Van Rysel's prototype airbag could be racing's biggest safety shift since helmets

Alex Hunt, Van Rysel

Following in the footsteps of sports such as MotoGP and alpine skiing, Van Rysel has partnered with French tech company In&motion to develop a race-ready skinsuit with an integrated crash-detection airbag system, designed to protect a rider’s torso and vital organs in the event of a crash.

Major crashes remain an unavoidable constant in road racing, but based on internal data cited by Van Rysel, around 20% of WorldTour riders sustain fractures each season, with more than 1,300 recorded over the past six years, and that number is rising year on year.

That statistic pushed the brand to look beyond cycling, to other high-speed sports in search of solutions that offered protection to the body, an area that has historically gone without any form of impact protection.

But while the concept promises a new level of protection, it also raises the question: can airbag technology genuinely work in the chaotic environment of a pro bike race?

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