Prototype Ridley TT bikes spotted during Stage 4 time trial
(Image credit: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT /)
A new Ridley time trial bike has been spotted today at the Critérium du Dauphiné. The 31km stage four time trial started from Cours and finished in Belmont-de-la-Loire. At least two Lotto-Dstny riders were riding the new bike with Victor Campenaerts and Thomas De Gendt spotted on the new machines.
We covered a range of Dauphine Tech in our mega gallery this week, including three other prototype road machines (one of which is a new Ridley road bike), but this TT model stayed under wraps until today's stage.
Thomas De Gendt's bike had a white Ridley down tube logo (Image credit: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT /)
Ridley's current time trial Bike, the Dean, has been around for quite a long time now, and the design hasn't changed massively since at least 2013 when an updated Dean FAST version was launched.
The Dean features rim brakes, one integrated into the front fork and one tucked under the rear chainstays, and a Forza integrated cockpit. Lotto-Dstny riders were riding rim brake-equipped Dean models as recently as the Tour de Romandie prologue time trial back in April. The very same stage where Rui Costa suffered a disastrous mechanical.
The new or prototype bikes could be updated Dean models which seems likely, or perhaps a brand new Ridey TT bike. Given brands tend to have only one TT/Tri model in their lineups we suspect it'll take on the Dean moniker.
De Gendt and Campanearts were riding the new frames, but De Gendt's bike had a white Ridley logo on the down tube, this was absent on Campanaert's model. Campanaerts, a notably detail-focused rider when it comes to bike setup also had different Deda TT extensions.
A Ridley Dean TT bike being ridden in April at the Tour de Romandiel; note the rim brakes (Image credit: Dario Belingheri / Stringer)
Elsewhere the bikes are now disc brake-equipped, and look to feature an integrated handlebar stem which is built around the bike's head tube. There's a sloping top tube now compared to the old bike's horizontal top tube as well as a deeper head tube profile. The front wheel look to have moved slightly further away from the down tube with a larger gap here.
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At the rear of the bike, the seat stays seem to have dropped further and the aero seatpost is clearly a different shape. It's clear this is a full overhaul and not just an update.
Componentry-wise, the bikes featured Dura-Ace 12-speed di2 groupsets, though De Gendt used the older Dura-Ace 9100 chainset with 4iiii Rotor chainrings and both riders had gold KMC chains installed. DT Swiss Wheels and Vittoria Tyres completed the package.
Victor Campanaerts in full flight during the time trial (Image credit: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT /)
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
