• 2 min read
Pogačar’s Tour edge includes a 3D-printed saddle
Tadej Pogačar’s 2026 Tour de France setup includes a bespoke Fizik saddle and an AI-designed helmet from G42's Helmetverse.
Image: TechRadar
Tadej Pogačar is chasing a fifth Tour de France win in 2026 with more than fitness on his side. Alongside a strong start and what TechRadar describes as a seemingly unsurpassable lead for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the Slovenian is racing on a highly customized 3D-printed Fizik One-to-One saddle built specifically for him.
According to Alex Locatelli, Head of Brand at Fizik, the pitch is simple: comfort can translate directly into performance.
“Small details in the technology might make the difference.” “The marginal gains in this case — comfort is strictly related to performance, as if you are able to forget about this, it’s less thought you need to give while you have to focus on another part of training and racing.”
Fizik’s One-to-One system goes beyond a standard mold. The company uses its own pressure-mapping sensor technology to create a saddle tailored to a rider’s anatomy and riding style.
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Locatelli said each saddle takes around two to three weeks to produce, although some riders can be fast-tracked.
“We have a very good relationship with Tadej.” “That’s something that’s not easy to achieve…as a matter of fact, the team principal told me it’s very rare that Tadej is so enthusiastic about a product — sometimes he’s not even happy after winning the Tour de France, he’s so demanding to the team and to himself.”
Fizik says the data collected from these custom builds will also feed into future standard saddles.
Pogačar’s setup also includes a new helmet unveiled for stage 5 of the 2026 race. The helmet was designed by Helmetverse, the design platform from tech group and team sponsor G42, manufactured by MET Helmets, and created with AI artist Gizem Akdag.
Akdag said the design was inspired by “the transition from city to signal and from data to light,” with visuals intended to reflect the speed and flow of professional cycling.
Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal and CEO of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, said the team is using Helmetverse to push performance, innovation, and fan engagement.
Fans can also submit their own helmet concepts through Helmetverse, with the winning design set to be worn by UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the UAE Tour in February 2027.
Gadgets Editor
Eli is obsessed with the tangible future. He reviews phones, wearables, and everything with a battery. Known for his rigorous testing protocols and unabashed teardowns, Eli has broken more review units than he cares to admit, all in the name of discovering the truth about durability and repairability.
via TechRadar
