said after Dylan Groenewegen (31) won the mass sprint in Dijon last Thursday. The sporting director joked about the new “beak”, which the 31-year-old has adopted. Earlier in the tour, Groenewegen had to take off the Batman-like equipment halfway through the 3rd stage. The “beak” of the glasses was not available for saddles, something that broke the International Cycling Union’s (UCI) regulations. But during the week, the manufacturer behind the “beak” put it up for sale, for no less than 350 Euros. This is then in addition to the price of the glasses themselves. – I don’t know how many watts it is (a saver), but if they say it’s a bit faster, I’ll use it. Today it was just enough to win, so maybe it was just my glasses, joked the Dutchman after the victory to, among others, Cyclingnews. According to the manufacturer, the “beak” is aerodynamic. This means that it should reduce air resistance. JOKER: Jayco Alula rider wins stage 6 of Tour de France. Photo: AFP Expert: – Really stupid news’s cycling expert is not convinced of the usefulness of the new “beak”. – I think it’s really stupid. If there are any aerodynamic advantages, it must be unbelievably small, so I can’t believe that he would wear something like that, says Sondre Sørtveit to news. CYCLING EXPERT: Sondre Sørtveit is not a fan of the “beak glasses”. – Do you think the “beak glasses” had anything to do with the victory? – No, the expert answers bluntly. – But it is of course a fantastic statement for the sponsor, he adds. He understands the desire to develop equipment to maximize profit: – I understand that you look for marginal advantages in cycling, but the profit is so small that I would never take on something like that myself. BATMAN RETURNS?: Dylan Groenewegen has the opportunity to take another stage victory today. Photo: AP Nevertheless, Sørtveit believes the cycling team had another agenda behind the use of the product. – It creates a mess. The brand that made them gets publicity. Maybe that’s all they want, isn’t it? They are trying to launch a premium product and create a buzz, which is certainly good for those who are crazy enough to spend money on something like that, says Sørtveit. – It joins the series of similar attempts. A few years ago there was a head sock, which was supposed to cover the ear. It also looked reasonably silly. But they used them for a while. This is in the same category – the category of silly inventions, the cycling expert believes. New chance for the sprinters on Tuesday A new chance for Groenewegen to show off his beak awaits on Tuesday, after the riders had a rest day on Monday. Then there is a flat stage of 187 kilometers between Orléans and Saint-Amand-Montrond, which by all indications will end in a mass sprint. This means there is also a new chance for the Norwegian Uno-X team, which has Alexander Kristoff and Søren Wærenskjold as their main hopes in a sprint. Kristoff has a third place as the best from this year’s race. You can get everything about the stage on the radio on news Sport from 14.00. Published 09/07/2024, at 09.56 Updated 09.07.2024, at 11.27
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– Really stupid – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
