3 Pieces of Advice

On a perfect Vuelta Preparation With David de la Cruz.

Former Vuelta a Espana red jersey and stage winner, David de la Cruz often says – quoting his mentor the legendary Joachim ‘Purito’ Rodriguez’ that “to be 100% is the sum of 1% + 1% +1%…” David is in fact a meticulous researcher of every last detail and, to that end, on the eve of his 11th participation at the Vuelta we asked him for a few special 1% improvements he will be making in preparation for Q36.5 Pro Cycling’s second ever Grand Tour…

1. Study the Route (and understand Local Conditions)

To prepare best for a race you must study the route and understand local conditions. The Vuelta is the most explosive of the three Grand Tours, with shorter stages and climbs that are shorter and steeper than the Giro and Vuelta, but the biggest difference between the Vuelta and the other Grand Tours is the heat. The Vuelta can be super, super, hot, with some stages potentially over 40°C all day. If like this year, the course stays a lot of time on the coast or in the North you will encounter extra high levels of humidity, making the heat even more complicated because the sweat cannot evaporate easily from your skin. By studying the course and understanding the local conditions on the route I can research specific solutions: from training in the same hour as the race to adapt my hormonal system, to doing heat adaptation training here on the coast near Girona where the humidity and UV radiation are as close as possible to what I will experience during the race (instead of indoors or in the sauna), to testing different sunscreens to find one with the correct PH-level so it is light and breathable, protecting me from sunburn but also creating a successful thermal shield to keep my skin cooler.

2. Test Every Item your Sponsor makes

I feel that it is up to the rider to take the responsibility to scan the catalogue of every item the team’s sponsors makes to check if there are some useful solutions which have been overlooked. In the case of Q36.5 I have been testing many items over the last 2 years which were not originally in the official supply, both for training and racing. Items like the Dottore Hybrid vest for example have been a real discovery, even for racing. For the Vuelta I have specifically purchased and tested the new Q36.5 Clima socks which gave me a very good feeling. You can have the most comfortable shoes in the world but when you are riding in very hot conditions with shoes that are as stiff as today’s models there is always the risk of discomfort because of swelling etc. so I wanted to find a sock that has lowest volume ever and is also really breathable. I have to say I find the Clima very interesting thanks to its ultra-lightweight and minimal padding, and I will definitely use it for the Vuelta instead of the Aero socks on certain stages. I have made the same research and testing between Aero and well-ventilated helmets in the Scott range in order to understand when an open helmet can be the best performance choice, as the head is the first part of the body to send warning signs if it is overheated.

3. Rotate your bib shorts

Before the beginning of a Grand Tour you always receive some new sets of kit from the team. When I receive the new bib shorts, jerseys and skinsuits, I always number each set 1, 2, 3 and during the race I make a regular rotation of the items. First day bib shorts 1, second day bib shorts 2, third day bib shorts 3, fourth day bib shorts 1 and so on in order that I do not overuse any item. It is a big psychological advantage to feel, even during the third week, that you are still using brand new equipment every day.

Gregarius Pro Bib Shorts Black

Color: Black | Size: M

Totally redesigned from the ground up for 2025 with 100% proprietary components, the Q36.5 Gregarius Pro Bib Shorts for Men have been engineered to provide the rider with the most free, unrestricted, and “not-even-there” on-the-bike feeling, without any compromise to our signature comfort and ergogenic support. This uniquely unrestricted feeling of the Gregarius Pro is the result of a system that fuses a new ergogenic pattern (four different fabrics, minimal stitching) with our revolutionary adaptive chamois pad. The Q LAB Air Chamois employs single layer cover fabric without lamination or foam for rapid drying and breathability during hot conditions while the C-shaped foam pad underneath is inserted directly into the pattern of the shorts, creating a single plane from straps to groin. This design offers noticeably superior stability and comfort for the rider. Even during the hardest moments of the climb, you will need to look down at your legs to remind yourself that you are even wearing anything!

Variants from €0.00

€201.63

Dottore Hybrid Vest Black

Color: Black | Size: M

The Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Vest is characterized by its exceptional versatility across temperature ranges and riding conditions, thanks to its pioneering use of high density woven fabrics that mimic the qualities of shell fabrics but without the use of membranes, achieving superior breathability and moisture management. Riders will immediately notice how the Dottore Hybrid Vest keeps them significantly drier and warmer than vests of equivalent volume, especially on high intensity rides. This third generation version of our signature vest is characterized by even more advanced body mapping. We invested in months of wind tunnel studies with our Pro Team and the Japanese cycling federation that allowed us to better understand the movement of chilly winter air around the flanks of the cyclist. In fact, the thermal UF shell fabric now covers not just the front of the rider but flanks and part of the back as well. The central part of the back uses an ultralight mesh fabric and mesh pockets have been added to the vest. Unhemmed construction of the sleeve openings - new for this year - reduces weight while increasing longevity and comfort.FOR WOMEN: Order one size smaller: e.g. if you wear a S in women’s jerseys, we suggest you order the XS size of this jersey.

Variants from €0.00

€191.56

Clima 17 Socks Black

Color: Black | Size: 40-43 / 8-10.5

The Q36.5 Clima Socks combine incredible breathability with instep support to offer essential comfort and performance in hot summer conditions. The multi-structure weave allows for a lightweight yet supportive second skin feel to enhance power transfer.

Variants from €0.00

€20.16

Base Layer 1 Sleeveless Ice Grey

Color: Ice Grey | Size: S-M

The Q36.5 Base Layer 1 represents our technologically extreme vision of the traditional seamless base layer that provides optimal moisture management thanks to our use of the cutting-edge Karl Mayer Seamless knitting machines. The seamless design uses multiple integrated yarn structures with varying densities to pull sweat away from the skin and move it to an outer layer where it can evaporate.

Variants from €0.00

€60.49

Unique Pro Road Shoes Black

Color: Black | Shoe Size: 37

Engineered for total control, the Q36.5 Unique Pro Shoes use proprietary Italian manufacturing technologies to achieve a new level of stability, power, and comfort for riders, allowing you to push yourself to the limit with a renewed level of confidence. At the heart of the shoe’s superior performance is a market-leading 4.4mm stack height. The artisanal carbon fiber sole is made in Montebelluna using a patent-pending layup. The outsole also features an extra wide metatarsal area for guaranteed comfort across different foot sizes and a cupped heel for increased stability. A signature of all Q36.5’s racing shoes, the Unique Pro Shoes feature no tongue but rather use a proprietary mesh panel across the bridge of the foot in order to maximize the shoes’ cooling effect. No other racing shoe on the market offers such a large and effective ventilating surface, representing an additional example of our commitment to thermoregulation as the new frontier for performance gains as well as rider comfort and health.

Variants from €0.00

€554.51

Air Jacket Ice Grey

Color: Ice Grey | Size: M

Designed to provide effective protection from wind and light rain, the Q36.5 Air Jacket uses a high-density stretch woven material with DWR treatment to ensure you’ll stay comfortable in changeable weather year-round. The lightweight material insulates while remaining super packable, which means there’s never a ride where you won’t bring it along, just in case. Its body mapped cut ensures it will sit close to the torso and not flap in the wind.

Variants from €0.00

€141.14

Gregarius Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team Jersey 2025

Color: 2025 | Size: M

For 2025 our Official Research Scientists will be using the Q36.5 Gregarius Jersey, combining 4 proprietary fabrics with advanced body-mapping to offer the highest-performing balance of aerodynamics, comfort and thermoregulation in the peloton. As with all Q36.5 products, it is our ability to intelligently combine deep research into all three of these areas into a single, highly-versatile, jersey that offers the rider the true performance advantage across an incredibly wide range of temperatures, weather conditions and riding intensities.

Variants from €0.00

€91.75 €131.07

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