30 October 2026

Recreating the Hottest Tour de France in a Climate Chamber

To kick off indoor season, CORE joined cycling apparel company Q36.5 in inviting a small group of international journalists to Bolzano, Italy to participate in one of our most advanced apparel R&D protocols: climate chamber testing. 

In collaboration with TerraX Cube, the extreme climate simulation facility, we simulated the infernal conditions and intensity of the last 35 minutes of Stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France in a controlled environment. Riders were able to experience the exact conditions (35°C, 50% RH) that the pros rode through in the hottest Tour de France on record. Each rider wore a CORE 2 Thermal Sensor, and later that night we shared back a thermal data analysis from the experience, showing how individuals stacked up against actual pros from the Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

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Beyond demonstrating first-hand how such conditions can impact rider performance, CORE and Q36.5 were able to illustrate the role that apparel can play in the thermal equation, and the R&D work the two companies put towards brining pro and amateur riders alike the most innovative and reliable equipment available.

Collaborative Research and Development

In the center of the heat chamber, one R&D rider was fitted with a white split jersey made of two different Q36.5 fabrics. The CORE team outfitted the rider with several CORE sensors to measure the differences in thermal dissipation across the torso. Journalists were then able to get an inside look at how these fabrics handle heat differently and the implications this has on rider comfort and performance.

Q36.5 Split Jersey Test Results

CORE and Q36.5 have a history of collaboration through a shared mission of unlocking athlete performance through a focus on thermoregulation. As global temps continue to rise each year, thermoregulation will continue to play an increasingly larger role in the performance equation, and both companies are committed to pioneering innovation in the space to bring riders at every level superior performance.