Dauphiné outsider Lipowitz prepared for strong time trial in very unusual location

Lipowitz prepared for the time trial in France at a very special location. With time trial guru Dan Bigham, he traveled to the Catesby Tunnel, a 100-year-old railway tunnel in the British countryside southeast of Birmingham. This tunnel has been transformed from a Victorian relic into an ultra-modern aerodynamic testing facility.

"The Catesby Tunnel underwent extensive redevelopment a few years ago and has since become a truly unique testing environment," Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe explained in a press release. "Measuring 2,740 meters in length, perfectly straight, with flawless asphalt, stable climate conditions, and complete wind stillness – it offers near-perfect conditions for aerodynamic engineers: controlled, repeatable, and precise."

Car manufacturers have used the tunnel for high-tech testing for some time, but Lipowitz was the first WorldTour rider to go there. "We test in a wide range of conditions, but the reason we come here to Catesby Tunnel is the level of control. There are no headwinds, tailwinds, crosswinds, or hard-to-measure gradient changes. It allows us to be extremely precise with our measurements – exactly what we need when we’re focusing on the smallest details."

"The conditions are absolutely exceptional – completely stable and ideal for aero testing. We were able to test a lot of things and gained some exciting insights that could help us become even faster."

And that paid off in the Dauphiné, where Lipowitz finished fifth in the time trial. "It was a very difficult time trial, especially with that climb. It was also very hot. But I'm happy with my performance, especially after riding in the lead group the day before. This will help us move forward," he said in a brief reaction.