Tech advancements showcased at Giro d'Italia 2025: Unveiling five exceptional updates, including unbranded helmets, Campagnolo's latest groupset, and innovative clothing line.
The Giro d'Italia kicked it up a notch this year, setting the race stage in Albania, and the locals couldn't get enough! Not only were they tête-à-tête with the action, but they got a sneak peek at the cutting-edge tech used by the cyclists.
Grand Tour season always sparks a wave of fresh equipment on the racecourse. This year's Giro is no exception.
We're already three stages in, and we've spotted new helmets, unmarked helmets, and a prototype 13-speed Campagnolo Super Record groupset. Let's run down the best of the new tech and the quirky choices some teams have made.
Campagnolo Super Record 13: A Leap Forward
Spotted on the bike of Cofidis rider Stefano Oldani, Campagnolo has seemingly improved its latest 12-speed Super Record Wireless groupset, released in 2023, and merged it with its 13-speed Ekar gravel groupset.
Our pals over at Cyclingnews got a closer look at the new 13-cog road offering and noticed a comeback of Campagnolo's popular thumb shifters, located inside the hoods. These were ditched with the Super Record Wireless's release two years ago, bringing the brand more in line with its competitors in Shimano and SRAM.
Cyclingnews got in touch with Campagnolo, who remained tight-lipped about the new groupset, stating that "a new chapter is beginning" in the Italian brand's history.
"We're working on a new innovation and product positioning strategy, one that's designed to meet the needs of various market segments," the brand spokesperson said.
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Campagnolo returned to the WorldTour with Cofidis this year, having been absent from the pro peloton in 2024. With this new groupset, the brand's passion for elite performance seems undeniable.
Scott's 'Spaceship' Lid
In the world of time trial helmet designers, 'bigger is better' seems to be the consensus. Following hot on the heels of POC's Tempor, Sweet Protection's Redeemer 2Vi, and Giro's Aerohead II, Scott has now thrown its hat into the ring with its own TT helmet. The unnamed prototype was worn by Q36.5's riders in stage two's time trial.
The design shares the same flared aspect as the helmets mentioned above, said to help channel the airflow over the rider's body. We'll have to wait and see if this helmet will stir up the same buzz as its predecessors.
Chinese Brand XDS Enters Helmet Market
XDS Astana, previously supplied with helmets by Italian brand Limar, have made a change and switched to helmets from their Chinese title sponsor, XDS. The squad started using the company's X-Lab bikes at the start of the year and debuted the new road and TT helmets in the opening stages of the Giro.
According to the team's performance engineer, Alex Dowsett, the new lids are "competitive with the best in the WorldTour." Both the road and TT options were designed through wind tunnel testing, with the road lid touted as being "super aerodynamic," while the TT helmet was designed for simplicity and functionality.
Lidl-Trek Go for Anonymous Helmets
In a move we'll likely grow accustomed to this season, Lidl-Trek riders will be sporting white, unmarked helmets in time trials. Since the team's helmet provider, Trek, doesn't make a TT lid, the team can shop around freely.
In a post shared in March, the team shared that they conducted velodrome and wind tunnel testing for each rider to determine which helmet works best for their body shape. This is why some wore Giro's Aerohead II during stage two's time trial, while others donned MET's Drone Wide Body II, commonly seen on UAE Team Emirates riders.
In standard road stages, Lidl-Trek's riders rely on Trek's Ballista helmet.
EF Education-EasyPost Trade the Pink
With customs in place to prevent team kits from clashing with leaders' jerseys, it has become standard for EF Education-Easypost and Rapha to release new 'changeout' colors for the Giro. This year, the American squad opted for a sleek, white design, adorned with the same motifs as their usual pink kit. Past years have seen more daring looks, featuring multicolored panels, recycled materials, and even cartoon images of a duck, following a 2020 collaboration with streetwear brand Palace.
The introduction of the Campagnolo Super Record 13-speed groupset, debuted by Cofidis rider Stefano Oldani, marks a significant leap forward in technology at this year's Giro d'Italia. Meanwhile, Chinese brand XDS has made its entry into the helmet market, supplying XDS Astana with road and TT helmets, showcasing that technology in sports extends beyond just the gear used by the cyclists.
