After a successful inaugural year working with Movistar Team in 2014, a delegation from Endura’s Product Development department joined the world’s number one road team at their pre-season camp in Pamplona, Spain, last week to measure up all 28 of the squad for the 40+ items that Endura provides them.
Endura also updated the riders and staff on the technical developments that Endura is making, including work in Drag2Zero’s facility at the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 wind tunnel and the University of Kent’s environmental chamber.
Movistar Team celebrated the squad’s 35th anniversary in style, winning both of the UCI WorldTour rankings available to them – a successful defence of the team ranking and Alejandro Valverde in the rider classification. In total, the team won 34 times during the season with 10 different riders and Valverde notched up 11 victories and almost 30 top ten finishes in 77 days of racing.
Endura’s partnership with Movistar Team has seen the Scottish company ‘work tirelessly with the riders to develop the best possible kit in the peloton.’ Scientific testing and rider feedback have been combined to tweak existing pieces and develop new products throughout the year, all produced in the company’s state of art facilities in Livingston, Scotland.
The team’s results in various time trials, including the opening and closing time trials at the Vuelta a España, the Spanish champs whitewash, Adriano Malori’s convincing win in the Italian Championships, and Alex Dowsett’s new British ten mile record further support the credentials of the extensively wind tunnel tested Endura aero kit, developed in conjunction with Drag2Zero.
Climate chamber testing has been employed to develop the lightweight summer jersey, ‘proven to increase cooling performance and reduce overall weight by a considerable margin’, essential for hot mountain stages.
To provide protection, Endura has invested in innovative fabric developments to deliver the perfect balance between close fitting comfort and protection from the elements when riding hard through wet and cold conditions.
Comfort on the bike has also been examined through scientific tests with pads developed using a dynamic saddle pressure mapping system, in conjunction with German fit experts, gebioMized, tailoring pad shape to reduce pressure peaks for increased comfort without unnecessary bulk.
Endura is of course in the business of producing cycling apparel for cyclists of all levels, which is why the technologies developed for the best in the world can now be seen filtering in to the brand’s main range products for the coming year.
The new FS260-Pro SL short sleeve jersey is exactly the same spec as the summer jersey developed for the team and is available early 2015, weighing in at mere 85g (size medium), over 50% less than the current equivalent and providing 15% better cooling properties than an entry level road jersey.
The Classics Jersey, also available in spring 2015, is constructed from the lightweight, stretch, waterproof and highly breathable fabric developed to protect the Movistar Team riders when battling the testing weather of the Spring Classics and snowy mountains of the Giro.
The FS260-Pro SL bib short, which has quickly become a best seller in 2014, features the 700 series pad, developed using the gebioMized dynamic pressure mapping technology and offering three size options for the perfect rider/ saddle interface.
Endura’s custom program WT range also contains a variety of pieces developed with the Movistar Team, including a wind tunnel tested aero speed suit, all available for production in individual club or teams graphics.
Last but not least the Movistar Team replica products are an ‘exact, no compromise, reproduction of the kit the team wears’ when competing and wining on the world stage. Short and long sleeve jerseys, gilet, bibshorts, cap, warmers, mitts and even socks allow fans to dress themselves head to toe in their favourite team’s kit.
Endura notes that this partnership with Movistar Team and the increasingly high tech, scientific development path allow the company to continue to produce market leading products, providing all riders the opportunity to experience world class performance and comfort.
