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Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Pro cyclists can barely take their rain jackets on and off while on the bike, too.
10-year pro Mirco Maestri was the latest to nearly fall foul of tight cuffs and flappy sleeves Thursday.
TV cameras caught Maestri almost coming a-cropper while taking off his rain cape as he pedaled away in the break of Thursday’s stage at Tirreno-Adriatico.
The Italian successfully peeled the layer off of his arms after surviving another damp and dismal start to the WorldTour race, but totally lost balance while trying to bundle the garment into his jersey pocket.
Maestri only kept it upright thanks to a spectacular late save.
It was so good even the pundits were impressed.
“Ooooh that was close,” race-caller Matt Stevens enthused.
Everything alright @mircomaestri9? #TirrenoAdriatico @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/ZZsW1RHYT2
— Tirreno Adriatico (@TirrenAdriatico) March 13, 2025
As if one near-miss wasn’t enough, Maestri decided to put the jacket back on soon after – albeit with greater success.
Maestri’s dice with disaster Thursday serves as timely reminder that even pros struggle to pull off some of the most fiendishly difficult wardrobe maneuvers of road riding.
Aussie star Jai Hindley saw his ride toward a breakout podium finish of the 2020 Giro d’Italia nearly derailed in a now-famous rain jacket kerfuffle.
Only in this case, Hindley was trying to get a jacket on – all while breathing through his eyeballs while on the attack at the summit of the wind-swept, 2,800m high Stelvio.
✔️ Things Jai Hindley can do: Win a stage at the Giro d’Italia
❌ Things Jai Hindley can’t do: Put his jacket onThe @TeamSunweb rider was lucky to stay on his bike at one point! pic.twitter.com/XjUK90GeHj
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 22, 2020
Rain jacket admin has to be the “boss level” of road cycling acrobatics. It goes one layer more sophisticated with the addition of some bulky winter gloves.
Unwrapping an energy bar on the move? No problem.
Bunny hopping onto a curb? Easy.
Rain jacket admin? I dare not even try.
Stay tuned to the atrociously wet and cold Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico this week for plenty more examples of how, and how not, to layer and de-layer while on the bike.
