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What should I wear for a duathlon?

Matt Bottrill explains why a tri-suit is still the best option for a duathlon, despite no swim

First of all you need to take into account the weather conditions and aerodynamics. The body is 80% of your drag, so wearing a tri-suit is always going to be the best option. By combining good position and clothing you could save up to 30-40 watts, which could equate to 90secs-2mins over a 40km course.

Tri-suits: what to look for

When it comes to suits always opt for a sleeved version – the shoulders are a very sensitive area so by wearing an aero suit you’ll cut drag. You’re going to save around 15-20watts with an aero suit compared to shorts and a jersey. The brand Endura, for example, has a tri-suit with different panels that are designed to reduce drag but also allow you to move more freely. My own personal preference was to use a full-sleeved skinsuit one size bigger so it allowed me to move easily.

When it comes to the weather, always make sure you layer up well. But make sure you keep the base layers under your suit rather than over them.

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About

Winner of multiple national championships, holder of competition records and many more accolades, Matt is now focused on developing Matt Bottrill Performance Coaching and helping some of the world's top athletes across a range of stages. As part of this, Matt transitioned from the world of time-trialling into triathlon in 2017 and progressed to multiple age-group and overall wins. This learning process, along with taking on board specialist triathlon coaches, has enabled MBPC to transform the cycling of many triathletes. Matt now coaches some of the best triathletes in the world, including Tim Don, Will Clarke, Rachel Joyce and Susie Cheetham. The team of 6 coaches have a range of different specialist areas that enable them to tackle any niche aspect of riding, from 10-mile TTs all the way up to National A level road racing and everything in between.