With an enormous yellow bang, the Tour de France 2024 is over. Tadej Pogačar took an unbelievable sixth stage to underscore his dominance of this 12 months’s race within the remaining time trial from Monaco to Nice.
Finishing the race with a time trial relatively than a procession into Paris earlier than a dash on the Champs-Élysées mightn’t be the end that we have all turn into used to, nevertheless it actually gave us nerds a second chunk on the tech cherry.
Given it featured two climbs, a big descent, and a flat run to the end, groups would face an optimisation problem to get their tools proper. At the speeds professional riders can climb, the primary climb was shallow sufficient that ‘full-aero’ – time trial bikes, helmets and wheels – ought to have been essentially the most optimum setup, however as ever, it is not that straightforward. We noticed riders on street bikes, time trial bikes, hybrid frankenbikes, and blended tools from each disciplines.
We additionally noticed some nifty optimisation strategies, some curious decisions, and a handful of recent bits and items. As ever, there have been bizarre helmets, some intelligent hacks and a few outright bodges.
Given the mathematical nature of time trialling, many riders can have recognized they’d no probability of a outcome, and though most nonetheless gave it a great effort – chapeau to Lenny Martinez who occupied the recent seat for the early a part of the day – others selected to have their very own processional stage and rolled across the course at a relatively leisurely tempo.
This was actually the case for Romain Bardet, Simon Geschke and Mark Cavendish, who every loved the event of their remaining Tour de France look, even when the latter would have most popular to dash for one remaining time in Paris.
The latter, Cavendish, was one in every of a handful of riders who most popular to optimise for his sponsor agreements relatively than for pace, with a curious choice to put on sun shades beneath his helmet visor. He wasn’t the one one.
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(Image credit score: Future)
Optimisation
We’ll begin with some precise tech nerdery. Here we’ll run by way of a few of the issues we noticed which can be both new, or aimed primarily at enhancing the rider’s efficiency.
Starting with Jonas Vingegaard, who not solely content material with an all-new Cervelo time trial bike – as launched by the model quietly on the day of the stage 7 time trial – additionally had it within the uncooked carbon end, ie devoid of any paint, to maintain the load down. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Also, look a bit of nearer and you may see a customized seatpost and time-trial particular saddle from an organization referred to as Dash Cycles. This combo prices a cool $1000. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Here’s a more in-depth have a look at the identical setup, discovered on the bike of Matteo Jorgenson. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Pogačar too had an unpainted body to maintain the load down. With the climb at first, his now-customary Custom-Ti carbon chainrings have been arrange as a 2x configuration, like most within the race. We consider the one riders on 1x have been Ineos Grenadiers, however with Classified rear hubs providing an efficient internal ring. (Image credit score: Getty Images)And to not be outdone by his rival, Pogačar additionally had a customized seatpost, on this case from Spanish model Darimo, topped with a specially-made time-trial-specific Prologo saddle. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Another with an unpainted body was the opposite GC contender of the race, Remco Evenepoel, whose Specialized Shiv TT is fitted right here with what we consider is a brand new entrance wheel. It appears marginally deeper than the entrance wheel discovered within the current Rapide CLX II pairing. It additionally appears to have a differently-shaped profile which really resembles the rear wheel within the aforementioned pairing. Has Specialized merely laced a Rapide CLX II rear rim onto a entrance hub? Or has the model received a brand new entrance wheel on the way in which? At the second, we do not know. Elsewhere, Evenepoel can also be operating a brief sleeve skinsuit. Commonly, lengthy sleeves are confirmed sooner, as the fabric will be modified to enhance aerodynamics, however in response to the staff, Remco’s naked arms really examined sooner. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Victor Campenaerts, the previous World Hour Record holder, is one other with brief sleeves. Notably, his arms are shaved too. He should know that is the quickest possibility for him. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Speaking of aerodynamic enhancements, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale riders have been utilizing odd tyres at this 12 months’s race. Here you’ll be able to see the Continental Aero 111 tyre up entrance, paired with a regular GP5000 tyre on the rear. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Not the most recent tech hack to grace our screens, however we noticed a handful of riders carrying their race radios down their entrance throughout their sternum, relatively than on their again which successfully stands proud like a small entirely-unaero brick. (Image credit score: Getty Images)To get round having to put on a radio in any respect, the DSM-Firmenich PostNL staff had a nifty tech hack of their arsenal. These helmets have inbuilt race radios from Sena, with all of the receiver, microphone and transmitter gubbins inbuilt. (Image credit score: Getty Images)
Flop-timisation
Now it is time to get into the other; the tech decisions that will seemingly make riders slower, relatively than sooner.
On the course in query, in response to a number of famend sources, the quickest setup was a full-aero time trial setup. The solely caveat to that’s if a rider can not maintain the identical energy when within the time trial place.
There was no cause for a rider to chase the KOM factors on the prime of the climb, as Richard Carapaz had already sewn up the competitors.
Yes, I’m about to berate the aero optimisation of the man who put over a minute into second place, I recognize the irony of that. However, Tadej Pogačar made a couple of fascinating tech decisions that will positively have slowed him down. The first of which is the shortage of overshoes. Given their minimal weight, they’re nearly at all times the sooner alternative, however he is chosen to not put on them. (Image credit score: Getty Images)He additionally wore a watch. In this case, a €250,000+ watch from sponsor Richard Mille. In each the case right here and above, we are able to solely assume that Pogačar was so comfy along with his five-minute lead on GC (comprehensible) and both assured sufficient in his potential to win the stage or not that determined to win it, that he was pleased to simply accept the efficiency loss to offer his sponsors some extra airtime. Less comprehensible is the selection of ordinary rotors, regardless of having aero rotors at his disposal. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Wout van Aert is one other rider who selected to forego overshoes, as an alternative carrying lace-up Nimbl footwear. It’s price saying, nevertheless, that Van Aert did not race the course, and completed over eight minutes down on the finish. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Enric Mas, of Movistar, made a curious alternative along with his bike. He ran a full time trial setup, together with helmet, however selected to run a street rear wheel as an alternative of a disc. These could be lighter, little question, however the aero good thing about a disc rear would nearly actually have been sooner. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Felix Gall, in the meantime, began on a street bike, however swapped to a time trial bike on the prime of the second climb. He wore a street helmet for the period, and completed over 7 minutes down. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Giulio Ciccone went one step additional, by making a Frankenbike that comprised the Emonda street body, a disc rear wheel, a pair of clip-on aero bars and a time trial helmet. He too swapped to a full time trial bike earlier than the descent. However relatively than a bizarre mismatch of tech optimisation for marginal features’ sake, our esteemed contempraries on the Escape Collective podcast reported that this setup was because of an harm which means Ciccone could not put the ability down on his time trial bike. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Quentin Pacher used a time trial helmet, however in a street skinsuit with brief sleeves and a street helmet. Perhaps he dislikes the warmth of time trial helmets. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Jonas Abrahamsen went the opposite method spherical, with a street bike however a time trial helmet. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Jasper Philipsen did the identical. Hell will freeze over earlier than Philipsen wins a hilly time trial on the Tour de France, so we would not be shocked if he used his street bike merely to let his mechanics have a neater day. He did, nevertheless, use a brand new helmet from Abus. (Image credit score: Getty Images)(Image credit score: Future)
Helmets
And that brings us properly onto helmets. You did not suppose we may have a time trial tech gallery in 2024 and not using a part devoted to the strange (okay possibly not so great) helmets, did you?
Movistar used the identical new Abus helmet as Philipsen, and Javier Romo gave us a pleasant view of the rear. We can solely assume this can be a long-overdue new model of the Gamechanger TT helmet. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Biniam Girmay was additionally utilizing a brand new helmet. This one from Uvex has been round for a month or so within the peloton, and although it appears tremendous, on this inexperienced color we will not assist however liken it to a wheelie bin. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Ekoi additionally has a brand new helmet within the peloton, as modeled right here by Simon Geschke. On the idea that all of us agree gigantic helmets look a bit foolish, do we expect the German is pleased that his remaining Tour look was made carrying this? (Image credit score: Getty Images)Simon Yates was additionally seen in a brand new helmet. This broke cowl earlier than the Tour, however has but to be launched by Giant. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Onto the bizarre ones… Carlos Rodriguez’s Ineos Grenadiers staff have used gurney flaps on their visors for some time now, however this 12 months they’ve doubled in measurement. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Still, they do not get a lot weirder than the brand new Giro helmet piloted by Visma Lease a Bike. It genuinely jogs my memory of the entrance of an aeroplane, which I suppose isn’t any unhealthy factor for an aero product. (Image credit score: Getty Imbini bikeages)This takes a detailed second place within the weird-helmets stakes. Notably, nevertheless, it seems there are two visors obtainable for it. Here, Bob Jungels is carrying an enormous visor… (Image credit score: Getty Images)…whereas Jai Hindley solely has a bit of one. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Concerningly, the brand new MET helmet utilized by the UAE Team Emirates riders appears to have a problem with staying put. Here, Tim Wellens has taped it in place throughout the forehead… (Image credit score: Getty Images)Joao Almeida had performed the identical to his helmet too. Nobody else within the staff had, although, so maybe these are early-production fashions, or had merely been broken. (Image credit score: Getty Images)
Sp-optimisation
I do know I’m making up phrases now, however on this part I feel we must always speak about sponsorship. It’s the mannequin on which the game works, and I feel the change of the Tour de France’s remaining stage to a time trial impacts the power for manufacturers to captialise.
Brands will at all times roll out specially-painted bikes for the classification holders, and in 2024 issues have been no completely different, however there can be no photograph of Tadej Pogačar rolling down the Champs Élyseés on a yellow bike sipping champagne.
Regardless, riders not contending for the stage win would get pleasure from an hour of comparatively chilled using, usually with cameras pointed their method.
We’ve already seen Pogačar appeasing sponsors, and Mark Cavendish did the identical. Alongside his Nike footwear painted by Damian Hirst, he additionally wore his lifelong sponsor Oakley’s Kato sun shades beneath his helmet visor. Does that successfully flip the helmet’s visor into nothing however a fairing, and thus make it unlawful? He additionally wore an analogous watch, positioned within the uncommon place of the surface of his sleeve. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Despite riders being aboard time trial bikes for the ultimate stage, the bike sponsors nonetheless had their day. This inexperienced Cube Litening was utilized by Biniam Girmay for the ultimate week, and we expect it appears nice. The colourmatched inexperienced logos on the wheels, inexperienced bartape and pedals work properly collectively. (Image credit score: Getty Images)This bike was by no means used, as a result of Evenepoel most popular to race an unpainted bike for the ultimate phases as he tried to eke out a second place, however Specialized nonetheless painted him a particular white-jersey-edition Tarmac SL8. (Image credit score: Getty Images)Cannondale did the identical for Richard Carapaz. Given the Ecuadorian had little probability of successful the stage, and no basic classification standing to battle for, he raced the polka dot bike on the ultimate stage, little question having fun with the day greater than most. (Image credit score: Getty Images)EF went one step additional although, by polka-dotting up Carapaz’s Cadillac comply with automotive. (Image credit score: Getty Images)UAE Team Emirates, winners of the overall classification with Tadej Pogačar, in fact, have been additionally the winners of the staff classification. They celebrated each achievements by donning your complete staff – and wider squad – in customized yellow clothes. (Image credit score: Getty Images)And regardless of having ridden a uncooked carbon race bike for the ultimate street phases, after which the time trial bike on Sunday, Pogačar lastly received his full-yellow Colnago bike for the rostrum presentation. (Image credit score: Getty Images)(Image credit score: Future)
