"I hope it is a female doctor and that they don't make a fool of themselves" - Tour de France Femmes breast cup size checks causing a stir
CyclingTuesday, 04 August 2026 at 14:00
Tour de France Femmes riders will be subject to breast cup size checks on Tuesday's stage 4 time trial after the UCI jury confirmed that rules around clothing will be enforced due to teams expressing concerns over riders 'faking' breast sizes.
Known as 'chest fairing', several teams reached out to ensure that riders do not manipulate the size of their chest for the race against the clock. In terms of aerodynamics, a larger surface area on the chest leads to aerodynamic gains as high as 0.78 seconds per kilometer in a time trial.
With 21 kilometers on the menu for the peloton, the UCI jury warned on Monday evening that riders will undergo clothing checks to prevent larger cup sizes than necessary being used. A female UCI jury member will reportedly check the riders before the time trial.
“Particular attention will be paid to compliance with Article 1.3.032 of the UCI Regulations, including non-essential elements and clothing or other items/accessories worn by a rider (including, but not limited to, helmets, goggles, shoes or communication equipment during the race) that could alter the rider's physique,” the UCI Jury states.
Wielerflits initially reported that several teams have called for the rule's enforcement at the Grand Tour, with artificially manipulating clothing sizes or shapes prohibited. The report also states that the practice has been seen in multiple time trials in recent months and years.
"I hope it is a female doctor"
Before stage 4, the news caused quite a stir among the peloton and teams, with AG Insurance-Soudal sports director insisting that the matter has become a major talking point, but blown out of proportion as he hoped the matter is tackled appropriately by the jury.
"I hope it is a female doctor and that they don't make a fool of themselves. The ladies are used to a lot, because doping control is much more intimate," he said before the stage.
"We were just joking about it yesterday: 'They're going to look at your breasts,' we said. And 'That's not allowed!' We're just having a laugh about it and we're not going to act silly ourselves.
"I assume that our team leader is focused on today's performance and not on those peripheral matters. It's all a bit blown out of proportion."
Read also
Teams chase marginal gains
For other teams, it's a reality of women's cycling's evolution as teams search for aerodynamic gains.
"As teams, we are all looking for 'marginal gains,' and the teams that have the resources and partners for it can also do a lot of testing," FDJ-Suez team manager Liselotte Delcroix said.
"The difference between wearing a push-up bra or not has actually been tested. That is simply part of the professionalization of women's cycling."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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