The Tour de France is underway and while it doesn’t appear likely that Thomas Voeckler will be able to see himself back in the yellow jersey as he did last year, he should at least be very comfortable in his Team Europcar Professional Cycling Team kit made by Louis Garneau.
It is features coldblack Carbon Ion, which reflects heat and helps cool the rider. And while the team wears green and black the fabric can cool riders as effectively as if the clothing was white. The coldblack treatment further offers increased UV protection, which is good for anyone who is going to be out on the road for five or six hours a day.
This works by utilizing embedded carbon fibers, which also help to reduce the overall weight of the jersey, and prevent electric charges from settling on the body, thus avoiding a negative reaction on muscular contractility. The carbon fibers also accelerate the movement of humidity through evaporation.
And this jersey might help Voeckler make up lost time as well, as it is the first to feature Speedtech fabric, which has a dimpled mesh construction that reduces aerodynamic drag and is designed to improve aerodynamics for speeds ranging from 15 to 45 mph. On the roads of France this clothing should have the team looking and feeling good.
Title sponsors are big business in the world of sports, and this is very apparent in the world of professional cycling. This week Slipstream Sports, which had been competing in professional cycling races including the Tour de France as Gamrin-Barracuda will become Garmin Sharp.
Adidas is supplying its Adidas Tango 12 ball as the official match ball for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. For those of us on this side of the pond, that’s the Euro Cup soccer tournament. 
Bauer just released a new helmet for hockey players that offers more protection. The helmet was unveiled by Bauer Hockey during the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, where it was worn by several players. 
There are more and more devices that are helping track an athlete’s performance during training or competition. The Babolat Play & Connect interactive tennis racquet could help players avoid faults altogether. The racquet looks just like any other out there, but in the handle are sensors and electronics that can track performance. This can be downloaded afterward via USB or even streamed line via a wireless connection to a computer, tablet or smartphone for tracking of activity in real time.
In cycling, women don’t get a ton of recognition. Few races are broadcast on TV, and there aren’t quite as many teams worldwide as there are for men’s cycling. Even if you the Exergy Tour cycling stage race going on this week throughout Southwestern Idaho won’t be broadcast near you, you can track the progress of female cyclists on the inaugural tour with the Exergy Tour Tracker app, available for iPhone, iPad and Android.
As efforts are made to streamline every last part of a bike something has seemed a bit odd – namely those cycle-computer mounts that sort of ruin the sleek lines and look a bit like a tumor on the handlebars. But last season 3T introduced an integrated steam – fittingly called the Integra. Now comes word that the stem will be used this season by the Team Garmin-Barracuda in this season’s pro cycling races. 
Last year Virginia Tech – Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences began testing adult football helmets. The school just released its 2012 ratings, and added two helmets with five-out-of-five stars, joining last year’s pick.
Athletic shoe, apparel and accessory maker Finish Line just formed a multi-year partnership with the Special Olympics. Finish Line will provide support for the Special Olympics, and become the only national sponsor of the TRAIN Athlete Sports Assessment program, and also support for the Nutrition Education Program that’s part of the athletic event.