Performance cycling apparel brand, Le Col, joined forces with American duo Colin O’Brady and Lucas Clarke to support their SUB6 project, which targeted a new Race Across America record.
The two riders have now officially crushed the longstanding record in the gruelling Race Across America, completing the coast-to-coast journey in an unprecedented time of 6 days 6 hours and 43 mins.
According to Le Col… ‘This remarkable achievement redefines the limits of endurance cycling and marks a significant milestone in the history of the sport.’
Race Across America is regarded as one of the toughest endurance races in the world, spanning approximately 3,000 miles from the west coast to the east coast of the United States. Cyclists must navigate diverse terrains and extreme weather conditions, testing their physical and mental fortitude to the fullest.
Colin O’Brady and Lucas Clarke not only rose to this challenge but also surpassed all previous records, finishing 1 day, 9 hours and 13 minutes ahead of the previous best time.
“This achievement is the culmination of relentless dedication, rigorous training, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Colin O’Brady.
Lucas Clarke added “We are incredibly proud to have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in endurance cycling and to have set a new standard for future competitors.”
As part of their preparation, in April, the two riders visited Le Col in London to undergo wind tunnel testing at the Silverstone Engineering Facility. The duo tested their skinsuits, which were originally developed for Le Col’s collaboration with McLaren Racing.
During their time in London, they worked closely with the design team at Le Col, reviewing samples, approving designs, optimising fit and fed-back on the kit they’d been testing on the road. This was also a chance to validate the optimisations made to the full race kit in the wind tunnel, ensuring that every aspect of their setup was finely tuned for performance gains.
By doing this, Le Col adds that its product team were able to dial in the most aerodynamic position and set up for each rider, resulting in an estimated 25 watt saving overall.
