Rapid-Step Maintains data Confidentiality Following Evenepoel‘sโ Transfer to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe
Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe โคis โinitiating aerodynamic testing wiht remco Evenepoel, requiring a fresh data โขcollection โprocess despite utilizing the same bicycle manufacturer, Specialized, as his former team, Soudal Quick-Step. This procedural necessity stems from a strict confidentiality policy regarding rider performance data, preventing the direct transfer of details betweenโค competing โprofessional cycling squads.
the situation highlights the competitive nature of professional cycling and โฃthe value placedโข on proprietary data. Evenepoel’s move to Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe necessitates a complete โขre-evaluation of his aerodynamic profile, even though โhe previously underwent โextensive wind tunnel testing with Specialized while at Quick-Step. This isn’t a matter of redundancy, but a result โฃof โคestablished protocols designed to protect the competitive advantage ofโ each team. The practise ensures fair play and maintains the integrity of team partnerships with equipment manufacturers.
Lionelle Bardina, an engineer atโ Specialized, explained โthe policy to CyclingNews: “The data collected by or for a professional team remains โคstrictly confidential and is never shared outside that team unless they give explicit permission.” This means Red Bull-bora Hansgrohe must independentlyโค gather data on Evenepoel’s position and โขperformance โคcharacteristics.
According to Bardina, it’s standard practice for new teams to bring acquisitions โขto the Specialized Win Tunnel for re-testing after aโค riderโ transfer. โ”Afterโค a transfer,the new team will almost always bring its acquisition to our โคWin Tunnel to obtain the data again,” she stated.
Quick-Step’s adherence to this confidentiality โagreementโฃ is not unusual, Bardina โขemphasized. “You should not โforget that the teamsโค we support โalso compete with each other. Our commitment to respect the privacyโฃ of the data is therefore essential โfor the strength ofโ our partnerships.” The policy โunderscores the high โคstakes involved inโฃ professional cycling, where even marginal gains in aerodynamic efficiency can translateโค to significant โฃperformance advantages.
