Matxin proud of his time trial hack: "It easily saves you 20 to 30 seconds, but also 10 watts and energy"

In simple terms, it's an undershirt covering the arms, shoulders and back, making the riders more aerodynamic. UAE team boss Matxin explains to AS what it entails exactly – and what kind of results it yields. "In Italy, they call it a bolero because it has sleeves. It fits precisely within the limits set by the UCI, which are set at one millimeter."

"In addition, it achieves the same effect as a golf ball with its dimples," continues the man who oversees Pogacar. "It directs the airflow around and ensures it does not stagnate at the back but rather continues seamlessly. This gives the rider a better CDA," he says, referring to the aerodynamics. Why then do they do this specifically via such an undershirt? "Because the UCI does not allow this to be done on the equipment itself, it is made as an undershirt."

Matxin is confident in the advantage the undershirt gives. "If a cyclist has a CDA of 0.18 and you manage to lower it to 0.16, it translates into a gain of twenty to thirty seconds in a time trial like that of Perugia," he explains, referring to the chrono won by Pogacar in this Giro. "You achieve this not only with aerodynamics but also with positioning."

"You also save ten watts because you have a lower CDA. Due to this energy saving on the flatter sections, you can also arrive with more power in the legs for the uphill part, like in that first time trial. There, the CDA loses its value," Matxin clarifies.