As seen on Lars Boom's bike, the Specialized S-Works Power saddle(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Lars Boom will make his Astana debut at the Tour Down Under(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Specialized has made no comment on this saddle, except that the brand often uses its athletes to test new product concepts(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Lars Boom of the Astana Pro Team was spotted riding a unique-looking saddle from Specialized at the Tour Down Under last month. It had the name 'Power' and featured S-Works branding – and we suspect this prototype is likely to make it to market.
This shortened saddle seems to offer similar design aspects to the increasingly popular ISM saddle brand, which first took off within the triathlon market. This isn't a first for Specialized – the triathlon-specific Sitero already uses a similar approach.
If we'd seen this saddle off the bike, we would have assumed it was a triathlon model. However, given it's been put to use in a WorldTour road environment, it does seem set for the general road market.
Unfortunately we were unable to get the dimensions of this saddle, so for now we only have our photographs to go on.
As pictured, this S-Works model looks like it has similar low-friction material to Specialized's Toupe and Romin models, as well as the same FACT carbon rails. And, like these other Specialized racing saddles, we'd assume the Power saddle will be available in cheaper metal-railed versions too.
Specialized Australia gave no specific comment on this saddle, instead just stating: "Specialized has always relied on feedback from our professional athletes in developing and testing advanced prototypes and new ideas in real world applications and, when possible, a competitive environment. Some of these prototypes, or elements of them, show up in future product offerings. We call this Project Black"
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Stay tuned for an in-depth look at Lars Boom's Specialized S-Works Tarmac in an upcoming pro-bike feature.
