Biking’s racing calendar is filled with storied occasions, however there’s none fairly just like the Tour de France. Whereas some choose the cobbles of Roubaix over the gradual construct of Milan-San Remo or the seemingly never-ending climbs of the Giro, le tour is one race we will all agree on.
So, beginning tomorrow, the eyes of the world will as soon as once more be on France (and Italy!) because the riders full the three-week circuit that won’t solely decide the winners and losers but additionally have a good time bike racing in all its chaotic magnificence.
Naturally, groups wish to seem their finest for the race, so we’ve received some fairly spiffy-looking Tour de France bikes that will likely be taking the road in Florence on Saturday. Listed here are three that caught our eye, adopted by Lidl-Trek’s tire of alternative that comes with an attention-grabbing stamp of approval.
Cavendish to chase tour report on special-edition Filante SLR
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
I doubt you’ll want reminding that Sir Mark Cavendish will likely be gunning for a record-breaking thirty fifth stage win at this yr’s Tour. Cav’s pursuit of a victory that may see him go Eddy Merckx because the race’s most prolific stage winner will likely be one of the vital compelling subplots of this 111th version. He’ll be chasing historical past aboard a special-edition Wilier Filante SLR, resplendent in a paint job wealthy with signifiers.
Whereas the rear triangle of the body is black, the entrance finish resembles a warmth map with a number of Jackson Pollock-esque splatters utilized for good measure. Inexperienced is current as a nod to the color of the race’s factors jersey, yellow to characterize the maillot jaune and blue and purple to symbolise Cav’s 2011 World Champs title.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
“Filante SLR is the proper bike for me, however I wished one thing extra,” Cavendish says. “Everybody has their very own style and that is why I really like so as to add my very own contact to the bikes I exploit, as they’ve been an inseparable a part of my skilled life for 20 years now. On my final go to to Wilier HQ in March, strolling across the firm I noticed an image that struck me. I requested if it was attainable to use it to the entrance of Filante SLR, leaving the rear triangle black.
“After a few months, I discovered myself dealing with this Filante SLR, which is spectacular to say the least – completely according to my expectations. They’ve accomplished an awesome job, which has given me additional motivation for my subsequent Tour de France.”
Will the Crimson Bull SL8 give Bora wings?
(Picture credit score: Specialised)
Crimson Bull’s partnership with the Bora – hansgrohe crew means a brand new look equipment and bike for the German outfit who, in Primož Roglič, have one of many few real rivals to race favorite Tadej Pogacar.
The bike in query is, in fact, the Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL8, Spesh’s ‘one bike to do all of it’ and Biking Weekly’s Race bike of the 12 months. For the Tour, Specialised’s lead idea graphic designer Tom Briggs has opted for what’s described as a ‘sticker slap’ design.
(Picture credit score: Specialised)
“The design was impressed by youth tradition and 90’s skateboarding aesthetics,” he says. “The clustering of logos on boards and different objects within the type of stickers confirmed authenticity and connectedness to one thing counter-culture. It’s a brand new look, a brand new day for the peloton, and Specialised is bringing collectively one thing that feels distinctive in a world that each one too usually can look the identical.”
In actuality, it appears to be like to be a reasonably refined design, with most of the ‘stickers’ throughout the body rendered in a light-weight gray towards the background of the white. Understandably, it’s the Crimson Bull emblem that’s most outstanding from afar; it’s in full color and ‘slapped’ on the aspect of the pinnacle tube.
(Picture credit score: Specialised)
The remainder of the bike is accomplished by a SRAM Crimson AXS groupset, a set of Roval Rapide CLX II crew wheels, a Rapide cockpit and an S-Works Energy saddle with Mirror tech. Specialised has made – and individually numbered – simply 500 on the market.
IPT go for tricolore impressed paint job
(Picture credit score: Issue)
On condition that the French are immensely happy with their race – and rightly so – it appears smart for groups from elsewhere to aim to ingratiate themselves with the native followers as they work their approach across the nation. The Israel PremierTech squad have opted to win over the house crowd with a particular version Issue Ostro VAM that celebrates each race and nation.
The tricolor color scheme ought to translate simply, although at pace the splatter paint element could also be misplaced towards the predominantly black body. Nonetheless, it’s a distinctive-looking machine that’s paired with Black Inc’s built-in cockpit and wheels to ship loads of aero advantages.
(Picture credit score: Issue)
The bike is offered in restricted numbers to most of the people with a alternative of construct choices, though Issue hasn’t mentioned simply what number of framesets have been produced. When you fancy one, you’ll must request a quote through the web site.
Lidl-Trek to race on FSC®-certified rubber
(Picture credit score: Pirelli)
Whereas Lidl-Trek’s new fleet of Gen 8 Madone’s will possible garner a lot consideration, the crew’s alternative of tyre is newsworthy too. The likes of Mads Pedersen and Giulio Ciccone will likely be rolling on the world’s first-ever tyre made utilizing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) licensed pure rubber.
The Pirelli P Zero Race TLR RC will possible be acquainted. It’s a devoted tubeless-ready race tire designed for a spread of situations. Nevertheless, the model that will likely be utilized by Lidl-Trek on the Tour bears the FSC stamp engraved on the aspect of the tire. This means that the rubber used comes from plantations which can be managed “to strict environmental, social and financial requirements”, serving to to each shield biodiversity and profit the native communities.
(Picture credit score: Pirelli)
Made in Pirelli’s Milan-Bollate plant, the FSC certification additionally means the fabric used “is managed individually from non-certified materials all through the complete provide chain”. To make this attainable, Pirelli says it has renovated the plant, with a devoted monitoring system in place.
