We love watching records get broken through extraordinary performances – especially when we can contribute to them ourselves.

We saw a perfect example just a few days ago. After an impressive 88 kilometers solo in the breakaway, Sigrid Haugset achieved what many thought was impossible. She crossed the finish line as the stage winner and was able to pull the yellow jersey over her head as the overall leader of this year's Tour de France Femmes.

About the historic stage win, Sigrid said, "Looking back, stage 3 still feels completely surreal. I just felt so good, both mentally and physically. I was 100% focused on getting into the breakaway, and once I was out there alone, the team car was fantastic at motivating and guiding me. It was one of those days where everything just clicked. In hindsight, it is crazy how close Kopecky was to catching me. I really squeezed out everything I had that day, and the feeling of crossing the line with my family and everyone from the team there… I just couldn’t stop smiling. Truly something I will remember forever." 

A performance like this only becomes possible when every detail comes together seamlessly. It is the ultimate proof of what thorough preparation can lead to. On this stage, we saw exactly what it takes to deliver something truly exceptional. That was also how the team's physiologist and head coach, Olav Aleksander Bu, described Sigrid's performance through the French countryside in scorching heat. He stated:

“Sigrid's performance was extraordinary – both tactically and physiologically. At these temperatures, the challenge is no longer just about generating watts, but about maintaining the body's thermal balance.”

When riding solo and fighting to keep a determined peloton behind you, you have to overcome every challenge on your own. The wind, the heat, the terrain, the pain, and the constant mental battle to keep pushing yourself. Olav Aleksander Bu elaborates on what it specifically takes to handle the extreme French summer weather:

“During the 88.5-kilometer solo breakaway, Sigrid's core temperature would continue to rise because the body's production of metabolic heat exceeded its ability to dissipate heat. The goal is therefore not to prevent the core temperature from rising, but to reduce the rate at which heat accumulates, thereby delaying the point where a critical physiological limit is reached. This is where heat acclimatization, hydration strategies, cooling methods, and clothing become crucial.”

That was precisely what Sigrid mastered on stage 3 of this year's Tour de France Femmes. She maintained an aerodynamic position throughout the entire breakaway and kept up the speed across the terrain. When you are alone against the wind, remaining as aerodynamic as possible is crucial – especially on flat roads and descents where every saved watt makes a difference.

Awareness and attention to detail were key elements in this record-breaking performance. It begins long before race day with targeted preparation: structured interval training that makes it possible to maintain high power output over extended periods, as well as heat training and acclimatization that improve the body's ability to cope with extreme temperatures and delay heat-related fatigue.

The same attention to detail is at least as important when developing the equipment that athletes rely on. When records are at stake, every single detail counts. The positioning of the chamois pad is critical for supporting the optimal posture on the bike. The placement of a seam. How well a race suit protects against the sun. The choice of materials that reduce aerodynamic drag. Every single detail matters.

These are the exact details we have prioritized over recent seasons in developing our apparel for Uno-X Mobility's women's team. As a partner, we take responsibility for supporting the athletes' dedication and hard work by ensuring they have the equipment they need to perform at their absolute highest level on race day.

Head coach Olav Aleksander Bu agrees when asked what made such a remarkable performance possible:

“What made the victory possible was the combination of exceptional physical capacity, the courage to attack early, an impressively controlled pacing strategy, and a complete setup surrounding nutrition, cooling, and clothing. This allowed her to utilize her full capacity under some of the hottest conditions the riders have experienced.”

Olav Aleksander Bu has also shared further perspectives on cycling in extreme heat. He explains what it takes to perform, why heat preparation is important, and how athletes can prepare as effectively as possible.

Read more here:

Q/A With Olav Bu