环法自行车赛女子组第四阶段陷入装备争议。多支女子职业自行车队指控部分选手通过在胸罩内垫料来人为夸大胸部尺寸，以获取空气动力学优势[1]。赛事组织方随即在该阶段时间赛前要求选手接受装备检查，严格审查是否违反国际自行车联盟关于衣着修改的规定[1]。
根据空气动力学研究，这一做法并非无关紧要[1]。苏格兰赫瑞瓦特大学和芬兰拉彭塔理工大学的教授Bert Blocken研究表明，"胸部整流罩"可产生3.6%的阻力减少，每公里可节省至少0.78秒[1]。鉴于竞速项目通常以秒计胜负，这一差距足以影响最终名次。
国际自行车联盟对此设有明确规定，禁止人为改变衣着，违规者可被立即取消资格并处以罚款[1]。赛事组织方规定，选手必须在第四阶段开始前至少10分钟报到接受自行车和装备检查，以重点确保符合国际自行车联盟第1.3.032条款[1]。检查由男性官员和女性见证人共同执行[1]。
Controversy erupted at the Tour de France Femmes when multiple women's professional cycling teams raised concerns that some competitors were artificially enlarging their bust size by padding their sports bras to gain aerodynamic advantages.[1] In response, race organizers implemented equipment inspections before the fourth stage, conducted by male officials alongside female witnesses, with specific focus on compliance with Union Cycliste Internationale regulations governing clothing modifications.[1]
Research from Bert Blocken, an aerodynamics professor at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and Lappeenranta University of Technology in Finland, demonstrated that "chest fairings" could reduce drag by 3.6 percent, potentially saving at least 0.78 seconds per kilometer.[1] The Union Cycliste Internationale prohibits intentional alterations to clothing, with penalties including immediate disqualification and fines for violators.[1] Race organizers required competitors to report for bicycle and equipment inspections at least ten minutes before the fourth stage commenced, with particular attention to compliance with Union Cycliste Internationale article 1.3.032.[1]