Aero goodness, cool components and set-up peculiarities from Le Tour
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Talansky is hoping for a good overall finish at the Tour(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
American national time trial champ Andrew Talansky rode this stars-and-stripes Slice on the Fourth of July(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
The bike comes complete with this fleur-de-lis design on the top tube(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The colours of the African flag stripe the rear of the seat tube(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The Selle Italia Kronos saddle looks almost identical to the brand's Iron Flow model(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Here's Steve Cummings' grippier Team Edition version(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Get the stickers on, the race is about to start!(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Hang on, Enve doesn't do a disc! We think this might be a stickered-up HED model(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The team is using Rotor's two-sided power meter system(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Despite the Rotor sponsorship, we didn't see any oval rings in this fleet(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Vision's aero Trimax brake on the back Ð complete with carbon brake shoes(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Team MTN Qhubeka is all about promoting cycling in Africa(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The Magura RT88 hydraulic brakes mean a bodge job for the Di2 satellite shifters(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
It's secured by this mount and a bit of electrical tape(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Lieuwe Westra obviously took offence to his stock Vision pads and chose to saw through them(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Westra uses this massive 56/42t crankset(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Larger sizes of the Shiv have this lumpy top tube to accommodate the taller head tube(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Here's the slicker flat set-up(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
All the riders now have to equip these GPS units for the entirety of the race(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Astana are on 24mm Specialized Time Trial 2 tubulars(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
More grip take here. We wonder if it can really save enough weight or drag to be worth it(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The bike looks basically the same as last year's Ordu M10, but the head tube has been lowered for a standard, but in-line, stem(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The new bike has this bow-legged fork too Ð a trend we also spotted on the new Scott Foil(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Canyon Speedmax ahoy! The team was loading up for the start when we passed(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Team Katusha mechanics were using paraffin wax for ultimate chain slickness(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The Giant Trinity has to be one of the longest-serving TT bikes in the 2015 peloton(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
That said, it still looks bang up to date(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Every rider gets their own branded towel. Isn't that nice?(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Being sponsored by Fizik, Movistar's riders have a wide saddle choice(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Despite the bright sun, each one was equipped with Bontrager's Flare R tail light(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Fabian Cancellara rode his custom Spartacus Speed Concept to third place(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Ivan Basso obviously likes his comfort these days Ð but not enough to tape his extensions(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Here's the full contingent of Vision Metron discs(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The regular stem means an easier time for Cofidis mechanics(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
No optical effects here, just a whole load of Scott Plasma 5 TT bikes(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The brothers do choose different saddles though. This stumpy Fizik Ares is Adam's(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
While Simon chooses a TriTone. More electrical tape for the GPS unit(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Here are the Yates's bikes. Both with 56/44t cranksets(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Adam's bike had a GoPro mounted Ð could this by why Simon beat his brother on stage one?(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Daniele Bennati had this Prologo X Zero II TR saddle aboard his Shiv. It's not listed on the Prologo site, so perhaps it'll make the 2016 catalogue(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The team was keen that we photograph their 'official' disc wheel Ð a Vision Metron disc. In the background is what looks to be the distinctive patterning of the DT Swiss model(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
The champ has an SRM PC8 computer mounted under the extensions(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Nibali's shifters are ludicrously close together(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
This isn't the first rodeo for Lotto-Soudal or Campagnolo…(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Shimano Di2 is ubiquitous, and the few Campy-sponsored teams have this EPS. But the one SRAM-sponsored team (AG2R) is on mechanical(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
If there was ever a time to obsess about clean rubber it is before a time trial(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
ASO's GPS transponder stick out like… well, they just stick out(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Some riders go for a wide stance on the arm pads(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Other riders, like Lotto's Adam Hansen, smash 'em right together(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
While bike companies are becoming more accomodating for Di2, there is still no consensus as to where to put the junction box(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
The rubber band mount is the easiest but often the least elegant(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Other riders prefer the reverse setup, with grip tape on the cowhorns and bar tape on the extensions(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Some riders, like Lampre-Merida's Rui Costa, go for grip tape on the extensions and bar tape on the cowhorns(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Garmin-Cannondale are using the brand new Garmin Edge 520 computers, which feature real-time Strava Live Segments. Talansky will likely be more focused on the Tour's leaderboard than the Strava leaderboard, however…(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Having moved to California, Talansky asked Cannondale for this graphic(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
The Slice features a low top tube and inline integrated stem(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
All riders are required to use the Dimensions Data GPS transponder(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 routing makes tricky TT setups much cleaner(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Nelson Oliveira is flying the flag for Portugal(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Lampre-Merida's Oliveira rides a Merida Wasp TT with Di2 and Rotor Power cranks and Rotor rings(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Talansky's junction box is quite tidy but still out in the wind(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
BMC has a lot going on up front(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
GoPro has 12 cameras in use at this year's Tour(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
The ISM is hugely popular in triathlon, and not uncommon among pro cyclists for time trials(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Inclding the bike of Michele Scarponi(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
This is a 3D-printed SRM TT mount from RaceWear(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Grip tape has become a common replacement for bar tape with TT set-ups(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Corima wheels are used across the team's TT and road bikes(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Most of Astana's riders have their bottles (Tacx-branded Elite Crono CX) on the down tube, but Scarponi's is on the seat tube, the down tube bosses filled in(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali doesn't use a Specialized Sitero like his teammates. This looks like a re-covered Fizik Antares(Image credit: Tom Ballard / Immediate Media)
Along with minimum weight, the UCI checks the maximum length of extensions(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Mechanics carefully check to make sure all bikes fit inside the UCI regulations(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
A few teams, like IAM Cycling, stick the junction box on the seatpost(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
54 and even 55t rings aren't uncommon for short time trials, but Michal Kwiatowski's 58 probably takes the cake(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Bretagne-Séché's Frédéric Brun takes a perfectly aero time trial bike and… puts a watch on it (Polar is a sponsor, and the riders use a similar setup on their road bikes)(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Tony Martin - strong like bull(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
High grip, low drag on Martin's cowhorns(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Many riders use grip tape on their TT bikes. But it takes a special rider to request grip tape on his saddle(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Falling in the category of less-than-svelte mounting, Europcar's Sigma computers are strapped onto various parts of the cockpits, depending on the rider(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
Tommy Voeckler's computer mount looks like something you might see on your weekend club ride(Image credit: Jason Sumner)
With the 2015 Tour de France getting underway with a time trial in the Dutch city of Utrecht, stage 1 offered a first glimpse of the coolest cutting-edge TT gear on offer to the professionals.
There’s plenty of aero tech to wade through this year — there are more than 80 images in the gallery above — so here are a few trends to look out for as you flick through the images.
Simpler set-ups
Either we're getting used to crazy TT bikes or teams seem to be leaning towards more uniform set-ups for the riders. Perhaps modern TT bikes have reached a level of front-end customisation that renders the bodged and forced fits of old redundant. Never fear though, there are still plenty of unique cockpits to see, including the one above from veteran Ivan Basso.
Big rings
With a perfectly flat 13.8km to cover, there were plenty of almost comically large chainrings to see before stage one. 54 to 56t were surprisingly common, but Michal Kwiatkowski takes the prize for the biggest on show with the knee-grinding 58t ring seen above.
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Getting a grip
The use of grip tape rather than traditional bar tape has become so ubiquitous in the peloton that those bikes still sporting cork looked oddly old fashioned. Keep an eye out for various tape configurations on base bars, extensions and – in the case of Tony Martin – saddles. It’s a good thing he gets free bib shorts.
Wiry woes and computer chaos
While front-end set-ups only seem to get slicker, not everyone’s worked out what to do with that pesky Di2 junction box. We’ve seen it tucked under stems, hiding in saddle cavities or just plonked anywhere in a lacklustre ‘that’ll do’ approach. Likewise, some head units are carefully mounted so as to be anonymous while the placement of others just lacks effort. Transponders and cameras
With the advent of obligatory GPS transponders being affixed to riders’ bikes, we’ll bet that we’ll be seeing some kind of integration in the future. For now, it’s a case of sticking it where the wind doesn’t blow, with every bike we saw having the GPS unit attached to the back of the saddle. While teams might avoid a drag penalty there, the GoPro cameras being attached to at least one team member’s bike per day are sure to compromise days of expensive wind tunnel testing.
Flying the flag
Keep an eye out for the multi-coloured patriotism-inspired TT bikes of various national champions including this stars and stripes stunner for Andrew Talansky (who got to ride his on the 4th of July, no less). Bright as these bikes may be, none are as loud as Team MTN Qhubeka’s stock Cervelo P5s, which come in a blinding chrome and yellow paint job for this year's Tour.
Missing in action
There were a few bits of kit we were hoping to see at the start of the Tour that haven’t appeared. Top of the list was a TT version of SRAM’s electronic drivetrain, while there’s been no whisper of FSA’s battery-operated shifting. Orbea was the only brand with a new bike on show and it’s very similar in looks to the Ordu M10 the company launched last year. Orbea isn't yet commenting on what this new bike is.
