Italian saddle specialist Fizik has seen its custom-fit One-to-One 3D-printed saddle technology used to secure early success at the Tour de France.
Fizik partner UAE Team Emirates has been building strong momentum in Le Tour. The team opened the race with back-to-back road stage victories, with Isaac Del Toro winning Stage 2 and Tadej Pogačar claiming Stage 3.
Pogačar’s early and subsequent stage victories have been achieved aboard his custom fizik One-to-One saddle, which is 3D-printed to his exact anatomy and riding style based on dynamic pressure-mapping data rather than a standard mould. Del Toro is also a One-to-One user, citing the custom fit, comfort, and grip as a genuine performance advantage.
The wins highlight a growing shift in how professional athletes are being fitted for equipment. Fully personalised, data-led gear is transitioning from a novelty to a necessity within the WorldTour. Whilst custom 3D-printed components have become common in aerodynamics, such as custom-printed cockpits and extensions for time trials, custom-printed saddles represent the latest development in the peloton’s move towards hyper-customisation.
The One-to-One service, originally launched by the Italian brand in 2024, was developed over three years as part of fizik’s Concepts research programme. The programme brings together industry experts and academics to develop saddle technology, design, and fit.
The consumer service allows riders to undergo a personalised measurement session at select retail dealerships to find the most suitable saddle shape from the brand’s Adaptive range. Cyclists then perform a pressure-mapping session on a stationary bike to capture biometric data.
During the session, pressure sensors measure how forces are distributed across 64 touchpoints on the saddle in various riding positions and motions. The system identifies peak pressure hotspots, instabilities, and asymmetries.
Once the data is captured and analysed, a bespoke 3D-printed padding structure with variable-density zones is designed to match the cyclist’s specific pressure profile. Pogačar has utilised this process to refine his setup, currently riding on his eighth custom saddle since his first fitting.
After a customer selects either carbon or Kium rails, the order is processed. The custom 3D-printed saddle is manufactured at the company’s headquarters in northern Italy before being shipped directly to the rider.
Upon receiving the saddle, riders can return to their dealer for a final consultation. A second pressure-mapping session is conducted to compare the new setup against the original data, illustrating the changes in pressure distribution.
Giovanni Fogal, Brand Manager at Fizik, said “We know that a good, accurate fit depends on many factors: bike geometry, intended use, saddle shape, and position. But most importantly every cyclist is unique: experience, sensitivity, history of injuries, body shape, riding goals. All of this can affect the way we sit on the saddle.”
“It’s clear that a traditional one-to-many saddle design can only provide an approximate solution to very specific problems. With One-to-One today we achieve what every saddle manufacturer has always dreamed of: bringing to life customized support available to every cyclist.”
The One-to-One Adaptive custom saddle service is available to amateur cyclists as well as professional riders, with pricing starting from US$499, €459, or £459.
