Castelli FREE PROTECT RACE pants, black

Performance shorts with double-layer Dyneema® side panels for added protection and durability. Great for gravel riding, but also used by the Ineos team at the Tour de France.

PRODUCT FEATURES

Double side panels for extra protection in the event of a fall.
A special smooth layer of Vortex material, backed by a layer of fabric with a grid structure made of Dyneema® material.
Forza material, with 38% Lycra® content in the crotch, for a perfect fit on the body.
Minimalistic designed mesh flat bras keep you cool.
Wider elastic GIRO4 hem at the end of the pants for better hold and reduced pressure.
The Doppio V construction brings increased support and comfort in the abdominal area.
Flat comfort seams.
Progetto X² Air Seamless cycling insole with seamless construction.

Sizes: S – 3XL
Weight: 251g (L)
Temperature range: 15 - 32 °C

Material composition:

Side panels, back lower part 79% polyamide 21% elastane
Crotch, bottom of pants 63% polyamide 37% elastane
Lining, back insert 58% polyamide 30% polyester 12% elastane
Suspenders 94% polyester 6% elastane
Back pocket 82% polyester 18% elastane

PROTEKT - Improved protection against road abrasions without adding bulky or uncomfortable padding.

Every cyclist knows that the hips are the most exposed part of the body in the event of a fall. We've built these shorts to be more durable and significantly reduce chafing, whether you're falling on loose gravel or in the final corner as you're about to win your local criterium or race. Such protection adds minimal weight, you don't really feel it, except in very hot weather, and it's limited to just the hip panel.

DURABLE MATERIAL

This sturdy fabric increases the chance that you can simply dust yourself off after a fall and not have to throw your expensive pants in the trash.

SLIDING OF MATERIAL ON MATERIAL

The main cause of burns on your hip is the shearing force when the head of the femur hits the ground and that force is absorbed by your body. We use two layers of fabric (a variation on the old trick of riders wearing two pairs of pants on top of each other) which allows the shear force to be dissipated to glide between the layers of fabric.

DYNEEMA® REINFORCEMENT

The inner layer of the fabric is equipped with a Dyneema® ripstop construction, which helps prevent the fabric from tearing during more serious falls. It is the same fiber used in climbing ropes and body armor.

UNCOMPROMISING PANTS FOR TOUR AND GRAVEL

These pants were originally created in response to Chris Froome's request to help protect him in the first dangerous stages of the Tour de France. He wanted to reduce the risk of burns and abrasions in case of a fall in those stages of the race when everyone wants to be in front and accidents often happen.

We've gone back to the old trick many riders know, putting two shorts on top of each other, knowing that sliding Lycra® over Lycra® is the best way to prevent or reduce side injury. In this case, we used our Vortex fabric from Free Bibshort on the outside, which we know is extremely durable in many conditions, from sliding down the road to being bitten by dogs (yes, really!). Then we added an inner layer of stretch fabric reinforced with a ripstop grid made from Dyneema® fibers, the same miracle yarn used in climbing ropes, boat sail reinforcements and body armor. This helps prevent the inner layer from tearing in many situations. We've layered this two-layer construction on a side panel that provides generous hip and thigh coverage in the event of a fall.

Originally created to help Tour de France riders better survive the first few stages of the race, these pants can also be useful if you're riding on gravel roads on a gravel bike, or in a local criterium, or if you're often falling and always scraping your side. just like our favorite GCN host.

In addition to the protective aspect, we created these pants using the components and construction of our Free Aero Race 4 pants, which also provide remarkable comfort.