Why Cyclists Are Increasingly Turning to Nasal Strips and Nasal Dilators

You see it more and more in the peloton. A strip across the nose bridge of a rider pushing their limits on a climb. Not a quirk, not a sponsor obligation — an intentional choice, made as part of a systematic approach to breathing efficiency under sustained load.

Anyone following professional cycling over the past few seasons could not have missed it. Riders from WorldTour teams are increasingly lining up at the start with a nasal strip in place. The question is legitimate: what does it actually deliver, and where do riders overestimate its effect?

The Breathing Problem in Endurance Cycling

A professional cyclist breathes up to 120 to 150 litres of air per minute during intense effort. The nose, anatomically designed for filtering and conditioning incoming air, becomes progressively overwhelmed at high ventilation rates. Nasal resistance increases disproportionately as demand rises. The result: the mouth takes over.

Mouth breathing carries physiological costs. Cold, dry air reaches the airways without adequate warming or humidification. For riders prone to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction or airway irritation — a prevalence significantly higher in cycling than in the general population — this is particularly relevant.

The core issue is not that nasal breathing is categorically superior. It is that a partially obstructed nasal passage adds unnecessary resistance on top of what effort already demands. That is exactly what nasal strips address.

Research published in the Journal of Laryngology & Otology demonstrated that nasal dilators meaningfully improve airflow during moderate to high-intensity exercise. The effect is not universal — anatomical variation plays a decisive role — but in riders with functional nasal collapse under load, outcomes are consistently positive.

Where Nasal Strips Actually Add Value

The effect of nasal strips for cycling is most pronounced in three specific areas:

• Functional nasal collapse. In a subset of athletes, the nasal sidewalls are drawn inward at high breathing frequencies, restricting the nasal inlet. An external strip mechanically holds the cartilage open. For riders with this condition, the effect is direct and measurable: less resistance, less compensatory mouth breathing.
• Comfort and concentration. Professional riders typically describe the benefit not as a performance gain, but as a comfort gain. Less congestion, a steadier breathing rhythm in the final kilometres of a climb. A rider who wastes less effort managing their breathing retains more mental and physical reserve for decisive moments.
• Sleep and recovery. This is consistently underestimated. Nasal strips are not only used during races but also at night, during recovery windows between stages. Better nasal patency supports sleep quality and reduces nocturnal mouth breathing. Across a three-week stage race, that compounds into something meaningful.

"It is not about one big gain. It is about dozens of small improvements that together make the difference across three weeks of racing."

Marginal Gains: The Context That Makes It Relevant

The concept of marginal gains — articulated through the British Olympic cycling programme under Dave Brailsford — fundamentally changed how professional teams evaluate performance improvement. Every intervention that is safe, applicable, and demonstrably neutral or positive deserves serious consideration.

Nasal strips fit precisely within this framework. They are lightweight, do not interfere with aerodynamics or equipment, carry no physiological risk, and require no adaptation period. Teams including UAE Team Emirates, Ineos Grenadiers, and Visma | Lease a Bike work with sports physiologists and ENT specialists who assess on an individual basis which riders benefit from nasal dilation. The approach is personalised, not generic.

Where Nasal Strips Do Not Make a Difference

Honesty is warranted here. A nasal strip is not a performance tool for riders with an anatomically normal nasal passage that functions well under load. For them, external dilation adds little.

A nasal strip also does not resolve problems deeper in the airway. Bronchospasm, exercise-induced asthma, or nasal polyps require medical intervention. Treating nasal strips as a substitute for adequate medical evaluation is the wrong conclusion to draw.

BreatheMore Performance Series: Built for Cycling

The Performance Series was built for athletes under sustained load — and meets every demand that cycling places on a nasal strip.

• Sweat-resistant adhesion. The adhesive layer is formulated for the combination of sweat, skin oil, and sun protection unavoidable during intense riding. Standard strips lose adhesion under perspiration — precisely when they are needed most. The Performance Series maintains its hold for hours, even under extreme conditions.
• Calibrated spring tension. Spring tension is calibrated for maximum dilation without the pressure that overly rigid strips create, which leads to discomfort or skin irritation during prolonged wear. Relevant in stage racing, where the strip is worn continuously for multiple hours.
• Aero-position geometry. The shape is designed to align with nasal anatomy as it presents in an aerodynamic riding position — a posture that loads the nasal passage differently than standing upright. It sounds like a detail. In a sport decided on details, it is not.

Cycling is decided in the margins. The rider who controls their breathing at the critical moment, uses their energy more efficiently, and recovers better between efforts — that rider has an edge. The BreatheMore Performance Series was built for exactly those moments. Not as a miracle solution, but as a tool for riders who take every aspect of their performance seriously.