Aftermarket two-speed hub promises aero, weight and shifting improvements
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Italian time trial sensation Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) used the aftermarket Classified Powershift two-speed rear hub system on his time trial bike at the Giro d'Italia, Cyclingnews can reveal.
The thru-axle of the Classified system is unique and a good amount bigger than a traditional thru-axle quick-release handle. Having spotted it on the TV cameras, Cyclingnews reached out to the Ineos team, who confirmed our belief.
Often dubbed the 'front derailleur killer', the Classified Powershift offers a two-speed internal gear system, which can then work with traditional derailleurs and shifters.
The claimed benefits of this relate to aerodynamics and weight. The removal of a front derailleur and double chainset can reduce the bike's drag, while Classified says the added weight of its system is low enough that it results in a lower overall net weight.
(Image credit: Barry Ryan)
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It would be very easy to assume this is a purely 1x setup. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
Even here it's hard to tell, but the writing on the cassette says 'Classified'. Eagle eyes only. (Image credit: Barry Ryan)
The brand also claims that the more central position of a single chainring, reduces the severity of cross chaining, which in turn offers slightly reduced friction. There are also benefits in shift performance, in that shifting from the big chainring to the small chainring is immediate.
The 40.6km course from Foligno to Perugia was a race of two halves. The first 33km were largely flat, but from this point on, when the riders hit Ponte San Giovanni, the road pointed up with gradients peaking at 16%.
To take advantage of the weight and aerodynamic savings, many teams turned to a 1x groupset in recent years, especially for flatter races and in time trials. This is often paired with an enormous chainring to benefit from reduced articulation. However, with the steep climb at the end of today's time trial, Ganna needed a smaller gear to be able to turn the pedals on the 16% ramps – though it didn't prove enough to outpace Tadej Pogacar who won the stage.
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Ineos has also confirmed that the hub is fitted to a Princeton Carbonworks wheel.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
"I’m not sure what was on the bike. We just pick up whatever is lying around the truck," Ineos directeur sportif Zak Dempster joked. "It’s not at all a well-thought-out plan that’s been in place for six months.
"No, I think material planning around today’s stage and in general was important. Dario [Cioni] already came here the week after the presentation in Trento, and we were already thinking creatively about how we could get a competitive advantage on this stage.
"And I think on paper we did a good setup, we had a good plan, we did four recons of the stage including this morning. I don’t think the guys were left wanting at all with the material setup."
Geraint Thomas confirmed his satisfaction with the Classified system, which he also used. "It worked really well," he said after the stage. "No issues with that."
Geraint Thomas using the Classified system (Image credit: Getty Images)
Magnus Sheffield was also understood to have used the Classified shifting system, representing an uptake across a top WorldTour not seen before with the innovative planetary gear system.
It remains to be seen whether it will make its way beyond the confines of the already highly technically specialist world of time trial, though.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
