The Best New Tech at the Tour de France
On the second day of pit walks, we came across some new TT tech from Colnago and Specialized, as well as a new aero road frame from Look. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)At the Tour de France Grand Depart, getting everything is a losing game. Especially in a big, bustling, hectic city like Barcelona, Spain. All the teams are just spread too far with too many different schedules. Nevertheless, across two days, we made it to a total of nine teams and captured most of the major releases before the show hits the proverbial road with the team time trial on July 4th.We put out part one of the new tech breakdown after the first day of scouring the various hotel parking lots of suburban Barcelona, as well as separate looks at Tadej Pogačar’s Y1Rs and Paul Sexias’ prototype Van Rysel, but now it’s time for part two, spanning Tadej Pogačar’s new TT bike, Remco Evenepoel’s blinged-out Specialized Tarmac SL9 plus an unreleased new Shiv TT bike, and a vibrant new bike from Look at the Cofidis compound.
Colnago TT2 — UAE Team Emirates
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
First teased in April of this year, the Colnago TT2 will finally spread its wings in full form on the opening team time trial of this years Tour de France. The bike is still as aero as the previous Colnago TT bike, but it crucially cuts half a kilogram of weight from the full system. Up until now, the TT2 has been in prototype mode and only available to a select few riders. Now, it is available for the full team of powerhouse riders who will be lo0king to deal the first blow to Vingegaard in Barcelona.
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
The new frame is meticulously shaped to generate precise air flow around the key junctions throughout the bike to maximize aerodynamics and cut weight when possible. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Enve is a willing and able partner in the improvements to the tt bike’s system weight. They came on a few years ago and were able to lower the weight of the previous bike through better cockpits and improved wheel weight. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
The bike has been aided by the addition of two new Enve wheels. Using the SES PRO spec that was first launched last year, before the Tour, as a basis, Enve has added the SES 100 PRO and SES PRO Disc wheels to boost the bike’s aerodynamics from the ground up.
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
It is worth noting that while all this was going on, a large crowd of fans was gathered behind us, trying to catch a glimpse or get a signature from “the big man,” Pogačar.
Nobody told them where the team was located, yet they seemed to know where to be and when the riders would be heading out.
No Pog? Del Toro is about as good as a second option can be. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Is that a pro? No, that is just a very lean, very tan team boss. The one and only Mauro Gianetti. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Here are some other details of the TT2 that Pogačar and his UAE team will ride on stage 1.
It is all about the big rings. Tadej will be on a 64t chainring tomorrow. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Big rings and short cranks do the trick, with Pogačar dropping down to 160mm cranks for the TT bike compared to his 165mm cranks on the road bike. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Specialized Shiv and Tarmac SL9 — Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
There has been a lot of Tarmac SL9 content on this site recently, but this time it is a little different. While we were at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, we got a peek at something else. Specialized is not only bringing one new bike to this race.
Straight away, the bull marked the spot. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
My theory is that through the R&D process for the SL9 and Crux 5, Specialized came across a breakthrough that allowed them to build bigger tube shapes, and cut weight. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
The certainly was the case with the two drop bar bikes, with both holding the same weight and improving the aerodynamics, so it is safe to say the Shiv does something similar. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
There is also scores of unique shaping and channels that look finely tuned to move air around the key parts of the bike to push the limits of the aero gains Evenepoel is hunting for. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Add into the mix a very deep front wheel from Roval, and big foils are the name of the game.
This one doesn’t look like it will be ready in the morning, but it could be for Florian Lipowitz later in the Tour. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Shortly after we started, the two secret bikes got pulled away. Yet, something even more exciting showed up: the man himself, Remco Evenepoel.
The man of the hour arrives with a polite “hello” to everyone. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
The scuttlebutt around the paddock is that the Belgian is leaner than ever. While we cannot confirm that, we can confirm the guns were out. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Okay, back to the bike. So, the first thing you need to know is that they put gold everywhere. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Really, everywhere! Even on the 165mm cranks. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Also on the drivetrain. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
And the fork, obviously. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
The Speed Sniffer (yes, it is still there, it is just much, much longer) does stay team-issued, though. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Look 795 Blade — Cofidis
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Last but not least, perhaps the most beautiful bike of them all: the new Look 796 Blade for Cofidis. “Shoddy” Dave has been on hand with us, making videos, but we recruited him for important holding duties, as well.
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Cofidis is the only Tour team using Campagnolo, with a Super Record group providing all the moving bits.
This setup uses a 54/39t crankset, plenty for most everyone, but less than almost all of the Tour de France peloton. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Of course, they do get one more rear gear. This one goes to 13 speeds. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
While some teams were breaking out the latex tubes for the TT bikes, Cofidis was the only team we saw employing them on road bikes, with 28mm tires, no less. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
This one was a different version of the same tire as well. Strange. (Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
Ultimately, we haven’t had time on the 796 Blade to feel how it rides, but from looks alone, it is an undeniable force.
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
(Photo: Logan Jones-Wilkins/Velo)
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