When athletes leave the start and drive for fractions of a second that decide a medal, kit stops being clothing and becomes performance engineering. For Spain’s bobsleigh and skeleton program — now a growing presence on the IBSF World Cup circuit and on the road to Milano-Cortina 2026 — Babici’s speed suits are one of those engineered edges: a precise blend of aerodynamic thinking, textile science and athlete-first design that helps shave hundredths off a run when it matters most. (Babici, IBSF)
From pro cycling DNA to sliding-track performance
Babici’s heritage is in high-performance cycling apparel: a sport where seam placement, surface finish, compression, and textile selection are all quantifiable performance parameters. The brand took that same engineering mindset and applied it to sliding sports — rethinking fabrics, tailoring and surface treatment for sled speeds, ice conditions and the intense biomechanics of skeleton and bobsleigh. The result: suits that act like a second skin, reduce drag at sled-relevant speeds, and integrate with each athlete’s sled setup and start technique. (Babici)
What makes Babici’s speed suits fast?
There’s no single shortcut — speed is the sum of many small advantages. Babici’s program focuses on:
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Purpose-built materials — low surface friction, fast wicking and minimal water retention so athletes don’t carry extra weight or drag. (Babici)
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Micro-texture and surface finishing developed through wind-tunnel and on-ice testing to control airflow separation at high Reynolds numbers.
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Body mapping & compression — targeted panels that stabilise muscle groups and reduce vibration during the start and high-G sections of a track.
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Seam, zipper and pattern engineering — placing joins where they produce the least aerodynamic disturbance while preserving mobility for explosive starts.
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Iterative prototyping with telemetry — prototype → test runs → video & timing analysis → refine. This closed-loop approach is lifted directly from elite cycling and applied to the ice. (Babici)
These are the kinds of marginal gains that add up; in sliding sports fractions of a second separate the podium from the pack.
Close collaboration: Babici & the Spanish federation
Top-level kit only becomes an advantage when it’s built around an athlete. Babici’s designers work directly with the national coaching staff and riders — fitting individual biomechanics, testing on the specific sled geometries, and iterating during World Cup and IBSF events so that race suits are validated in real conditions. That athlete-centered process is why the suits have been adopted across Spain’s World Cup and championship efforts. (Babici, IBSF)
The leadership driving the project — Ander Mirambell
A central force behind Spain’s resurrection in sliding sports is Ander Mirambell. An Olympian-turned-leader, Mirambell has used his experience and network to build a program that combines talent identification, coaching, and smart technical partnerships. His leadership is about more than selection — it’s about creating the high-performance environment (including partnerships with technical suppliers like Babici) necessary for athletes to close the gap with traditional sliding nations. Mirambell’s role as national coach and program architect is a primary reason Spain’s sliders are increasingly competitive on the World Cup circuit. (andermirambell.com)
The athletes — the human story behind the suits
These suits don’t live on a hanger — they’re raced by athletes who are bringing Spain up the ranks. Special praise goes to this core group:
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Adrián Rodríguez (skeleton) — a steady performer for Spain with solid results in Europe Cup and World Cup fields; his continued development under Mirambell’s program has helped raise the standard in men’s skeleton for Spain. (IBSF, The Sports)
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Ana Torres-Quevedo (skeleton) — an energetic, technically sound slider who has represented Spain at World Championship and World Cup events and continues to progress season after season. (IBSF)
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Emily Maria Macdonald (skeleton) — an emerging skeleton athlete in the Spanish program whose explosive starts and commitment to testing and development have made her a valuable part of the team’s depth and future potential.
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Leanna García (bobsleigh / monobob) — a trailblazer in Spanish bobsleigh, Leanna’s rise (including World Cup appearances and strong European results) has been part of the wider momentum pushing Spain toward Milano-Cortina 2026. Her story is also a reminder of the investment and grit required to build a program in a sport with high equipment and travel costs. (Diario AS)
Mirambell’s coaching and the athletes’ willingness to test and iterate in real events make the Babici suits not just prototypes but race-proven tools.
How the suits fit into Olympic preparation
The path to Milano-Cortina requires consistent World Cup presence, accumulated quota points, and a program capable of peaking during the Olympic window. Babici’s suits contribute to that by delivering a measurable kit advantage in starts and track speed, but they sit inside a broader performance ecosystem — sled engineering, start coaching, strength & conditioning, and track-specific preparation. With the IBSF’s 2025–26 calendar and Olympic qualification system in play, every marginal gain becomes crucial. (IBSF)
What this means for Babici and Spanish sliding sports
Babici’s move from cycling into sliding sports demonstrates how technical apparel expertise can translate across disciplines. For Spain, the multiplier effects are clear: better kit raises profiles, helps attract sponsorship, and brings more athletes into the system — which in turn accelerates innovation and competitiveness. Ander Mirambell’s leadership, combined with athletes like Adrián, Ana, Emily and Leanna, is creating a program with momentum and genuine Olympic aspirations.
Looking ahead: Milano-Cortina 2026 and beyond
The next Olympic cycle will reward programs that combine smart leadership, athlete development and technical partnerships. Babici’s speed suits are part of Spain’s strategy to close gaps on the world’s best. Whether the result is a breakthrough podium or a new national best, the process — rigorous testing, athlete collaboration, and iterative engineering — is what will leave a lasting legacy for sliding sports in Spain.
Special thanks to Revista Chapman Magazine & Photographer Hugo Vargas.