Green laser rays slice through the darkness, revealing the true air flow. Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, together with Specialized and LaVision, are taking aerodynamic testing to a new level.

It seems like science fiction, but it's cutting-edge research: at the Catesby Aero Research Facility, a disused railway tunnel in England, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Specialized, along with measurement specialist LaVision, conducted a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) test, a technique previously known only in Formula 1.

When Air Becomes Visible
The goal: to make air flow visible and elevate aerodynamics to a new scientific level. For the first time, the movement of air around the cyclist and bike was captured in detail, using millions of microscopic helium bubbles illuminated by lasers.

Every air movement was recorded. The resulting data serves to truly see how air moves around the cyclist and bike, bringing new insights and validating CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) models, or virtual aerodynamic resistance simulations.

More Than a Test: A Paradigm Shift
The PIV test marks a turning point. Never before in professional cycling had such a precise picture of air behavior around a cyclist been traced. The combination of CFD, wind tunnel, track, and real tests creates an integrated system that allows analyzing cyclist performances and positions with unprecedented precision, and PIV is the next frontier to ensure true confidence and correlation across all these testing domains.

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe and Specialized are working closely to redefine aerodynamic efficiency, from digital design to real races. This fundamental research not only provides insights for individual cyclists; it is shaping the future of modern aerodynamic development, understanding the "why" behind aerodynamic performance changes.

"We want to understand what is really happening, not just if something is faster or slower". With this PIV test, we are finally looking beyond the surface of aerodynamics, making visible what was previously unknown in cycling. We are bringing Formula 1 technology to two wheels and creating knowledge that will change the sport," says Dan Bigham, Head of Engineering at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.

He adds: "Pedaling through a laser beam is not something you do every day. Seeing the air flows around me live for the first time was fascinating. Normally, we only know if something is faster, but not why. Now we could actually see the why. For me, as an engineer, it's pure magic: a moment that shows what happens when curiosity meets technology."

Precision in the Dark
The test required maximum concentration: over 100 sessions exactly at the same speed, position, and trajectory, each time through a green curtain of helium bubbles and laser light. The Catesby Tunnel, with its constant temperature and absence of external influences, offers the perfect environment for this type of experiment.

"Here, the air is as pure as the data," Bigham says with a smile. "No wind, no slope, no randomness: just pure physics."

The Future of Speed
What becomes visible in the laser light is much more than a technical experiment: it's the beginning of a new era in cycling. This is fundamental research that will shape the development processes of Red Bull, BORA, hansgrohe, and Specialized for years to come. Because whoever understands the air, controls the race.