The Castelli airbag weighs as much as two gels and will be tested in the WorldTour

Safety could be on the verge of experiencing a new revolution in professional cycling. As airbag systems begin to gain prominence among manufacturers, Castelli has presented a new prototype developed in collaboration with the Italian company Ragaz and the Soudal Quick-Step and AG Insurance Soudal teams, which stands out for a key feature: it weighs only 70 grams.

Castelli takes a step towards the ultimate cyclist airbag with a system weighing just 70 grams that Soudal Quick-Step will soon test

The Italian brand claims that this device has been designed to provide protection to the spine without altering the cyclist's performance, an aspect that has so far been one of the main obstacles to the arrival of such technologies in the professional peloton.

Unlike other developments presented in recent months, this system does not aim to cover the entire torso. Its design concentrates protection in the back and spine area, minimizing the volume and weight of the set.

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According to Castelli, this solution allows the system to be integrated into competition gear while maintaining freedom of movement, comfort, and the aerodynamic qualities demanded by top-level cyclists.

The module is installed just below the rear pockets of the jersey and incorporates a battery that allows the airbag to deploy in approximately 200 milliseconds when it detects a fall.

Additionally, it can be easily removed for washing the garment and features a simple recharging system. Ragaz has also incorporated a mechanism that prevents accidental activations and, in the event of such an occurrence, deflates the airbag in a controlled manner so that the cyclist's mobility is not limited.

Much lighter than other proposals

One of the most striking arguments of the project is its weight. Castelli estimates the total weight at around 70 grams, approximately equivalent to two energy gels.

The difference is notable compared to other known developments. The recently presented airbag-integrated suit by Van Rysel claims a weight close to 700 grams, ten times that of the Italian prototype.

Precisely this weight reduction is what aims to facilitate its adoption both in high competition and among amateur cyclists.

 

 

 

 

 

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Soudal Quick-Step will be one of the first to use it

The development has been carried out in close collaboration with the male and female teams of Soudal Quick-Step, who will participate in the validation phase of the system.

The CEO of the Belgian team, Jurgen Foré, confirmed that the riders will contribute to its evolution both in training and competition. “We look forward to contributing to its development and using it during training and competitions.”

So far, it has not been confirmed that the device is being used in the current Tour de France, although the announcement has coincided with the running of the French race.