Hydration pack could have given Luxembourger 2 seconds a kilometre says Gazzetta dello Sport
The International Cycling Union (UCI) is investigating the use of a hydration pack by Leopard Trek’s Fränk Schleck in the time trial of the Critérium International, according to Sporza. The Luxembourg road champion wore the device, on his front, in the 7km Porto Vecchio time trial, where he lost just 24 seconds to Andreas Klöden. More importantly though, he lost just 7 seconds to overall challenger Vasil Kiryienka, and finished the race 13 seconds ahead of the Belarusian.
“We have an investigation,” UCI press chief told Sporza. “We want to know what happened; we want to know whether he has violated the rules.”
The issue of hydration packs is a controversial one; they can be used to change the shape of a rider’s profile – when worn on the back – to make a more aerodynamic shape; when this happens they are effectively a fairing and so their use is banned.
This is the first high profile case of one being worn on the front but, according to la Gazzetta dello Sport, it would have saved Schleck between 15 and 20 watts; equating to around two seconds per kilometre, which is approximately how much he won the overall race by.
“We are surprised at the commotion,” Tim Vanderjeugd, a spokesman for Leopard Trek, said to Sporza. “This is not new. Fränk Schleck was wearing a Camelbak so as not to dry out. Even during a short time trial, it is important to drink a lot.”
Vanderjeugd also emphasised that, whatever Schleck’s reasons for wearing the hydration pack, no rules were broken, the team made enquiries to the UCI, and that the race jury had given him permission to wear it.
“The system is allowed as long as the body shape does not change,” he said. “This was not the case with Fränk.”