Race Suits Testing

ENGINEERED FOR SPEED

We tested our new Road Speedsuit and TT Skinsuit at the Silverstone wind tunnel. Both have been redeveloped with a double-layer tripping fabric system on the sleeves to reduce drag, combining a raised wind-channel base with a slippery sublimated outer. This construction is limited to the sleeves, therefore heat management isn’t affected; the main body remains single-layer and fast-wicking.

The result is a speedsuit and skinsuit built through extensive aerodynamic development. The TT Skinsuit was benchmarked against the SUB 6 record-breaking skinsuit and the Road Speedsuit tested against Bora hansgrohe’s road speedsuit, both previously our fastest and showed clear performance gains across all tested conditions especially in a cross wind.

SHOP THE COLLECTION

Test Methodology

All testing was conducted at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub under controlled conditions to ensure accuracy and consistency. Each suit was tested independently using the same rider and identical environmental parameters, allowing for a direct comparison. The SUB 6 record-breaking suit was used as the benchmark throughout, as it represents the most advanced aerodynamic baseline previously developed.

Road Speed Suit Conditions
Speed	45km/h representing elite and Category 1 race pace
Yaw angles	0° (headwind) and 5° (crosswind)
Context:	Road racing scenarios including breakaways, technical circuits, and bunch riding.
Bike	A standard road bike
Benchmark Suite:	Bora Hansgrohe road Suit

Time Trial Skin Suit Conditions
Speed	50 km/h, representing time trial race pace
Yaw angles	0° (headwind) and 5° (crosswind)
Context:	Time trial conditions where aerodynamic drag is the dominant resistive force.
Bike	Standard TT bike with TT bars
Benchmark Suite:	SUB 6 record breaking Suit

Test Rider

Aerodynamic data is only meaningful when we know the body it was tested on. All results were recorded on the same rider throughout the session to ensure full consistency across garment comparisons. These are the rider dimensions:

HEIGHT : 177cm

WEIGHT: 72kg

CHEST:93cm

WAIST:69cm

HIPS: 90cm

ROAD SPEEDSUIT Results

The Road Speedsuit is designed for high-speed road racing environments where wind conditions are variable and often unpredictable. Testing showed that the suit delivers measurable aerodynamic improvements over the benchmark garment.

Key results:

2.9 watts saved at 45 km/h in a direct headwind
3.8 watts saved at 45 km/h in a crosswind

These results highlight a key performance characteristic: the speedsuit maintains consistent aerodynamic efficiency even as wind angle changes. Unlike many speedsuits that experience performance degradation in crosswinds, the Road Speedsuit demonstrates stable CdA values across both tested yaw angles.

This consistency makes it particularly effective in the following scenarios:

Breakaways where riders are fully exposed to wind
Technical courses with frequent changes in direction
Fast-paced group riding where wind conditions are inconsistent

The overall result is a suit that performs reliably in real racing conditions, rather than only in idealised wind tunnel scenarios.

TIME TRIAL LONG SLEEVE SKINSUIT Results

The TT long sleeve Skinsuit is engineered specifically for time trial performance, where aerodynamic drag is the dominant resistive force acting on the rider. Testing indicates that the skinsuit achieves significant aerodynamic gains across all tested conditions.

Key results:

5.5 watts saved at 50 km/h in a direct headwind
6.9 watts saved at 50 km/h in a crosswind

Over a 40km TT, this efficiency gain can save a rider approximately 30 to 40 seconds compared to the baseline skinsuit (SUB 6 record breaking skinsuit).

Importantly, the reduction in CdA remains consistent across both yaw angles tested, demonstrating that the suit delivers reliable performance regardless of wind direction. These improvements represent a meaningful step forward rather than a marginal gain.

Expert Validation

“I have independently verified the wind tunnel testing methodology, data collection, and results analysis for the TT Skinsuit and Road Speedsuit. The testing was conducted under controlled conditions at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub, and the measured aerodynamic improvements as stated in this content page are accurate and reproducible."

Dr Matt Williams - Building17 Ltd.

Le Col Custom Race Suits

Both the Road Speedsuit and TT Skinsuit are available through the Le Col Custom programme, which allows teams, clubs, and individual riders to access the same performance technology used in the tested garments. Custom production does not involve any compromise in materials or construction. Each garment is produced using the same fabrics, seam structures, and aerodynamic principles validated during wind tunnel testing.

EXPLORE CUSTOM racing SUITS