Every Second Counts

In search of the fastest skinsuit in the world

In professional cycling, marginal gains are everything — especially in time trials, where every watt saved translates directly into speed. At Santini, we’ve long believed that clothing is just as critical as equipment in the quest for performance. That belief led us to an ambitious goal: create the fastest skinsuit in the peloton.

In collaboration with our longstanding partners at Lidl-Trek, we embarked on a months-long project to redefine what an aerodynamic race suit could be. The result? A cutting-edge TT skinsuit developed with the latest technologies and real-world testing — with one of its key testers being Lidl-Trek rider and Olympic medalist Simone Consonni.

“This was a true joint effort,” says Koen de Kort, Lidl-Trek’s support manager. “The team pushed for performance gains, and Santini delivered with dedication and expertise. We’re proud of what we’ve created together.”

The process began with a fundamental question: What is the best fabric for high-speed racing? Our R&D team at Santini assembled a wide array of high-performance textiles, all tested in a specialized small-diameter wind tunnel that mimicked the turbulent conditions of real-world racing.

After analyzing the data, we created full-body prototype suits for a second phase of testing — this time with seven full days of wind tunnel analysis. But we didn’t stop there. To validate our findings, the suits were also tested on the track in velodrome conditions.

Thanks to these efforts, we arrived at a breakthrough. As Koen de Kort notes: “We believe this is one of the best — if not the fastest — skinsuit currently used in the peloton”.

One of the keys to the suit’s performance lies in the precision fit. At Santini, we used 3D body scanning to capture the unique anatomy of each rider. This technology not only ensured a second-skin fit, but also allowed our engineers to optimize seam placement and fabric tension for minimal drag.

Recognizing the different needs of riders and race conditions, we developed two distinct skinsuit options. One with a slightly warmer fabric that proved fastest for the majority of riders. Another designed for hotter conditions, which in some cases also offered the best aero performance based on individual position and morphology.

The new skinsuit made a spectacular debut at the 2025 Giro d’Italia, where Daan Hoole stormed to victory in Stage 10’s long individual time trial wearing the new Santini suit.

“We worked with Koen and the Santini team to develop the new speed suit,” Hoole said after the stage. “It’s incredibly fast, and with help from our new biomechanic, we adjusted my position to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. For a tall rider like me, that makes all the difference.”

This project is part of our ongoing commitment to pushing the limits of performance. As De Kort confirmed, the work doesn’t end here: “We’re already working with Santini on the next evolution of the suit. We’ve completed initial wind tunnel testing, and we’ll keep refining every detail. Even the smallest gains count.”

At Santini, our mission has always been to give athletes every possible advantage on the bike. Thanks to cutting-edge engineering, world-class collaboration, and the dedication of riders like Simone Consonni, we’ve set a new standard for time trial performance — and we’re just getting started.

Ogni Secondo Conta

Every Second Counts

Nel ciclismo professionistico, ogni minimo dettaglio può fare la differenza — soprattutto nelle prove a cronometro, dove anche un solo watt risparmiato si traduce in velocità. In Santini, abbiamo sempre...