Posted: Wed, Jul 16th
Saunier’s Secret - Mavic’s Pro-only prototype R-SYS wheelsetIf Mavic sold the pro-only version of the R-SYS, which popped up at this year’s Tour, it would have been a winner from the beginning.
Posted: Mon, Jul 14th
Tour Tech - More than ExtremeThe paint job on Erik Zabel’s Colnago was originally used 25 years ago, but even that classic look can not hide the new form beneath it. Zabel debuted Colnago’s new EPS (Extreme Power Special) frame at this year’s and is the only rider using in the peloton.
Posted: Fri, Jul 11th
Tour Tech - The leading edgeBelgian-based frame builder Ridley has completed two new models in time for this year’s Tour de France with the goal of putting Silence-Lotto's top rider on the top step of the podium in Paris on July 27.
Anyone can hope, of course, but Ridley has the technological chops ...
Posted: Wed, Jul 9th
Tour de France tech: Cancellara's tricked out bikeCSC is not a Shimano-sponsored team. Instead, it buys the Shimano components it uses. You might be surprised that a team like CSC pays for its drivetrain components, but there are multiple reasons why it pays. The primary reason is because of other sponsor obligations, namely to ...
Posted: Tue, Jul 8th
Gerolsteiner test-drives Shimano's electronic time-trial shiftersShimano’s electric time-trial shifters made their racing debut on Tuesday during the stage-4 individual time trial in Cholet.
Ever since the “E-Dura-Ace” group showed up three years ago there was speculation that it might become a powerful time-trial tool. The system ...
Posted: Tue, Jul 8th
Tour Tech - The new VoltYou’ve already seen the new Bell Volt helmet, even if you didn’t recognize it as new.
Thor Hushovd put the Volt in the spotlight of victory at the end of Sunday’s stage two. The new model will slot in as the top road and cross-country race helmet from Bell.
Posted: Sun, Jul 6th
Tour de France leader Alejandro Valverde's custom Pinarello PrinceWhen Caisse D’Epargne superstar Alejandro Valverde stormed past Columbia’s Kim Kircken in the last 200 meters of the opening stage of the 2008 Tour de France he did it on a brand new bike. The winning bike wasn’t new in the sense of a new design — it is the same bike as ...
Posted: Sun, Jul 6th
How do Tour de France teams deal with rainy stages? The first four stages of this year’s Tour take place on the windy, often rain-soaked roads of [nid:79435]northwestern France. The riders don’t truly escape it until the first time trial in Cholet. Because of the conditions, many teams, or individual riders, take special ...
Posted: Sat, Jul 5th
Robbie McEwen forgoes an 11-speed bike on the Tour's first stage.Robbie McEwen’s bike was lined up unassumingly, mid-pack, among his teammates' rigs in front of a roped off and guarded Silence-Lotto bus. All of the extra protection was meant to protect the race favorite — McEwen's teammate Cadel Evans — but McEwen’s bike benefited. He ...
Posted: Sat, Jul 5th
Oakley unveils a new sunglass design at the Tour de FranceLast year Oakley revamped its most popular sport sunglass the M-Frame into a new sunglass. Though the M-Frame is still available its predecessor, the Radar, has become as instantly popular as the decade old staple of Oakley’s line. Using the opening stage of the Tour as a ...
Posted: Fri, Jul 4th
Tech at the Tour - Down to the wireA day before the start of the Tour de France is almost too late to accomplish anything significant.
Nonetheless, it’s a frantic time for mechanics and support staff as clock ticks down to the start of the world’s biggest bicycle race. Teams build bikes up to the last ...
Posted: Thu, Jul 3rd
The French federation has its own bike tech rules for the Tour de FranceThis year’s edition of the Tour de France isn’t sanctioned by the UCI, so VeloNews readers have been curious whether the UCI's somewhat-infamous tech rules still apply.
You’ll remember that before last year’s race, official rule clarifications led to frantic ...
