By Iker Rioja
A group of Japanese technical experts from Shimano have attended the first two days of the Vuelta a España, enjoying the race while testing some innovations in electronic shifting components. According to Televisión Española, four riders of Gerolsteiner (including Markus Fothen) and two of Rabobank are testing the equipment during the race. It seems that they are quite happy, although they have remarked that they have to make frequent changes in equipment.
Spanish ex-professional Pedro Delgado has stated that Mavic did a very similar thing "ten years ago." He commented on how the times have changed. "The problem is when rain starts to pour hard on it, the system seems to go crazy. An amateur can handle it, but not a professional rider," added the winner of 1988's Tour de France.
"If this new development from Shimano is able to work properly after three or four days of wind and rain, and its batteries last much longer, we could be very happy."
