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Geraint Thomas kicked off his 2024 race season on the Volta ao Algarve. Ending the five-stage early season race which was won by Remco Evenepoel in sixty fifth place as he builds in the direction of his tilt at each the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France later within the season.
Thomas has ridden in Giro biking footwear for the previous a number of years however the Welshman was noticed racing in a glossy, new pair of white biking footwear on the race that we have not seen earlier than.
On the Vuelta a España on the again finish of final 12 months Thomas was racing in white Giro Imperial footwear. Footage from the Volta ao Algarve present the Ineos captain racing in one thing totally different. In a busy month for footwear and pedals the weird Ekoi system fell foul of the UCI firstly of the month which meant riders had to buy their own shoes. One other pair of white (and black and gold) biking footwear additionally prompted a stir final week when Trek launched the brand new RSL knit cycling shoes in addition to two different fashions.
A more in-depth inspection of the footwear exhibits a double dial closure and easy uppers which function some perforations. The dial closure format appears to be like just like the S Works 7 street footwear, which we imagine at the moment are discontinued so it is in all probability secure to say that is only a similarity. There additionally look like some massive venting sections on the shoe uppers.
The entrance of the shoe within the above image seems to function what appears to be like like a Quoc emblem, however these footwear do not appear to be something that options within the present Quoc vary and are not the Mono II shoes we reviewed again in September 2022. Maybe these are a prototype or new mannequin that’s within the pipeline for this 12 months. We do not know whether or not Thomas has begun a brand new partnership or is solely testing out some contemporary footwear.
Prototype footwear weren’t the one tech to function on the race. We additionally noticed World Time Trial champion Remco Evenepoel’s monster 62 tooth chainring, which he used to good impact throughout the race’s time trial.
Wout van Aert was additionally noticed testing out his new time trial position in what may very well be a 12 months when he makes a concerted stab on the general in some longer stage races together with the Giro.
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