Swiss Textiles Protect Tour de France Riders
Six-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and many other riders in the peloton are probably unaware they are wearing textiles "made in Switzerland".
They have had far more pressing thoughts on their minds as they have been pedalling around France, chasing the title of champion in cycling's most prestigious event.
But the textile that goes into the yellow jersey that Armstrong has worn practically throughout this year's race comes from the Christian Eschler company in Bühler, canton Appenzell Outer Rhodes.
"Our speciality is that we produce a functional fabric. It can tackle moisture, block wind, rain or ultra-violet rays or is anti anti-microbiologic al, meaning that no bacteria can grow on the textile," Martin Lüchinger from the company's marketing department told swissinfo.
He is not sure exactly who else on the tour is wearing clothing made from Eschler's fabric.
"We have a customer in Italy and he is a sponsor of several of the teams participating. Nike is also a customer and it produces [clothing] for the Discovery Channel team which includes Lance Armstrong," Lüchinger said.
The company's textiles are not only used for making cycling apparel, but are also found in other sportswear, including skiing, athletics, golf and luge.
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