Temperatures set to soar at the Tour de France as UCI clamps down on ice socks

July 5, 2026

As the temperatures rose into the mid-30s in Barcelona for the stage one team time trial of the 2026 Tour de France, it was imperative for riders to keep their body temperatures down in order the put in the optimum performance.

Body heat management looks set to be a running theme during this edition of the Tour de France, with temperatures set to rise above 40 degrees in the coming days.

Teams utilised a multitude of methods as Jonas Vingegaard led Visma-Lease Bike to victory, but one of the more common has been targeted by the UCI in a clamp-down on teams seeking to gain an extra aerodynamic advantage.

It has become customary to see riders stuff ice socks down the back of their necks during time trials and road stages. A pair of tights is filled with ice cubes and tied together, providing a long period of protection against the heat as the ice melts and soaks into the riders’ clothing. Cycling WEEKLY