FAST WASN’T ENOUGH, SO OAKLEY ENGINEERED SPEED BEYOND LIMITS: MEET VELO KATO AND VELO MACH

Fast alone, unstoppable together. Meet Oakley Velo Kato and Oakley Velo Mach, the cutting-edge eyewear and helmet duo designed for champions who demand dominance. Engineered in collaboration with Tudor Pro Cycling, the Swiss UCI Pro Team, Oakley’s fastest head system in history redefines speed through uncompromising research, development, and athlete-driven design. Made to lead, the system is a testament to decades of relentless performance innovation, embodying Oakley’s half-century pursuit of excellence—now pushing the future of cycling forward.

Years in the making, Oakley and Tudor Pro Cycling made pure speed their ambition–all with one goal: to create a head system that is faster than the rest. It started at Oakley’s HQ in Foothill Ranch, where the team dove deep into Oakley and Tudor’s design philosophies, visions for the future of sport, and shared sense of daring ambition. With speed as Tudor’s top priority, the team mapped out performance targets based on key athletes, body positions, wind direction, and ride speeds.

To make the system as personalized as it was fast, Tudor shared 3D scans of their top riders. Together, Oakley and Tudor Pro Cycling used the data to run countless computer simulations and 3D print full-scale models for wind tunnel testing–logging thousands of individuals runs in the wind tunnel, countless hours of real world and synthetic testing with the Tudor Pro Cycling team, backed with decades of brand innovation and knowledge to fine tune performance. Oakley engineers joined Tudor Pro Cycling engineers and cyclists at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub, where they tested the system on live riders in real-world conditions.

 "We set our ambitions sky high with Tudor Pro Cycling, and matched that with tenacity, creativity, and the best tools and testing methods—no shortcuts," said Rachel Gitajn, Director of R&D at Oakley. "The data Tudor Pro Cycling provided was invaluable, giving us a hands-on way to fine-tune our design. By combining these insights with a Design Thinking approach, we refined every detail of the helmet-eyewear system until we perfected the Velo Mach and Velo Kato."

The first prototypes were tested at Tudor Pro Cycling’s January 2024 training camp, where Oakley R&D conducted athlete interviews and captured in-depth measurements, using early feedback to shape the evolution of the design. By December 2024, Oakley returned with a refined system and delivered the final race eyewear and helmets to the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. As Tudor prepares to take on the world’s biggest races—from the Giro d’Italia to Tour de France— these groundbreaking innovations will be put to the test on the front lines of cycling’s grandest stages. 

Oakley Velo Kato was developed with a rider’s race position in mind. The eyewear features a new Unobtainium® nosepad that improves field of view while maintaining coverage. Its large Plutonite® Lens with Prizm™ Lens Technology delivers unparalleled clarity and contrast for tackling the most challenging courses. PhysioMorphic™ Geometry provides a seamless, close-to-face fit that shields from wind and debris while offering a panoramic view. The frame’s flow conditioner tabs work in harmony with Velo Mach to create an aerodynamic design that maximizes airflow, reduces drag, and enhances speed, helping the rider stay ahead of the competition. 

Oakley Velo Mach is made for speed and designed with an optimized shell shape for real-world riding positions, body angles, and aerodynamic demands. The introduction of Flow Conditioners—unique fin-like structures on the helmet’s surface—reduces drag and increases airflow attachment, maximizing efficiency in a sprint position at 70 kilometers per hour. The enhanced Oakley 360 Fit system eliminates pressure points with repositioned yoke arms, a rubberized dial, and a refined fit cap for superior comfort, while TurboDry fabric ensures elite moisture management across all next-to-skin surfaces.

“At this level, speed is everything—it's about precision, agility, and the right gear that’s built for peak performance, ensuring we're equipped to conquer every challenge the road brings our way," said Tudor Pro Cycling Team cyclist Alberto Dainese. “When you're racing against the best in the world, every watt and millisecond counts, and Velo Mach and Velo Kato are setting a new benchmark in cycling.”

Velo Stelvio and Velo TT round out the collection as precision-built helmets, engineered for peak performance in every race scenario. Velo Stelvio is designed for the demands of hot climbs, integrating strategic ventilation and internal channels for maximum cooling while still delivering competitive aerodynamic performance. Velo TT, Oakley’s fastest time trial helmet, leverages a conical lens with Prizm™ Technology, a removable vent cover, and the latest in aerodynamic shaping to shave seconds when they matter most. Both helmets feature Oakley’s TurboDry moisture management system and the improved Oakley 360 Fit for race-day comfort.

Push the pace in Velo Kato, Velo Mach, Velo Stelvio, and Velo TT on April 17 at Oakley.com and select Oakley stores and partners worldwide.

About Oakley, Inc.
Established in 1975 and headquartered in Southern California and Milan, Oakley is one of the leading product design and sport performance brands in the world. The holder of more than 900 patents, Oakley is a culture of creators, inventors, idealists and scientists obsessed with using design and innovation to create products and experiences that inspire greatness. This philosophy has made Oakley one of the most iconic and inimitable brands on the market, with products that world-class athletes around the globe depend on to compete at the highest level possible. Oakley is known for its High Definition Optics®, which features unparalleled optical clarity and precision along with impact resistance and UV protection, incorporated into all of the brand’s sun, prescription eyewear and premium goggles. Oakley extended its position as one of the world’s leading sports eyewear brand into apparel and accessories. Oakley has men’s and women’s product lines that appeal to Sports Performance, Active and Lifestyle consumers. Oakley is a brand of Luxottica. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.

Oakley® and Prizm™ are trademarks of Oakley, Inc.

© 2022 Oakley, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Tudor Pro Cycling

Tudor Pro Cycling is a Swiss professional Road Cycling Team based in Sursee, Switzerland. The Team was launched in 2022 at the initiative of double Olympic Champion Fabian Cancellara. Tudor Pro Cycling is made of a UCI Pro Team and a Development Team. In 2025, 45 riders from 11 nationalities – including 13 Swiss men – are racing at the highest level of road racing. Tudor Pro Cycling is supported by Tudor, an award-winning Swiss-made watch brand, offering mechanical watches with refined aesthetics, proven reliability and unique value for money.

For more information: www.tudorprocycling.com and www.tudorwatch.com.