Mathieu van der Poel joins Tour de France arm-shaving trend

Mathieu van der Poel and several other Tour de France riders have embraced arm-shaving this year, a trend that goes beyond aerodynamics. The practice, now adopted by roughly half the peloton, serves both performance and practical purposes.

Why are riders shaving their arms?

Aerodynamics play a role, but the primary reason is crash recovery. Mauro Schmid, who won stage 13, explained that smooth arms make road rash easier to treat. 'It’s not only for aero gains,' he said. 'If you crash, it’s much easier to clean and bandage without ripping hairs out.'

What does the science say?

Specialized’s 2015 wind tunnel test found that shaved arms save 19 seconds over 40km. While minimal, riders like Fernando Gaviria still opt for it. 'I have a lot of hair,' the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA sprinter said. 'It’s just for more aerodynamics.'

How common is arm-shaving now?

A *Cycling Weekly* survey found around half the peloton shaves their arms. Uno-X Mobility’s entire squad does, as does Gaviria, who crashed this year. 'It makes it a bit more clean in case you get a little road rash,' Schmid added.

What’s the bigger picture?

While leg-shaving is standard for aero gains, arm-shaving is growing due to its crash benefits. 'If you crash and need surgery, it’s easier without hair,' said Lotto Intermarché’s Baptiste Veistroffer. For riders like van der Poel, it’s another small edge in a grueling race.