Specialized launched a radical triathlon-specific Shiv system last autumn ahead of the Kona Ironman Triathlon, which wasn’t UCI legal, and Jungels appeared to be racing on a similar, road-specific version of the bike on Saturday.
The UCI’s list of approved frames and forks list a Specialized Shiv TT model registered on 22.03.2019 and available in four sizes – XS through to L.
The bike was equipped with disc brakes and sticks, with Deceuninck-QuickStep and Bora-Hansgrohe’s commitment to disc brakes for the 2019 season. The front end of the Shiv raced on by Jungels also appears to have a new fork compared to the triathlon version, losing the unusual high bladed, triple-crown design and closely replicating the forks seen on the most recent Specialized Venge aero road bike.
To the rear of the bike, super-low, dog-legged seat stays should contribute to aerodynamics and, like the forks, the seat post shares a resemblance to the most recent Specialized Venge frameset.
The triathlon Shiv also featured a number of ‘fuel cells’, which accommodated food, tools and hydration but for the short, 8.1-kilometer time trial, no additional storage was seen on Jungels’ bike.
Jungels’ cockpit also looks to be a new, one-piece design with wide, flat base bars intersected with risers for the extensions.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
All cable routing looks to be internal, with only a few inches of hydraulic brake hose exiting the frameset before reaching the Shimano Dura-Ace R9120 calipers.
Specialized have a reputation for testing unreleased framesets in WorldTour races. When contacted by Cyclingnews, the brand responded with a simple ‘no comment’. Watch this space.
