SCICON Sports, Shamir Optical Industry and UAE Team Emirates collaborate to raise the bar on rider visual clarity

SCICON Sports, the leader in high-performance eyewear, bags and accessories for professionals and enthusiasts, has brought together leading global prescription lens manufacturer, Shamir, and UAE Team Emirates in a world first partnership to bring about enhanced visual clarity for the team’s riders and staff.

The new collaboration, sparked from SCICON’s desire to continuously push the boundaries in all product development, saw the entire UAE Team Emirates roster undergo thorough eye examinations with the ophthalmologists from Shamir. The result is individual prescription lenses adapted for both riders and staff who have a need for adjustment and improvement to be able to see more clearly when carrying out their job in the highest tier of cycling.

Claudio Fantin -SCICON Marketing Strategist and a veteran in the sports eyewear sector- was instrumental in developing the new collaboration. “I’ve been working in the industry and attending races for over 20 years now and I am proud to say that SCICON is the first company in the world to carry out such detailed eye examinations with athletes in riding position during their pre-season training camps. It’s important that cycling eyewear is both fashionable and stylish, but it must also guarantee perfect vision and protection in all conditions whether racing or training. With this, we’re looking to take a small step and make a big difference for rider safety and how rider vision is considered”.

Mauro Gianetti -UAE Team Principal- adds: “At our recent training camp in Benidorm, Spain, SCICON and Shamir’s R&D team carried out detailed eye examinations on the bike over the course of the week and I experienced their professionalism first-hand. Our team is made up of 100 people; riders, mechanics, drivers, soigneurs and managers. Each and every one received a dynamic visual analysis. Based on their activity, the models of SCICON glasses and paired Shamir prescription lenses were then selected. It’s a new way of thinking about cycling eyewear and we’re pleased to be leading the way”.

Eran Harduf -CEO of Shamir- said: “When Claudio Fantin approached us with the idea using our skills to the benefit of a team with the experience of UAE Team Emirates, we immediately saw the opportunity to grow, learn and in turn impart some of our 40 years’ experience. As one of the leading companies in the world in the design and production of high-tech multifocal lenses, I am very excited about the improvements this agreement will make to rider eyesight in testing conditions. Our best ophthalmologists in precision sports have been made available to SCICON and the UAE Team Emirates. We are already working with the data collected from the first studies carried out with the riders and we have already planned a series of visual solutions to be adopted not only during, but also after the race as recovery plays a fundamental part in being your best on the bike.”