Chris Froome’s (Team Sky) new road bike, the Pinarello Dogma F8 arrives in Tarare(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Rotor is a firm believer in ovalised rings but for those who are not convinced, there are round No-Q rings. And there are plenty in the peloton who say No-Q works for them(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Lieuwe Westra’s (Astana) new generation Specialized Tarmac. The bike was first unveiled at the hilly Classics and three Astana riders were on the bike today(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Great graphics on the underside of the toptube of the Tarmac(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The high res version of this photo revealed Westra had 29- and 26-tooth sprockets at the top of his cassette(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Romain Bardet’s (Ag2R-La Mondiale) Focus Izalco Max – a lightweight bike for a supreme climber (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
A Fizik Arione saddle with braided carbon rails and Versus channel on Bardet’s bike(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
A SRAM WiFli rear derailleur on Alberto Contador’s (Tinkoff-Saxo) bike(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Igor Anton’s (Movistar) Canyon Ultimate CF SLX gleams in the sun (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Lizard Skins bar tape was well wrapped on Anton’s bike(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Contador’s set up was the same on his spare bike (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Another well-spread cassette on Elia Favilli’s (Lampre-Merida) Reacto Evo(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Lampre-Merida has most of its riders on the Reacto Evo in the belief aero gains are more effective than weight-saving ones (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Bartosz Huzarski’s (NetApp-Endura) Fuji Altamira (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
NetApp-Endura opted for seriously wide 25-28mm tyres despite the hills that lay ahead (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The distinctive fork of the new Pinarello Dogma F8, borrowed from the Bolide TT bike(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Froome’s spare bike remains on the roof(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Jack Bauer’s (Garmin-Sharp) Cervelo R5 with aero Q-Rings leans against the team bus in Tarare(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Froome had an 11-28 cassette on his spare bike (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Neat cable routing on the Cervelo R5(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Jack Bauer’s bike was carrying Garmin Vector power pedals (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
A Look Zed2 cranks with an ever-so-slightly leg saving 53/38 chainring combination (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Green and Gold paintwork for Aussie champion Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The new, probably super-light, bike that Trek Factory Racing tested today(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Froome took back-to-back victories in the first two stages, proving yet again that he is as adept against the clock as he is climbing mountains. It was his first win aboard the Pinarello Dogma F8, released at the end of the Giro d'Italia.
Only Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) could survive with the Briton's high-cadence pace, as the pair crossed the finish line with the same time.
Trek also chose the second stage to debut its new, yet-to-be-launched road frame.
Many riders opted for a 28-tooth ring in their cassette to cope with the interminable hills they faced during the 158.5km stage that culminated at the top of the Col du Béal.
Check out the gallery of bikes and tech here.
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Sam started as a trainee reporter on daily newspapers in the UK before moving to South Africa where he contributed to national cycling magazine Ride for three years. After moving back to the UK he joined Procycling as a staff writer in November 2010.
