Daniela Ryf hits 70.3 Dubai with Felt prototype and new aerobars
Swiss star heads to Dubai for "reality check" after lots of aero testing
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Daniela Ryf Instagram
Last year we reported that four-time Kona (and five-time Ironman 70.3 world champion) Daniela Ryf was riding a Felt prototype. There’s still no word on when that bike will be officially released, but Ryf has been doing lots of testing on the new bike and will be using it, along with some some custom aerobars, at Ironman 70.3 Dubai on March 5, 2022.
“I will be racing at the IM 70.3 Dubai on the 5th of march to kick off my season 2022,” she posted on Instagram, letting us know that she’ll be heading back to Dubai to defend her title. “Looking forward to race and to get a first reality check.”
That post also included a photo of her Felt bike, along with some interesting aerobars that it appears she’s been working on with aerodynamics specialists Swiss Side.
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Ryf was in Italy working with Swiss Side to “gain some watts” – something her competition no-doubt feels is the last thing the multiple world champion needs.
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For those not familiar with Swiss Side, it is a company based in, well, Switzerland, that specializes in aerodynamics. The company was founded by Jean-Paul Ballard, who spent 14 years as a lead engineer with F1 racing teams, including Sauber. In 2014 he decided to turn his sights to the cycling world. His company has worked with Canyon, Cube, DT Swiss to help with frame and wheel design. Swiss Side has also developed its own wheels, which are ridden by the likes of Patrick Lange and Laura Philipp.
Ryf is also part of the Swiss Side pro team, and they’ve been working for the last six months to help her gain some valuable aero performance. Turns out we were late to notice the new aerobars – The Test Lab posted these photos back in December highlighting the new aerobars being developed by Swiss Side.
After starting her season off with wins in Dubai, 70.3 St. George, Ironman Tulsa and Ironman 70.3 Switzerland (where we first saw the Felt prototype), Ryf ended up sick on race day at the Collins Cup. A week later she won Ironman Switzerland, only to have another rough day two weeks later at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, where she finished 11th. Despite winning five of her seven races in 2021, she would move to second in the PTO World Ranking behind Lucy Charles-Barclay.
