New TT framesets, speedsuits, oversocks and more on show in Cholet
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Peter Sagn wore special edition 100% Speedcraft Air sunglasses for the stage, which feature magnets to improve nasal air flow(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Geraint Thomas raced with the custom, 3D printed titanium cockpit from Pinarello(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Mitchelton-Scott's Scott Plasma time trial bikes sit against the fence ahead of their team time trial effort, each rider was equipped with a Lightweight Autobahn rear wheel(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Several teams' speedsuits now feature integrated race number holders(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A look at the new aero helmets from Scott(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Richie Porte warms up alongside Simon Gerrans ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
An aluminium time trial bike jig checked every bike ahead of the stage to ensure each bike complied with the rules(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Mitchelton-Scott raced the stage on new aero-specific time trial helmets from Scott(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Greg Van Avermaet, who moved into the yellow jersey after the stage, warms-up in his time trial position ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Multiple riders warmed-up with menthol-soaked cotton buds in their noses to clear their nasal passages for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Sky warm-up in unison ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A look at the Mitchelton-Scott Giordana oversocks(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
It appears the new helmet from Scott has a removable lower section for use as an aero road helmet(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Luke Rowe pours water on his speedsuit ahead of the stage in an attempt to stay cool ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Egan Bernal, Colombia's national time trial champion, gets his bike assessed by the UCI ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Sky have continued to use the paint job from the 2016 season on their time trial machines(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A look at Chris Froome's drivetrain(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Chris Froome ran 58/46 elliptical chainrings for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Chris Froome added grippy material to the top of his Fizik Ares saddle to help maintain position for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Chris Froome heads the start line of the stage 3 time trial(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A look at the drive side of Thomas' Pinarello(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Sky are racing the Tour de France with orcas on their backs to highlight plastic pollution in the oceans(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Katusha-Alpecin also appeared to use non-standard chainrings, with unbranded outer rings on their Sram cranksets(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Edvald Boasson Hagen also uses the CeramicSpeed OSPW system with red pulley wheels(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Direct Energie had to get creative for their computer mounts on their cockpits(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A Cofidis Kuota Kalibur(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Cofidis use CeramicSpeed's OSPW system on their Campagnolo Super Record rear derailleurs(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
TRP provides several WorldTour teams with aero-specific brake calipers(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Geraint Thomas rode the stage aboard his newly painted Pinarello Bolide in custom colours for the British time trial champion(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Mitchelton-Scott had fans lined up to prevent their riders getting too hot during a warm-up(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A look at the Bontrager Speed Concept base bars on a Trek-Segafredo Trek Speed(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
EF-Drapac's Cannondale SuperSlices lined up on static trainers ready for a team warm-up(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Bahrain-Merida have customised mats for each of their riders(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A Movistar mechanic adds some final chain lube to a team bike ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
An AG2R-La Mondiale mechanic double-checks measurements ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Mark Cavendish's second Cervelo P5(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Sunweb use the hashtag #Overachieve on their wheels(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
World time trial champion Tom Dumoulin had his custom time trial bike on display despite not being allowed to race upon it in the team time trial discipline(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Time trial bikes were being adjusted less than an hour ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Fortuneo-Samsic switched from Look bikes to BH just a week ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Lotto-Soudal raced the stage on a Ridley Dean Fast TT bike(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A closer look at Slagter's Shimano Ultegra calipers(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Tom-Jelte Slagter's time trial bike was equipped with Shimano Ultegra components(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Groupama-FDJ's Tobias Ludvigsson is the Swedish national time trial champion(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Bahrain-Merida unveiled the Mwerida Time Warp TT on the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Peter Sagan prepares himself ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Tom Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) Trek Speed(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
25mm Continental Grand Prix TT tyres were a popular choice for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Sportful provided Bahrain-Merida with new oversocks for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Marcel Kittel's Katusha-Alpecin team are another team to line up ahead of the stage with team-issue ice vests(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Katusha-Alpecin wear aero oversocks from Sidi(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Tony Martin retains his infamous grip taped saddle for the time trial(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Sunweb wear team issue ice vests for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Sunweb's Giant Propel framesets featured proprietary bottle cages and bottles from Giant(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Heinrich Haussler stretches out ahead of the stage while wearing an ice vest ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Astana's Giordana speedsuit has a zip at the rear of the piece to improve aerodynamics(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Quick-Step Floors use their Roval time trial wheels to promote the Specialized Foundation(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Sagan's S-Works Shiv TT received yellow decals to celebrate his yellow jersey(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Peter Sagan sits in the stage ahead of heading to the start ramp(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Stage two winner and world champion completed the stage in a yellow skinsuit(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Magnus Cort's Argon 18 time trial bike(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Dion Smith wore the polka dot jersey for the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
A look at the rear of John Degenkolb's Santini speedsuit including the integrated race number holder(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Dylan Groenewegen enjoys an ice lolly ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Primoz Roglic raced the stage on a special edition Bianchi Aquila, first presented to the rider earlier in the year(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
EF-Drapac are another team to use the CeramicSpeed OSPW system(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Sep Vanmarcke draped himself in a wet towel ahead of the stage to keep his core temperature down(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Richie Porte and his BMC Racing teammates wore new speedsuits from Assos(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
The BMC Racing team wore new oversocks from Assos(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Endura's Drag2Zero speedsuit extends to the Movistar Team's overshoes(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
UCI commissaires checked every single bike with a tablet for technological fraud ahead of the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Geraint Thomas wears the new Castelli Body Paint 4.2b speedsuit(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Recent national time trial champion Geraint Thomas had a nod to his title on his right sleeve(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Team Movistar sit in the shade in their Endura Drag2Zero speedsuits ahead if the stage(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Dan Martin wore unbrander aerodynamic overshoes(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Alexander Kristoff raced the stage wearing the green jersey (as a skinsuit)(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Chavanel wears Giro Empire SLX with yellow laces to celebrate the Tour de France(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Ridley's Dean Fast frameset features vents in the forks for aerodynamic performance(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Wanty Groupe-Gobert are another team to use a disc-equipped time trial bike(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Direct Energie raced the stage on their Wilier Turbine Disc time trial bike(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Sylvain Chavanel wore a red race number for the stage after an extended solo breakaway on stage two of the race(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
AG2R La Mondiale used heavily lubricated chains for the race(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Romain Bardet's Ekoi time trial-specific helmet(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Romain Bardet stayed cool ahead of the stage by stuffing stockings filled with ice down the back of his jersey(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Pierre Latour has a custom finished Factor Slick as French national time trial champion(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Movistar and Team Sky used slimmer-profiled Elite bidons with their time trial bikes(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
The Tour de France stage 3 team time trial gave an opportunity to the general classification teams that had already lost some time in the opening two stages to recoup some of their losses.
As gaps become closer and closer, the finest margins can win time trial stages and so teams try to make gains everywhere, even if resulting in only the smallest aero advantage.
While Team Sky made headlines earlier in the day with a new Castelli Body Paint 4.2b speedsuit, BMC Racing rolled down the start ramp in Cholet wearing their new Assos speedsuit, alongside matching, team issue white and silver aero oversocks.
Almost every team, bar those not expecting to perform well, were equipped with aero oversocks and speedsuits, alongside the expected time trial helmets and time trial-specific bikes.
Vincenzo Nibali’s Bahrain-Merida raced the stage on an as yet unseen new time trial frameset from Merida. The Merida Time Warp TT is an update to the existing Merida Warp frameset and sees several geometry, tubing and aero updates as Nibali mounts his GC challenge and aims for a second Tour de France title.
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CeramicSpeed’s OSPW rear derailleur upgrade was a popular choice among several teams, with AG2R La Mondiale also looking to use the drivetrain efficiency specialists’ UFO Drip chain lubricant.
A handful of newly crowned national time trial champions were at the race, with riders such as Geraint Thomas and Pierre Latour racing the stage aboard newly customised Pinarello Bolide TT and Factor Slick respectively painted in their national colours.
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a closer look at all the time trial tech on show from stage three at the Tour de France.
