It solely looks like yesterday that we had been bringing you tech content material from Paris-Roubaix, however the Tour de France is formally upon us and I’ve been in Florence for 3 days, racing from group resort to group resort, very like the Netflix crew I ran into on Thursday who had been becoming GoPros to a dozen groups’s automobiles.
I will not listing all of them, however among the highlights embrace the UAE resort, the place I noticed Tadej Pogačar’s Colnago V4Rs with just a few new techy methods hidden in plain sight; the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale resort, the place an all-new Van Rysel aero bike was noticed, of which there are a handful of close-up element photographs under.
I additionally went to Visma-Lease a Bike, the place I obtained a glance inside their controversial new ‘Control Room’, in addition to a more in-depth take a look at Jonas Vingegaard’s bike. That too had some methods up its sleeve, however they had been hidden. You’ll must learn on to search out out what they had been.
I additionally hung out at Team DSM-Firmenich-PostNL, the place I obtained a take a look at their new race radios, that are mounted inside their time trial helmets, quite than in a pocket on their again.
Thursday night time performed host to the Teams’ Presentation on the Pallazo Vecchio within the centre of Florence. In the massive quarters behind the First Courtyard, inside the Pallazo itself, every of the groups’ bikes had been saved, ready for the riders to do their lap of town centre. I spent most of my night there – a motorbike nerd’s heaven – getting up shut with the bikes.
All in, I took nicely over a thousand pictures and narrowed it all the way down to round 350 good ones. I’ve lower that down additional, and have landed on 86 pictures of the fanciest, nerdiest, latest tech from the 2024 Tour de France.
Let’s begin with the brand new Van Rysel aero bike. Enjoy.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
The new Van Rysel bike, noticed within the days main as much as the race, is unashamedly aero in its design
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It seems to be known as the FCR Pro, and can be part of the RCR all-rounder street bike within the vary
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I doubt Van Rysel is attempting to one-up Cannondale’s Hi-Mod with this Super Hi Mod carbon, however I prefer to suppose it’s. Like the model’s wheels, it seems SwissFacet had been concerned in designing this too
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The body’s seat tube hugs the rear tyre, however with sufficient of a niche for first rate dimension tyres
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The chunky down tube leads right into a beefy backside bracket space, presumably for max sprinting stiffness.
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Tyre clearance up entrance appears fairly sizeable too.
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The marble-effect paintwork, presumably utilized in a bid to disguise among the bike’s strains and options, is a handy nod to Florence’s Romanesque structure.
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If you had been uncertain concerning the aero intentions, that is all you could see. This head tube is big and is harking back to the Dare bike that Uno-X have been using this season.
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The one-piece handlebar can be new, and whereas not as deep because the Uno-X Mobility bike, it is undoubtedly nonetheless one of many deepest within the WorldTour.
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Here’s an alternate look.
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The seatstays journey diagonally as you’d anticipate, however drop vertically on the final.
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The method F = 0.5 S V^2 Cx pertains to the aerodynamic drag power skilled by an object transferring by a fluid (resembling air). Here’s a breakdown of the phrases within the method:
F: Aerodynamic drag power
ρ (typically represented as p): Fluid density (e.g., air density)
S: Reference space (frontal space of the item dealing with the move)
V: Velocity of the item relative to the fluid
Cx: (typically represented as Cd): Drag coefficient, which characterizes the drag per unit space
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
The fork blades are additionally fairly deep.
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A inexperienced strip travels down the rear of the body, with the Van Rysel wordmark lower out.
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This is at present a prototype bike, so we do not know for positive what it will be known as.
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The Deda bars include profiled spacers to create a extremely deep junction beneath the stem. This will hopefully create loads of house for cable routing, in what look to be totally built-in bars.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
The Lion of Flanders options on the entrance of the seat tube, alongside a notice that claims “Designed in Flanders.”
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The seatstays take part a reasonably typical place, flaring outwards greater than most earlier than heading all the way down to the rear axle. The seatpost clamp is a wedge model, accessed from in entrance of the seatpost itself.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Here’s what it appears like below the quilt.
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There’s no ‘velocity sniffer’ model ahead protrusion right here, however the head tube is greater than deep sufficient.
…speaking of tyres (Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
It was additionally fitted with these uncommon Continental Aero 111 tyres, as noticed on the Team Presentation.
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Speaking of latest issues, this is an uncommon one from over at Lidl-Trek. It’s from an organization known as Cyclowax and it robotically waxes a motorbike’s chain, with out the necessity to take away it from the bike. It takes half-hour per bike, so quite than spend all night time between every stage waxing chains, the group has pre-waxed 40 spare chains.
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Accompanying the machine was this Cleaning Station and Waxing Station.
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Another new discover was this helmet at Intermarché-Wanty 2024. It’s from Uvex, and the identify is unknown. Louis Meintjes talked me by the helmet, saying that it had a detachable cowl that switches it from a vented helmet as proven right here, to an aero helmet as proven under. However, as a result of UCI rule forbidding covers on helmets, the group was pressured to superglue it into place. This in flip meant they wanted to carry twice as many helmets to the race.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Here, modelled excellently by Biniam Girmay, is identical helmet however with the quilt fitted.
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Speaking of helmets, there’s an fascinating chain of thought occurring at DSM-Firmenich PostNL…
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It entails inserting the race radio into the helmet, quite than in opposition to the chest or again. This is primarily a security concern, however there’s one other nifty level to it.
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This little dot is the microphone, and as an alternative of reaching for a button on the chest or within the helmet to show it on, the riders can use their Di2 buttons on their Shimano groupsets. Meanwhile, the DS has a Bluetooth button mounted onto the steering wheel within the automobile, that means they will converse to the group with out taking their hand off the wheel.
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So far, it is solely been put into the time trial helmet, as a result of the sign can at present solely journey within the route the antenna is pointing, quite than 360. It additionally is not sturdy sufficient to succeed in all riders when races are cut up into completely different teams. It’s a extremely fascinating concept although, from an organization known as Sena, and if it helps to extend security, I’m rooting for its success.
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On the topic of innovation, we obtained a glance inside Visma-Lease a Bike’s controversial new management room, the place they will monitor the race scenario from afar and make tactical selections that the DS within the group automobile won’t be capable to see.
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While the Control Centre is something however delicate, the opposite tech discover at Visma is as delicate as they arrive. Hidden contained in the hubs – the DT180, right here on Jonas Vingegaard’s bike, and the DT240 used on another riders’ bikes – are a brand new set of high-precision bearings. They’re from the Japanese model Jtekt, and so they examined round 2-3 watts quicker than the already-good normal bearings from DT Swiss.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
There had been additionally a handful of latest bikes on present. We already noticed the brand new Canyon Aeroad on the Dauphiné, however I managed to rise up shut with each the bike of Jasper Philipsen…
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…and Mathieu Van der Poel, each of whom had a unique paint job to the remainder of their group. Stay tuned for a full nearer bike examine of the as-yet-unreleased Canyon Aeroad CFR.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Visma-Lease a Bike are additionally sporting {custom} paint, as proven right here on Jonas Vingegaard’s Cervélo R5. It weighs 6.7kg as you see it, so needs to be ‘authorized’ as soon as the race quantity and GPS transponder are fitted.
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Mark Cavendish’s Wilier Filante SLR can be custom-painted on this multi-coloured splash, a design which continues into the colour-matched one-piece bar/stem.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
The most anticipated new bike design of the race must be the brand new Specialized Tarmac SL8 bikes of the newly-titled Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. The bike was made out there to the general public in a restricted run of 500 items for the princely sum of $16,500. Within 24 hours, Specialized had offered out totally.
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While we’re as regards to S-Works Tarmacs, I could not miss Remco Evenepoel’s bike. He’s been utilizing this design for just a few weeks already, but it surely appears nice with the chrome-matched handlebar.
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Another bike that is not new, however appears nice, is the SuperSix Evo of Nielson Powless. Incredibly, the bike as you see it weighed 7.8kg, a full kilogram heavier over the UCI restrict, with the race quantity and GPS transponder nonetheless to be fitted.
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Tadej Pogačar’s bike was lighter, at 7.2kg, however that is regardless of switching out normal elements for a handful of fancy light-weight tech from Absolute Black and Carbon Ti.
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Among the brand new additions is that this derailleur hanger from Frames And Gear. Presumably a weight saving measure.
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These are additionally new. They’re the GraphenPads from AbsoluteBlack, and have large zig-zag fins for warmth dissipation.
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This one is not new, however the Carbon Ti chainrings are nonetheless getting used to carry the burden of the V4Rs down.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
I additionally noticed two of the UAE Team’s Colnagos constructed with an uncommon spec. Despite being sponsored by Shimano and Enve, these two had been constructed up with SRAM groupsets and Zipp wheels. They had been employees bikes, quite than rider bikes, so maybe it was extra a private desire, or maybe they’re contemplating a change. The latter appears unlikely given each Enve and Shimano had been chosen by the group after in depth testing.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Speaking of non-standard specs, the cockpit on Tom Pidcock’s Pinarello Dogma F is completely different to the remainder of the group.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
See how the perimeters of the stem have a sharper angle right here on Ben Turner’s bike, whereas on Pidcock’s there’s extra of a gradual curve.
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There are variations on the underside too. The underside of Turner’s bike is completely stable, other than the mount for the out-front laptop mount.
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While on Pidcock’s bike, there’s a detachable cowl. It appears as if Pinarello has taken the cockpit from the outdated Dogma F and moulded it to suit the brand new body.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
You’ve in all probability additionally observed that fascinating out-front mount. It’s at present a team-only prototype from Pinarello’s element subsidiary, MOST, and it is 3D printed. There are completely different designs to suit the completely different sizes of Garmin Edge laptop.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
There was one other case of non-standard componentry at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, the place Jai Hindley’s bike was fitted with a blacked-out Fizik saddle, quite than the team-sponsored Specialized saddles.
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Speaking of Fizik saddles, at Visma-Lease a Bike, Christophe Laporte was utilizing the model’s new ‘One to One’ {custom} becoming service. He’d had it utilized to the model’s Antares mannequin. That was only one of some fascinating small tech tidbits I discovered at Visma, so I’ll run by these now.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
These Tacx Deva bottle cages are devoid of any paint or gloss clearcoat. They’re uncooked carbon, as a result of that is marginally lighter.
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You can not help however really feel impressed by the eye to element from this group. They had even coated over the small bolt holes on the brand new Vision Metron 5D Evo bar for the tiny aero profit it supplies.
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Amusingly, on the entrance of that Vision bar, they’ve added a white sticker over the present black Vision brand, as a method to present the Vision model off to the world extra clearly. Marketing at its most interesting. And in all probability undone the burden saving discovered on these bottle cages.
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Vision stickers had been additionally utilized to Nielson Powless’ cockpit, regardless of it not being made by Vision in any respect. It’s really the SystemBar R-One from Momo Design, which comes as normal with the SuperSix Evo Lab71 bikes.
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Things aren’t all as they appear right here at Astana, both. Despite Wilier making a cockpit for the Filante, this bike was fitted with a Black Inc cockpit, painted as much as match the remainder of the bike.
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I can not do a bit on handlebars with out together with this monster of a factor. It’s not the primary time we have seen it. It first broke cowl on the Spring Classics, alongside a brand new Dare bike. It’s significantly hanging although, and pushes the brand new UCI guidelines on dimensions to the restrict.
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A little bit of a topic change right here, however I could not assist however discover this ironic. Over on the Israel-Premier Tech resort, there was a Factor branded Ineos Grenadier, the 4×4 that provides the Ineos Grenadier’s their identify.
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I additionally loved these Lidl-branded sneakers, worn by everybody within the Lidl-Trek camp. Don’t say it too loudly, however I’d need a pair.
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Things you like to see: I did not handle to get a photograph of the Paw Patrol tattoo that Jonas Vingegaard was sporting, however I did see his former teammate, Primoz Roglic, with an analogous memento.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Some riders select to recollect different issues within the second, whereas others attempt to discover methods to seize the second. At the Team’s Presentation, one of many Intermarché-Wanty riders was utilizing an Insta360 digicam mounted to this stem-mounted selfie stick. I’d like to see the footage he captured.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Now for a take a look at the small, neat or fascinating little updates, hacks and designs. The first is that this Red-Bull-colour-appropriate element on the SRAM Red crank arms.
(Image credit score: Josh Croxton)
Next, the small strips of grip tape on the within of the bottle cages at Ineos Grenadiers. This is extra of a typical sight at Paris-Roubaix, however with an increasing number of consideration turning to diet in recent times, something the group can do to keep away from dropping bottles unnecessarily will assist efficiency.
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This was additionally a pleasant contact, on the underside of Matheiu Van der Poel’s world-champion’s paint job.
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This one was barely much less neat, however fascinating nonetheless. While most groups bond the race quantity into place, and a few use rubber bands, Cofidis go old-fashioned with the nice quaint zip tie.
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The bike that Pogacar rode on the Teams’ Presentation was Colnago’s V4Rs Fleur-de-Lys version. Costing €23,000, it featured this real-gold plaque on the stem.
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It additionally had gold-coloured spokes, as a result of why on earth would not you when spending that a lot on a motorbike?
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Israel-Premier Tech’s Factor’s Ostro VAM wasn’t fairly as bling at that, but it surely did have a pleasant {custom} paint job, full with holographic logos.
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While we’re as regards to {custom}, Mark Cavendish was sporting a newly-designed pair of his common Nike sneakers.
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And whereas we’re as regards to Cav, we have already seen it, however listed here are a pair extra angles of the {custom} bike he’ll be using.
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I believe it appears nice, though I’m undecided I might reside with the unrivaled black stem cap.
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Cofidis had been additionally sporting {custom} designs, with their common black bikes being swapped out for white.
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Groupama FDJ’s prodigious teen, Lenny Martinez, was sporting a unique paint job to the remainder of his group.
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Pogačar’s bike wasn’t given the {custom} paint remedy, but it surely does include the Hulk sticker on the handlebar that we noticed on the Giro d’Italia.
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I additionally fairly favored these time trial wheels at Syncros, which featured a shiny blue design that shimmers within the solar.
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Speaking of solar, it’s set to be a scorching day for Saturday’s opening stage, and riders will want loads of ice packs to maintain them cool. Much credit score have to be given to the mechanics and soigneurs who spent most of Friday afternoon packing ice cubes into stockings prepared. The mechanics ought to get loads of credit score for all they do, actually, and this subsequent part will probably be devoted to them.
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Here, Quentin Pacher’s tyre was marked up together with his initials, together with a date. This is presumably when the tyre sealant was added.
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Who wants fancy bottles of branded bike wash? I’ve no concept what was really on this bottle, however its was getting used to clean the Ineos Grenadiers’ bikes.
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I’m additionally uncertain why Astana mechanics had a disc rotor alignment software with Cavendish’s identify on. Maybe there is no such thing as a purpose, or possibly its particularly used for Cav’s bikes. Or possibly it is Cav’s personal software. The language barrier proved an excessive amount of for me to search out out.
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At every group, the mechanics had been arduous at work always. In some circumstances, bikes had been being constructed, tubeless tyres had been being reset, and bar tape was being wrapped, however in lots of circumstances the bikes had been simply being cleaned.
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In this case, one of many Uno X Mobility bikes was having its Di2 charged, and evidently, the ability financial institution used was taken from the ‘massive truck’.
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A enjoyable recreation I prefer to play is “are you able to decipher the mechanics’ notes?” In this case, the reply is not any. Can you?
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One of the fun of a last-minute paint launch is the panicked last-minute stickering of bikes. In this case, one of many SRAM group was readily available so as to add their mark to the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe bikes.
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Speaking of working arduous, I ran into these guys at Astana. They are the group from Netflix, tasked with becoming GoPro cameras into all 13 of the group automobiles they’re going to be following. A bit like me, they’d 3 days to drive round all the group accommodations.
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How to keep away from scratching bikes when placing them into stands? Option 1: watch out. Option 2: simply add some felt stickers! Innovation at its easiest, but it surely was little doubt efficient.
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We’re almost on the finish, so for those who’ve obtained this far, thanks for studying. This van, at Ineos Grenadiers, was particularly carrying an ice bathtub for the riders. It’s at present 33 levels Celsius in Florence (91 Fahrenheit) so I’d go and discover it for a dunk.
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Or I’d go and take a lie down! Thanks for studying. At the time of writing, the race begins in lower than 4 hours! Allez le Tour 🇫🇷