The SL6 Tarmac has a 'D' profile seatpost(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 pedals for the Czech rider(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Quick-Step Floors uses Tacx Deva bottle cages while K-Edge provides computer mounts and chain catchers for the team(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
The Belgian team uses Tarmacs decorated in its blue and white team colours for racing, while the spare bikes and training bikes remain in matt black(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
The bike was not equipped with a power meter for the recovery ride(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Stybar runs standard gearing of 53/39 and 11-28(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Quick-Step Floors generally runs S-Works Turbo tyres in the 26mm width option(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Stybar carried a small bicycle lock with him during the ride(Image credit: Josh Evans/Immediate Media)
Specialized’s S-Works Tarmac SL6 was first seen in a race at the 2017 Criterium du Dauphine, and both a rim and disc brake version were also spotted on the UCI’s approved frames list for racing at the same time.
Several Quick-Step Floors riders have been seen racing on the S-Works Tarmac SL6 Disc since then, most notably Elia Viviani during the Dubai Tour and Abu Dhabi Tour, but despite this, Specialized has only officially launched the bike for consumers this week. Most likely to ensure supply meets demand in the first few months of sales worldwide.
We caught up with Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors) and Julien Vermote (Dimension Data) for a training ride the Monday after ‘opening weekend’ and ahead of Strade Bianche, where Stybar rode the S-Works Tarmac SL6 Disc to a top-10 finish.
Quick-Step Floors has the Specialized Tarmac, Venge and Roubaix models to choose from and, in past seasons, team riders have ridden on a mix of these models. For the 2018 season, however, there has been a significant trend for the team opting to ride the latest Tarmac SL6 model, with even sprinters opting for the new frameset over the aerodynamic Venge — which is traditionally associated with sprinters.
Stybar’s bike has a full Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 groupset, as well as Specialized tyres and Roval wheels — Specialized's wheel brand.
Photographed following a recovery training ride, Stybar’s bike wasn’t equipped with a power meter, but the multiple cyclocross world champion has been using Specialized’s new power meter in races this season.
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PRO is providing Quick-Step Floors' cockpit components this season, with Stybar opting for satellite sprint shifter buttons on the drops of his PRO Vibe handlebars.
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a closer look at Zdenek Stybar’s S-Works Tarmac SL6 Disc.
Zdenek Stybar's Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL6 Disc full specification
