Women’s cycling is caught up in a strange new scandal involving padded bras. The alleged trick, known as “chest fairing,” involves adding padding to increase a rider’s bust and change how air flows around the body, which supposedly cuts down on drag. According to experts, a smaller chest can create a kind of air pocket near the stomach that slightly slows a rider down.
One aerodynamics professor said chest fairing could reduce drag by up to 3.6 percent. That might sound tiny, but in a sport where the smallest edge matters, it is seen as an unfair advantage. The trend was first reported last month by a Dutch newspaper and caused a stir on the women’s circuit. On Turesday, cyclists at this year’s Tour de France had their clothing specially checked. It is unclear if any padding was found, but organizers clearly want to discourage the practice.
Source: Oddity Central
