Dessus apparel

Azul Aero.21 jersey, £120, Fondista bibshorts, £135, dessus.cc

In the rider-bike system, the human portion accounts for around 80% of total drag, so it stands to reason that making the rider more slippery is the most influential factor in achieving overall aerodynamic efficiency.

Yorkshire-based kit brand Dessus had this fact in mind when it developed its Azul Aero.21 jersey, which it says is ‘8-16 watts faster than a standard jersey’. It is a pretty bold claim yet looks to be far from baseless. Dessus says it worked with Body Rocket, a British engineering brand that specialises in aero testing, to produce the data, which is how is came up with its zipless design.

According to Dessus, ditching the traditional zip creates a second-skin-like fit, which it supports with aero material choices and hidden rear pockets.

While the Azul jersey is all about going fast, the Fondista bibshorts are more about being comfortable. They use plush, durable fabrics with a compressive fit to support the working muscles, and they feature Dolomiti’s Cibara chamois, which has perforations in the pad to promote airflow and improve comfort over long durations.