At the 2025 Tour de France, top riders like Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss, Remco Evenepoel, Mattias Skjelmose, Jonathan Milan, and Julian Alaphilippe were all spotted racing with nasal strips. It’s a throwback to the ’90s when riders like Jan Ullrich made them popular—but why are they making a comeback today?
Fashion Over Function?
Performance coach James Spragg, who works with Alaphilippe, explained: “They don't offer a performance advantage per se. They can give increased comfort for some, and can increase ease of breathing when eating … It’s probably just a fashion thing.”
Visma-Lease-a-Bike coach Tim Heemskerk added: “Like with many things, even a placebo effect is an effect.”
What the Science Says
A 2021 meta-analysis found no significant boost in VO₂max, heart rate, or perceived exertion when athletes used nasal strips.
Studies from the University at Buffalo and the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research confirm: no proven performance advantage.
A newer 2024 study did show benefits for athletes with nasal obstruction using internal dilators—but that’s a different product.
In short: the data says no big performance gain.
Why Riders Still Use Them
Placebo Power – if it feels like it helps, it probably does.
Visual Edge – Skjelmose even matched his strips to team colors, turning them into a style statement.
Comfort – for riders with slight congestion or a deviated septum, strips may give small relief in tough moments.
The Bottom Line
Nasal strips are back in pro cycling not because they make you faster, but because they’re cheap, harmless, and give riders a mental or comfort edge. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to perform better.
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