Prologo, the Italian brand manufacturer of high-performance saddles, and INEOS Britannia, Challenger of Record representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, are pleased to announce a new partnership that will see them collaborate and race together for the 37th America's Cup.
The 37th rules of the oldest international competition, still running since 1851, introduced a change that allows teams to use any body part to power boats. Under the new rules, "grinders" can now use not only their arms but also their legs to power the hydraulics that control the movement of sails and foils. Thus was born the role of Cyclors, cyclist-sailors who harness the power of pedaling to maneuver modern AC75-class yachts.
To meet this new cycling challenge on the sea, the INEOS Britannia team has relied on the expertise of Prologo, which will provide saddles and handlebar tapes to the Cyclors who will pedal, during the upcoming America's Cup regattas, aboard the new RB3 foiling monohull designed in collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team.
Prologo will support the British crew with high-performance saddles featuring the patented CPC (Connect Power Control) technology, the system with three-dimensional conical nano-structures that greatly increase grip and vibration absorption, and the new Onetouch 3D handlebar tape, already used on the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones by several World Tour teams.
Prologo's innovative 3D product technologies, will enable INEOS Britannia's four Cyclors to maintain maximum saddle and handlebar grip during all phases of regattas, even when modern yachts will fly over the sea at over 50 knots.
All INEOS Britannia crew members will also count on Prologo's support during road training, where the saddles will be used on the team's Pinarello bikes, and in indoor training sessions in the gym.
"Prologo is excited to support the INEOS Britannia team in a historic but ever-evolving competition like the America's Cup, which pushes all partners to invest and innovate at the highest levels, in terms of product and technology, in order to achieve ever-higher performance. After having raced and won on the road with 7 World Tour teams, and off-road with over 10 supported Mountain Bike teams, we look forward to take on a new ambitious challenging terrain: the sea." said Salvatore Truglio, Brand Manager of Prologo. "The close collaboration with the INEOS Britannia crew, will allow us to further innovate our products, with the same passion for the pursuit of maximum performance, that we already share on the road with the INEOS Grenadiers team."
Harry Leask, Olympic Silver Medalist and Cyclor for INEOS Britannia, said, "We are excited to welcome Prologo as an official supplier. Their expertise in the design and production of saddles and accessories for teams at the highest level of international cycling, will be instrumental to support our Cyclors with the most innovative and high performance products, that can successfully meet even the toughest new challenges on the sea."
INEOS Britannia and Prologo will race in Barcelona from Aug. 29 to Oct. 7 in the Luis Vuitton Cup (Challenger Selections Series) taking on four other teams to determine, at the end of round robin and final races, the winning challenger who will face the America's Cup defender. The 37th edition of the America's Cup will take place Oct. 12-27.
