The Vuelta a España typically performs third fiddle within the Grand Tour hierarchy. When you have in mind the Classics too, it might appear that there’s little or no new tech to be noticed right here, however that does not imply there’s none. The route is usually punishingly hilly, and when wandering the pits I discovered that Ineos have a fleet of bikes that they ship to a Formula 1 paint firm within the UK for stripping and repainting to make them even lighter, only for use within the hilly levels.
The warmth, too, is all the time a problem, although there have been far fewer cooling hacks on present right here than there have been for the opening time trial the place the mercury shot above 40 levels. My stage one tech gallery is price perusing too if you need a full immersion into tech nerdery.
In some ways, the Vuelta is a last-chance saloon. Riders who fell quick on the Tour de France typically attempt to salvage their seasons, locking horns with others vying for Giro management the next 12 months. It’s a final likelihood for tech recognizing, nevertheless it’s additionally an opportunity to see some bikes from groups we do not often see a lot of, which is why I’m beginning with the myriad totally different Giant bikes of staff Kern Pharma.
If you ever want a dialog starter on your bike pals you possibly can have this one at no cost: Which professional staff bike would you have got? You need to have it as it’s, paint, elements and all. I believe mine could be a Kern Pharma Giant TCR.
Before I might get my lens on these bikes correctly, the race officers needed to scan the frames to test for hidden motors.
Once the officers left I received to spend a little bit of time up shut and private with what I believe may be my favorite paint of any professional bike this 12 months. The Kern Pharma riders have been utilizing a mixture of the aero Propel and the light-weight TCR, however even amongst all-rounders, the fork legs listed below are fantastically slender.
The propel against this is a extra fulsome machine. Integrated seatposts are a dying breed, so it is all the time a kick to nonetheless see them.
Older TCR fashions have been atop the staff automobile roof rack, with exterior cables on present to the wind.
The hubs on these Cadex wheels are a murals, all bonded carbon blades and complex flanges.
OK I lied, THIS is my favorite paint… it fades to that beautiful darkish inexperienced to the rear however I did not get an honest snap of it so use your creativeness.
Integrated seatposts are lighter, however the mast toppers could be liable to slipping. Somewhat gripper tape provides numerous friction for subsequent to no weight penalty.
When to eat, when to drink – A whole lot of a professional bike owner’s life is mapped out intimately for them, even right down to this stage of element.
As nicely as Cadex wheels, the staff use Cadex tyres too, a tyre model we see little of in comparison with the Continental/Pirelli/Vittoria triopoly.
I’ve not come throughout The Mechanic Parts earlier than, however some bikes have been utilizing its aftermarket chainrings for bigger tooth counts.
It’s not all concerning the bikes, although, however on-body tech too. Look simply to the correct of the radio bump and you may see.
There it’s, a Core physique temperature sensor clipped onto the guts fee strap. These have change into practically ubiquitous within the peloton as the consequences of warmth stress on efficiency have change into higher understood.
It was fairly refined, however Robert Gesink had a specifically painted Cervélo to mark his last skilled race.
Here are some unreleased 29c Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres. Only Wout van Aert was utilizing them, and I used to be advised by the staff it was purely for an aerodynamic benefit.
On the best way to the DSM-Firmenich bus riders scoot backwards and forwards from signal on.
The Scott Foil RC staff bikes all the time stand out in opposition to the black bus.
On the staff’s built-in bars there was a really neat built-in mount for Wahoo Elemnt Bolt computer systems.
More aero, after all, and 3D printed as is the norm now.
Instead of twisting the pc into the mount, you place the Wahoo in and twist the underside plate, which rotates the mount right into a locked place.
Mikel Landa was sporting an all black ‘Project Black’ Tarmac on the Soudal-QuickStep bus.
Unlike the remainder of the staff, he was utilizing tubeless tyres. He was utilizing regular, non-aero socks, too, however you will need to take my phrase for that one.
The silver hub shell is the giveaway that exhibits these are the staff version of the Roval Rapide CLX wheels.
“Project Black” on Landa’s seat tube marks this body out as an much more restricted model of the S-Works frameset.
Despite all proof that built-in programs are sooner, some riders (James Knox on this case) nonetheless go for separate programs.
In the solar the usual paint of the staff bikes is one thing fairly particular.
Another proponent of the separate bar and stem. Soudal-QuickStep appears to be fairly old skool on this regard.
James Knox additionally clearly likes to know the place he is going.
Each QuickStep rider had a dinosaur themed identify sticker.
Look, Corima, SRM. Some fairly massive names by way of biking heritage. This is the facility meter that Guillaume Martin refused to suit as a result of his bike was already too heavy, apparently.
It would not be a tech gallery with out declaring a French staff working tubs nonetheless.
Here’s a little bit of a Classics throwback – The little patch of Velcro stops the pc rattling within the mount over tough floor.
Brands are continually making an attempt to make black paint extra attention-grabbing. It’s admirable, and this Orbea Orca Aero is an efficient effort, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a black bike.
An extended season of clipping race numbers on has clearly had an affect on the seat publish paint.
Carbon-Ti brake rotors? AbsoluteBlack graphene brake pads? It should be UAE Team Emirates.
Like DSM, the staff has custom-printed laptop mounts for aerodynamic causes.
Stage 1 winner Brandon McNulty had his bike coated with crimson logos for stage 2.
He additionally had his saddle slammed well past the utmost restrict of the rails.
As I alluded to within the opening, Carlos Rodriguez was working a motorbike for stage 2 with a particular paint job redone by Silverstone Paint Technology.
The British firm takes the Ineos frames, strips them, and resprays them for a considerable weight saving.
I do not learn about you, however this appears arduous to learn within the chaos of the peloton.
Ecuadorian nationwide champion Jhonatan Narváez had a really beautiful white Dogma F in opposition to the ocean of orange and black.
The Dogma fork legs have a particular screw port to mount the race transponder on the dropout, for a tiny wattage saving.
It nonetheless entails zip ties, nevertheless it’s fairly neat all issues thought-about.
The staff appears to have dedicated to utilizing TT tyres all through the season for a rolling resistance acquire.
A direct mount for the rear derailleur helps maintain shifting snappy.
Another Classics throwback: Gripper tape on the within of the bottle cages to maintain the bottles safer.
The new Canyon Aeroad is not information, however the paint remains to be fairly within the solar.
As is the paint of the brand new Wilier Verticale SLR in use underneath some Astana riders.
This little Miche laptop mount is extraordinarily neat.
A scribbled-out Continental emblem on the Aero 111 tyre is a little bit of a throwback to when these tyres have been secret.
The indents declare to make the tyre extra aerodynamic, and it is just for use as a entrance tyre – Though I’m certain you could possibly match it to a rear wheel if you happen to actually needed to.
It’s the little particulars that make professional bikes cool. Pink Mic-Off valves on the EF bikes are one such element.
I’m genuinely nervous Victor Campenaerts goes to get solar blindness if he does not begin carrying sun shades quickly.
Finally, shout out to Arkea for doing an honest switchout package. As theirs is crimson it clashes with the chief’s jersey, and I’m very a fan of excessive vis.