Why are riders at the Tour de France taping their noses?

At the 2026 Tour de France, riders have been observed wearing nasal strips on their faces during competition, prompting discussion about the trend's resurgence in professional cycling. According to Cycling Weekly, the practice involves taping the nose to potentially aid breathing, though scientific evidence suggests nasal strips may offer little to no meaningful performance benefit. The article, published on 10 July 2026, examines the gap between the strips' popularity in the peloton and what the research actually supports.