German professional triathlete Andi Böcherer has partnered with Danish triathlon apparel specialist Fe226 and will use the company’s ‘high-end competition clothing to get even faster’. The collaboration reportedly ‘goes beyond pure sponsorship’, as Böcherer will provide feedback from his training and racing routine to the Danish brand in order to further improve Fe226’s portfolio.
The brand name Fe226 is a combination of the symbol for the chemical element Iron – Fe26 – and the IRONMAN distance in kilometres – 226 – signifying that Fe226 is positioned as a ‘brand built for triathletes’.
Böcherer had unintentionally spent time re-thinking his life as a pro triathlete because he was forced out of IRONMAN Hawaii last October (where he finished 5th in 2016): “During my forced time off after getting injured, I had a serious look at some of the areas where I felt I had potential that hasn’t been fully utilized,” he said. “In terms of training, my coach Lubos Bilek and I have already changed and adapted a few things.”
When it comes to equipment, though, he felt there were also things to improve. “I am already extremely well equipped thanks to Cube, New Balance, Zipp, SRAM and Uvex. But I feel there is some room to check out the finer details in 2018.”
During his premature off-season, Böcherer took an intensive look at his aerodynamics. He noted that when it comes to aerodynamics, two things in particular affect the performance: “First and foremost it’s the massive mass that sits on top of the bike – me,” he said. “Position and body shape account for the lion’s share of the overall system’s aerodynamics.”
He continued, “The second and really, really important factor is what surface the wind is moving over, and how it goes past me and my equipment. That’s why I started looking for the fastest possible racing suit for me, my body and my individual needs. It goes without saying that the clothing must not only be fast, but also functional and I need to feel comfy and supported.”
This search ended at Fe226. Böcherer relies on Fe226 apparel in competition and training. “That’s how I imagine a, in the literal sense, winning cooperation,” he said. “I’m highly motivated and cannot wait to start the new season in my new dress!”
Andi Böcherer completed his first triathlon in 2002 and has turned his passion into a career since 2008. He has finished in the top five at the IRONMAN World Championship, is a former European champion and ‘almost always finishes on the podium in any race he enters’.
Fe226 was established with a mission to ‘deliver the coolest, best performing triathletes’ wear on the market directly from factory with no expensive middleman’. Based out of Copenhagen and London, Fe226 adds that its products are ‘designed and developed by the best sportswear designers and product developers out there’. With production in Lithuania, and fabrics from Italy, France and Portugal, the brand is ‘based on true European craftsmanship’.
www.fe226.com
www.andi-boecherer.de
