A LONG LEADOUT
The journey to create the fastest Body Geometry shoes in history started in 2011, working with Mark Cavendish, and progressed over the next 10 years as we tested designs with Mark, Marcel Kittel, and most recently, in close partnership with Sam Bennett. Each step of the way, we were seeking the ultimate connection of the foot to the pedal, under the most extreme, out-of-the saddle efforts. “We were trying to adapt our existing shoes to serve their needs, but with limited success,” says Rob Cook, Design Director for footwear. “So we knew we needed to build something specific. Once we went in that direction, we cut ourselves free to really focus on serving the key needs for that type of rider.”
Ultimately, it was Bennett’s clinical attention to detail and willingness to dig into the process that led to new realizations and fresh approaches. “My shoes are probably the most important piece of equipment to me,” says Bennett. “I’m super sensitive to change and I take hours to set up my cleats, down to the millimeter.” The team sent him out with prototype after prototype, each evolving with input from Sam and explorations in the lab.