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Shimano to replace Mavic for neutral service at the Tour De France

Mavic's iconic yellow vehicles will no longer be at the tour de france.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

The Tour de France organisers, Amaury Sport Organisation, has announced a new partnership with Shimano in 2021. Starting with the first stage of Paris-Nice on March 7, Shimano will provide support at all ASO-organised men’s and women’s races.

Shimano’s move into neutral service brings to an end Mavic’s 43-year stint as neutral support at Le Tour. For many, the loss of the iconic yellow neutral service cars and yellow scrambler bikes at Paris-Roubaix will spell the end of an era.

While the blue car may not be as famous as the iconic yellow Mavic support vehicles, Shimano is no stranger to neutral service with 20 years of experience providing support at countless races. In fact, Shimano is already a long term partner with ASO, providing neutral service at La Vuelta, another ASO event. This extended partnership means we will now see Shimano mechanics chasing breakaways and changing wheels at La Course, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Paris Tours.

The partnership also covers ASO’s mass participation events, including the Etape du Tour and Roc d’Azur. Participants at these events will be able to tap Shimano mechanics’ expertise in the event of a mechanical.

🚲 @ShimanoROAD for neutral support at Tour de France ! 🚲 🔧 @ShimanoROAD will adorn the neutral support cars in all A.S.O. races, offering all riders assistance to get back on the road as quickly as possible in the event of a crash or mechanical issue. #RideShimano #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/wrJEupw71P — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) January 19, 2021

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\"list\", \"title\": \"notebook: mart\u00ednez exasperated by ineos inertia, o\u0027connor and thomas explain futility of following poga\u010dar\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/giro-ditalia\/notebook-martinez-exasperated-by-ineos-inertia-oconnor-and-thomas-explain-futility-of-following-pogacar\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"notebook: mart\u00ednez exasperated by ineos inertia, o\u0027connor and thomas explain futility of following poga\u010dar\"}}\u0027>\n notebook: mart\u00ednez exasperated by ineos inertia, o\u0027connor and thomas explain futility of following poga\u010dar\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"opinion: kona bikes relaunch \u2013 a return to an age of passion over profit","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/opinion-kona-bikes-relaunch-a-return-to-an-age-of-passion-over-profit\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n 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Shimano's neutral service bikes: What's under the blue paint?

A pro bike analysis of a different kind. We take a closer look at the blue bikes that make up Shimano's neutral service

After a year of hard times for legacy outfit Mavic, earlier this week the ASO announced Shimano would be replacing the French outfit as the neutral support provider for its WorldTour, Continental, and Women’s races, including the Tour de France. Shimano and its fleet of blue cars and bikes have already been providing this service at races all around the world, one of which is the Tour Down Under . At the 2020 edition of the race, we managed to grab one of the neutral support bikes in the pits to take a closer look. It just so happened that this bike, in particular, had been used that day in the race, and the mechanics had not had the chance to clean the day’s race off the drivetrain.

It’s a safe bet that the bikes you see at races in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania will vary slightly based on what frames that region's Shimano HQ come up with, but for this rim-brake equipped model, under that blue paint is a Pardus Robin SL. Shimano AU’s connection to Pardus came through the St George Continental Cycling Team, which races in Australia's National Road Series.

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This frame, in particular, is a size 54, with a 547mm top tube, 510mm seat tube, and has a stack and reach of 555mm and 378mm. All up, the bike tipped our scales at 7.89kg.

The bike is built up with a full Shimano Ultegra drivetrain with 53/39t chainrings and an 11-30t Ultegra cassette at the back, and 172.5mm cranks. This particular bike had Shimano Dura-Ace pedals screwed into the end of the cranks. We had a peek into the Shimano container in the pits, and there were bikes with Look and Speedplay pedals too. 

The cockpit, unsurprisingly, comes from Shimano’s in-house component brand Pro, with a set of 400mm Vibe 7S alloy handlebars connected to a +/-6 degree, 120mm Pro PLT stem. Given that there was three cars' worth of identical blue bikes, taped to the top of the stem is the car assignment to ensure it ends up in the right place. 

With the frame relying on rim brakes, Shimano has specced a set of its Ultegra callipers, which wrangle a set of Dura-Ace C60 carbon clinchers. All of Shimano’s rim brake carbon clinchers are still a laminate design that uses an aluminium braking surface and a carbon faring. 

The Pardus frame uses a round seatpost, so Shimano could slot in a PLT seat post with a 20mm offset. The Pro Falcon saddle perched atop the seat post has light padding and a pancake- flat profile with a pressure relief channel that runs the entire length of the saddle. 

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The only components attached to this bike that doesn’t come from Shimano (well, except for the frame itself) are the 25mm Maxxis Relix tube-type tyres. These come with a 170 TPI casing and the brand’s SilkShield puncture protection.

Shimano Neutral Support bike full specification

• Frameset: Pardus Robin SL Shimano edition, Size 54
• Front brake: Shimano Ultegra R8000 Dual Pivot
• Rear brake: Shimano Ultegra R8000 Dual Pivot
• Brake/shift levers: Shimano Ultegra R8000 Dual Control Lever
• Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra R8000
• Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra R8000
• Cassette: Shimano Ultegra R8000, 11-30T
• Chain: Shimano Ultegra 
• Crankset: Shimano Ultegra R8000, 53/39T
• Wheelset: Shimano Dura-Ace C60 carbon clincher
• Tyres : Maxxis Relix clincher 25mm
• Handlebars: PRO Vibe 7S
• Handlebar tape: PRO Sport Control Team LTD
• Stem: PRO PLT alloy 120mm
• Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
• Saddle: PRO Falcon
• Seat post: PRO PLT Alloy
• Bottle cages: Pro Bottle Cage Alloy
• Total weight: 7.89kg

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Based on the Gold Coast of Australia, Colin has written tech content for cycling publication for a decade. With hundreds of buyer's guides, reviews and how-tos published in Bike Radar, Cyclingnews, Bike Perfect and Cycling Weekly, as well as in numerous publications dedicated to his other passion, skiing. 

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Mavic will not provide neutral service at the Tour de France for first time since 1977

Shimano will now take over as the race mechanics for the French Grand Tour 

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Mavic will no longer be providing the neutral service at the Tour de France, bringing the 44-year-old tradition to an end. 

The iconic French wheel-builder has provided support for all Tour riders since 1977, becoming a familiar feature in the French Grand Tour.

But the organiser of the Tour de France, ASO, has announced that Mavic will not longer be providing the neutral support at its races, as Japanese component company Shimano will take over the role. 

Mavic will no longer be providing neutral support in any ASO races, including the likes of Paris-Roubiaix and Paris-nice. 

A post on the official Tour de France Twitter account said: “Shimano will adorn the neutral support cars in all ASO races, offering all riders assistance to get back on the road as quickly as possible in the event of a crash or a mechanical issue.” 

Mavic has been battling through financial difficulty in recent years as the company was placed into receivership in 2020, in need of a buyer to secure its future. 

In July last year, a court in Grenoble in the south of France ruled that Mavic would be taken over by the Bourrelier Group, a French family holding company.

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The takeover means Mavic will keep 105 out of the 210 staff it currently employs, as well as its research and development facility, and its production site. 

Bourellier, which owns French DIY chain Bricorama, said its plans to focus on the aluminium and carbon rim, hub and wheel aspects of the Mavic business.

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In a statement, the new owner said: “Mavic must rediscover the dimension of a family SME with agile governance and short and autonomous decision-making circuits that it has lacked in recent years, and with a refocus on what has made the success of the brand.”

Mavic, founded in 1889, is best known for its wheels but has also expanded into shoes and clothing over the years.

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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.

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Cars Supporting the Bikes: What Does it Take to Make the Tour de France Happen?

If we just take a look at this year’s numbers, the Tour de France (1 st to 24 th July) and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (24 th to 31 st July) will, all in all, cover 4,411 kilometres in four weeks. Events of such gargantuan proportions need a matching support and logistic structure. Proven reliable, agile and sturdy, Škoda cars have been the backbone of the Tour since Škoda became the official sponsor of the race 18 years ago. So, what roles do the cars fulfil?

A short introduction: Škoda took root as a little cycling workshop founded by Laurin and Klement in 1895. In the words of Martin Jahn , Škoda AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing: “Our company’s long history is inextricably linked with cycling. For this reason, Škoda AUTO is committed to being a strong long-term partner of international elite and amateur cycling. Supporting the Tour de France has been one of the cornerstones of our activities in sports partnership since 2004.” Furthermore, after a 33-year hiatus, the Tour de France Femmes will finally take place again this year and Škoda naturally also took up the partnership.

Roughly 210 cars, mostly Škoda OCTAVIAs and SUPERBs, manned by about drivers and technicians, are provided each year for the organisational, team, management, and support crews. Let’s run through them by function.

Directors’ Leading Cars and other high officials’ vehicles

This year, the honour of leading the peloton will once again mostly fall on the specially adjusted Škoda ENYAQ iV that will carry around the Director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme, and the Director of the Tour de France Femmes, Marion Rousse.  The striking and well-known ‘Velvet Red’ SUV is used as a mobile command centre, fitted with a two-way radio, six antennas, a retractable panoramic sunroof and all the amenities the Race Directors and their crew need for the four weeks they spend in the cabin, including Champagne flute holders. The radio system is used to communicate with their race marshals and other Tour officials who assist them and the riders on the road, riding in cars of the same brilliant red velvet shade.

The car is not hard to spot amid the Tour’s bustle, thanks to custom decals, the characteristic yellow windscreen visor, and the fact that the Tour Directors often observe and evaluate the situation standing through the sunroof – that’s also how they launch the race by waving a flag at ‘Kilometre Zero’. If you would like a peek at how the Leading Cars and organisers’ vehicles are assembled, customised and readied for their big day, check out our previous article documenting their special modification process in a ‘top-secret’ workshop in the Czech Republic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4QPYT5SebI&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=WeLoveCycling

One can’t really overstate the importance of Tour de France team cars, usually Škoda SUPERBs and OCTAVIAs, either iV, hybrids or diesel. Their cabins and roofs become jam-packed repair workshops, first-aid stations, spare-parts suppliers, refreshment and gear-change points, and more during the race. This makes them instrumental in the success of both the individual riders as well as the whole team. The cars have an assigned rank depending on the ranking of the team’s leading cyclist. The equation is simple: the closer to the peloton, the fewer seconds spent getting to a rider in trouble. The only one able to hand out permission to break said rank is the Race Director and the team cars have a direct radio hotline to their Leading Car.

Addressing a problem too late may cost the team a stage win or maybe even the Škoda Green Jersey. That’s why you need trained and utterly focused individuals behind the wheel. As Ronny Lauke, Co-Founder and Team Manager of CANYON//SRAM Racing and Sports Director for Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, told us in an interview: “In my opinion, it’s important for the drivers to be former cyclists. Because it’s difficult to anticipate the movements of a peloton of several hundred riders, which reacts differently in certain situations. […] You are responsible for the athletes’ health and wellbeing – they are the most vulnerable link in our traffic chain.”

Neutral support cars

The new shade still might take some getting used to for regular Tour fans, as the neutral support cars have been sporting the sunny Mavic yellow since 1977. Last year, the Japanese component giant Shimano took over as the provider of the support crews and the Škoda SUBERB iV models utilised as neutral support cars switched coats to royal blue. These ‘angels on four wheels’ are ready to swoop in to help any rider in need when their own team cars are all engaged somewhere else or too far behind. One Shimano car will also keep close to the Race Directors’ cars, with three bikes specially adjusted for the top three general-classification contenders, in case they run into bad luck.

Usually, the neutral support cars are equipped with spare tyres, chains, crank sets and even whole bicycles, as well as accessories like raincoats or miscellaneous things such as energy gels and drinks. Commenting on the change of provider, Thierry Gouvenou, Head of the cycling race organisation department at A.S.O., said : “Having Shimano on board is a huge statement about the quality of races we offer. We have complete trust in the Shimano team to deliver professional service towards teams and riders, as they have been doing for much of their 100-year history.”

VIP Hospitality Programme cars

And last but not least, a dedicated fleet of Škoda cars lets a few lucky winners experience the most important Tour of their lives. Each year, we launch the VIP Škoda Hospitality Programme contest, taking several fans as close to the Tour as possible with all-inclusive service. Winners get to enjoy three days of being chauffeured around in either the Škoda ENYAQ iVs or Škoda SUPERB iVs, including a ride in front of the peloton, a helicopter flight over the racing riders and the scenic landscape, and the famed French cuisine and hospitality. Does this sound like the experience of a lifetime? Try your luck, enter the VIP Škoda Hospitality Programme contest yourself here and see what happens!

This year, keep an eye out for the immensely dedicated and brave support crews and all the others making the dream that is the Tour de France happen!

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HOME > INFORMATION > NEWS > Creating Tour de France History

Creating Tour de France History

Throughout the years, the Tour de France has served as a true proving ground for Shimano componentry. From the introduction of STI shifters and SPD pedals to Di2 electronic shifting and disc brakes, the company keeps innovating to push the boundaries of the sport, and thus create cycling memories that will forever resound in the hearts and minds of cycling fans.

1991: alpe d’huez win on spd pedals.

Shimano launched its first SPD (Shimano Pedalling Dynamics) clipless pedal system in 1990. This innovation featured a small cleat, attached to the shoe in a recess of the sole, to clip in to SPD-designed pedals. Thus, riders would be able to put power down into the pedals more efficiently (as well as being able to now pull the pedals on the way up for an even better cadence) by always having their feet in the correct position over the pedal axle. This lasting invention greatly improved speed on the bike, not to mention the benefit of knowing that the shoes were securely attached to the pedals, even in wet and slippery conditions.

From that moment on, gone were the classic toeclips of old. What wasn’t gone, was the epic Alpe d’Huez stage, and in 1991 Italian champion Gianni Bugno took the stage there in great style, outsprinting Miguel Indurain on his SPD pedals in one of cycling’s most beautiful jerseys – the Italian National Champion jersey. Later that year, Bugno would even go on to swap his  maglia   tricolore  for a rainbow jersey.

1991: STI SHIFTING TAKES THE LEAD

Launched in 1990, the ‘Shimano Total Integration’ (STI) shifters totally changed the face of cycling. It combined the braking- and shifting controls into the same component, creating the iconic dual-control levers on the handlebar that we are now all so familiar with. It also forced a complete redesign of the ‘hoods’ that riders rest their hands on, making them loads more comfortable than they used to be. The prime advantage was that riders could from now on adjust their gearing without taking their hands off the bars, a gigantic leap forward from the  commandeur  downtube-shifters that were so common in the past.

For the 1991 Tour de France, Shimano approached a number of veterans in the peloton to test the STI shifting system. Their findings would be evaluated and implemented in the versions that became available to the general public shortly thereafter. Australian hardman Phil Anderson was one of the original testriders, winning the stage to Quimper during the ‘91 Tour to further make clear the superiority of the new STI shifters over the old ways. The system definitely helped Shimano take the lead in groupset manufacturing.

1999: US TOUR VICTORY ON DURA-ACE 7700

When a rider from Texas crossed the finish line in Paris with the yellow jersey on his shoulders, it was the first time the Tour was won by a rider powered by Dura-Ace 7700. Subsequent legal battles may have removed his name from the record books, but at the time it was a watershed moment for Dura-Ace, Shimano’s flagship component, whose story began in 1973. Back then, it was Shimano’s first attempt to infiltrate the professional road racing groupset niche, built using aluminum.

The 7700 series was in production from 1996 to 2004, and while the 9-speed groupset may have lacked the technological prowess of the 7400 series, or the refinement of its successor 7800, the fact that this particular Texan won the Tour on it did wonders in setting the tone for the groupset all riders wanted.

2007: 10-SPEED FOR EL PISTOLERO

Since retrospective annulments of victories override memories, we have to turn to Alberto Contador’s victory in 2007 as the first time a rider  officially  won riding Dura-Ace. By this time, Dura-Ace 7800 10-speed had hit the market, characterized by its ‘100% power efficiency’ catchphrase. It featured the iconic Hollowtech II crankset ­– which accommodated a larger, lighter and stiffer bottom bracket axle – as well as improved ergonomics on the dual-control levers and of course a 10-speed drivetrain, offering a wider range of gears.

After wearing the white jersey for numerous days, Contador beat Rasmussen in his classic climbing style, winning the arduous stage to the summit of Plateau de Beille, before also depriving the Dane of the yellow a few days later.  El Pistolero  went on to bring the yellow jersey to Paris for his first of two overall victories.

2011: EVANS ON ELECTRONICS

After battling it out with Andy Schleck in the Alps, Cadel Evans finally took the yellow on the penultimate stage — a time trial — to become the first coureur ever to win the Tour using a Dura-Ace Di2 (Digital Integrated Intelligence) groupset.

Shimano’s first electric shifting system offered an enhanced shifting experience over the old mechanical system. The shifting became more accurate, quicker and lighter, and with the wireless Di2 system in place, the need for shifting cable maintenance and replacement disappeared. It was also more apt to keep working under stress, so that Cadel didn’t need to worry about his gearing and could completely focus on riding the Time Trial of his life.

2012: DURA-ACE 9000 DOMINATION

The enigmatic Wiggins won both time trials in 2012’s Tour de France, which set him up nicely to become the first British winner of the Tour.

The race was totally dominated by Team Sky that year, with Chris Froome placing second in the final classification. For the new Dura-Ace 9000 11-speed series, the drivetrain was fully re-engineered across all systems. 

Shimano had been studying a four-arm crank for 3 years, and had been testing it for about 18 months prior to the Tour de France. The new four-arm design of the crankset put the strength where most of the pressure comes in a pedal stroke, thus improving efficiency as well as durability. New polymer coated shifting cables were also introduced for smoother operation. It certainly helped Team Sky, who totally dominated the race that year, with Chris Froome placing second behind Wiggins in the final classification.

2017: THE EMERGENCE OF DISC BRAKES

In 2017, the German powerhouse with the  schöne haare  won the sprint in Liège, his first of no less than five victories on Shimano’s R9170 disc brakes that Tour, which proved that there is definitely a place for a modern, safe braking system within the professional peloton. 

The R9170 was the first full-fledged Dura-Ace group with electronic shifting  and  hydraulic disc brakes, which made it easy to control braking in difficult conditions and apply as little, or as much, power as one needs to match any situation. The R9170 series comes with smaller, lighter calipers, and each disc uses a new configuration of Shimano’s ‘Freeza’ technology: a layer of aluminium wedged between stainless steel. The aluminum in the rotor, with its fins and larger surface area, draws away heat generated during braking and dissipates it. Disc brakes are an ideal way to implement an element of safety in the pro-peloton. Because as we have seen, while the material and componentry keeps evolving, the sport itself must not allow itself to be left behind, either in mindset or regulation. Here’s to a bright future.

• Giro d'Italia

Tour de France bikes ranked: cheapest to most expensive

Which team has the most expensive bike in the Tour de France peloton?

Tom Hallam-Gravells

Online production editor.

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The Tour de France isn’t only cycling’s biggest race, it’s also one of the largest sporting events in the world, attracting the best riders who battle it out for the famous yellow jersey.

Competing at the race requires incredible talent, but riders also rely on the best bikes and most cutting-edge technology currently available. Naturally these bikes come with hefty price tags - ones that can’t be easily justified to any sceptical spouses - but just how much would a Tour de France bike set you back?

Alex and Ollie decided to rank every team’s bike from cheapest to the most expensive. They’ve only picked the drop-bar bikes that teams will use for the majority of stages and provided estimates of the costs.

These will vary to what’s commercially available as teams often use customised set-ups, but we can let them off if their estimates are slightly off.

22: Uno-X | Dare VSRu | £5600 / $7115

Debutants Uno-X boast the cheapest bike in the Tour de France peloton, the Dare VSRu with Shimano ’s Dura-Ace Di2 groupset.

Like the team, it’s a new brand to the Tour de France and probably one many may not have heard of, but the Taiwanese company has made inroads in the industry in recent years.

Velo Collection (Michael Steele) / Getty Images

Both Uno-X and Dare are making their Tour de France debuts.

21: Intermarché-Circus-Wanty | Cube Litening | £6543 / $8315

There’s a big jump from Uno-X to Intermarché-Circus-Wanty who ride Cube Litening bikes.

The team has an option of the Litening Aero or the lighter Litening Air. It combines these with Newmen wheels and Shimano components, plus fancy CeramicSpeed pulley wheels.

=19: Groupama-FDJ | Lapierre Xelius SL | £8000 / $10,150

We’re only three bikes in and we’ve already reached five figures in American dollars.

French team Groupama-FDJ has been partnered with Lapierre since 2002 and this season it's been riding the Xelius SL. That’s a long partnership in the world of cycling but the team has been using Shimano components for even longer, over 25 years. It’s the same again at the Tour de France with Shimano’s Dura-Ace groupset and wheels used across the bikes.

=19: Bahrain Victorious | Merida Reacto/Scultura Team | £8000 / $10,150

Next up is Bahrain Victorious who ride Merida Reacto and Scultura bikes along with Shimano components and Vision wheels.

Bahrain Victorious is a fairly new outfit, founded in 2017, and it's been partnered with Merida since its inception.

18: dsm-Firmenich | Scott Foil RC | £9199 / $11,750

dsm-Firmenich just breaches the £9000 barrier with its Scott Foil RC. Like many teams on this list, it uses Shimano components and wheels.

The French outfit first started riding Scott bikes in 2021 and since then its taken six Grand Tour stage wins, but none at the Tour de France. Will that change in 2023?

17: Alpecin-Deceuninck | Canyon Aeroad CFR | £9799 / $12,450

At the time of writing (on the first rest day), Alpecin-Deceuninck has been the most successful team at this year’s race, bagging a hat-trick of stage wins through sprinter Jasper Philipsen . Those victories came atop the Canyon Aeroad CFR which, once again, is specced with Shimano components and wheels.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Philipsen and his Canyon bike have taken three stage wins (at the time of writing).

16: Movistar | Canyon Aeroad | £9999 / $12,750

Movistar similarly uses Canyon bikes but unlike Alpecin-Deceuninck, its are paired with SRAM ’s RED eTap AXS groupset and Zipp wheels. That brings up the cost slightly, falling £1 short of the £10,000 mark.

15: Israel-Premier Tech | Factor Ostro VAM | £10,500 / $13,350

We’re not even halfway through but the £10,000 barrier has already been breached courtesy of Israel-Premier Tech ’s Factor Ostro VAM.

Alongside the aero Ostro VAM, the team also rides the O2 VAM which was only recently released - and Factor says that it’s “the world’s fastest climbing bike”.

Factor says the new O2 VAM is "the world's fastest climbing bike".

14: Cofidis | Look 795 Blade RS | £10,600 / $13,500

It’s been a big Tour de France so far for French team Cofidis which picked up its first stage win at the race since 2008 after Victor Lafay triumphed on stage 2.

That victory came atop a Look bike who only partnered with Cofidis at the beginning of 2023, and it’s already proving to be a looky partnership.

Lafay ended Cofidis' long 15-year drought without a Tour de France win.

13: Lotto Dstny | Ridley Noah Fast/Helium | £10,700 / $13,650

Lotto Dstny is one of the oldest teams in the pro peloton, dating back to 1985. It's endured a difficult couple of years and was relegated from the UCI WorldTour at the end of 2022. As a result, it had to rely on an invite from the organisers but it received one and it's at the race riding Ridley bikes.

12: Arkéa-Samsic | Bianchi Oltre | £11,928 / $15,150

Arkéa-Samsic just misses out on the top 10 with its Bianchi Oltre.

Shimano is proving to be a popular option in this list so far and it's back again here too, with Arkéa-Samsic’s bikes specced with Shimano components and wheels.

11: Team Jayco AlUla | Giant Propel | £11,999 / $15,250

The eleventh most expensive bike falls agonisingly close to the £12,000 mark, clocking in at £11,999. That’s for Jayco AlUla ’s Giant Propels which are fitted with - you guessed it - Shimano groupsets plus CADEX wheels and tyres.

10: Ineos-Grenadiers | Pinarello Dogma F | £12,400 / $15,750

When we’ve previously compared the cost of pro bikes, Ineos Grenadiers ’ Pinarellos have always ranked much higher. This time the Pinarello Dogma F is only tenth on the list, although it still costs an eye-watering £12,400/$15,750.

Ineos Grenadiers has won seven Tours de France since partnering with Pinarello in 2010.

9: Astana Qazaqstan | Wilier 0 SLR | £12,480 / $15,860

Next up is Astana Qazaqstan which is unique from everyone on the list so far as it has two wheel sponsors, Corima and HED. These are used on the Wilier 0 SLR which, in Ollie’s opinion, has one of the coolest paint jobs at this year’s race.

=7: EF Education-EasyPost | Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 /SystemSix | £12,500 / $15,885

EF Education-EasyPost has ridden Cannondale bikes since 2015 and that will continue for the foreseeable future after it agreed a new sponsorship deal on the first rest day of the Tour de France - although it strangely doesn’t have an end date.

The team currently has a choice of either Cannondale’s SuperSix EVO LAB71 or its aero offering, the SystemSix.

=7: Jumbo-Visma | Cervélo S5 | £12,500 / $15,885

Defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard and his Jumbo-Visma teammates ride Cervélo bikes, including the aero S5.

Simon Richardson managed to get his hands on Vingegaard’s bike ahead of the race and there were some interesting features.

=4: BORA-hansgrohe , TotalEnergies and Soudal Quick-Step | Specialized S-Works Tarmac | £13,000 / $16,520

The £13,000 barrier is breached by three teams who all use Specialized bikes along with Shimano groupsets.

They’re all also finished with Specialized finishing kit and componentry meaning that they all clock in at the same price of £13,000.

3: AG2R Citroën | BMC Teammachine | £13,800 / $17,540

AG2R Citroën claims the bottom spot on the podium with their BMC Teammachine. It's one of the rare teams on the list that also uses Campagnolo groupsets.

Alongside the Teammachine, the team’s riders are also using an unreleased prototype BMC . Not much is known about it but we managed to get our hands on Ben O’Connor ’s bike during the opening weekend of the race.

2: UAE Team Emirates | Colnago V4Rs | £14,000 / $17,800

Tadej Pogačar is hoping to reclaim the Tour de France title he lost in 2022 and he’s doing it atop a Colnago V4Rs. There are lots of cool features and components on the UAE Team Emirates bikes and Pogačar’s specifically is heavily customised.

1: Lidl-Trek | Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 | £14,500 / $18,450

The most expensive bike at the 2023 Tour de France, according to our calculations, is Lidl-Trek ’s Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7.

The bike caught plenty of attention when it was released last year thanks to its unique seat tube which contains a hole at the top.

Other notable features include custom paint jobs with each rider getting to create their own design as a part of Trek’s Project One. The results are seriously cool as we found out when we encountered Mads Pedersen ’s bike.

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Shimano is a bike component manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. The company is one of the industry’s most popular manufacturers and it makes up around three-quarters of the bicycle component market by value.

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Shimano Takes Over as the Neutral Support Provider at the Tour de France

The role was long held by French bike parts company Mavic.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

• The Japanese bike parts company will also provide neutral support at all of the other WorldTour, Continental, and women’s races organized by ASO.

This year’s Tour de France peloton will feature a little less of its quintessential yellow and a whole lot more blue.

If you like the Tour de France, then you’ll love Bicycling All Access

The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced on January 19 that Shimano will be taking over on neutral support—support for any rider on the course, no matter the team—for the Tour’s peloton in 2021, a position long held by French bike parts company Mavic.

Shimano, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, has roughly 20 years of experience in lending neutral assistance to pro cyclists, including in the other Grand Tours, such as the Giro d’Italia and La Vuelta a España . Neutral assistance is crucial to riders during races, who may find themselves stranded with a mechanical and no team car around to help.

→ Get Bicycling All Access to stay on top of the latest training tips, nutrition advice, gear reviews, and more!

“Shimano’s role is to inspire people to participate in sports and to keep bicycles running at their best. The vital neutral support role, especially at cycling’s most high-pressurized race—and also at the world’s most-watched sporting event—will allow us to do just that,” stated Shimano’s executive vice president Taizo Shimano.

But it isn’t only the Tour de France where you’ll soon be able to spot more of the bright blue assistance vehicles; Shimano will also now oversee neutral support at all WorldTour, Continental, and women’s pro cycling races that are managed by the ASO.

Neutral support vehicles were first introduced to the pro cycling scene in 1972. Mavic’s then-chairman Bruno Gormand lent his vehicle to a team manager, whose car had broken down, at the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Mavic officially rolled out the idea the following year at Paris-Nice; it was then brought on at the Tour in 1977 .

The 2021 Tour de France is scheduled to take place from June 26 to July 18.

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When she’s not out riding her mountain bike, Jessica is an editor for Popular Mechanics . She was previously an editor for Bicycling magazine. 

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The Tour de France is the pinnacle of professional cycling where bike manufacturers showcase their best equipments. Follow cycling expert, Alex Lee to discover the bikes and gear each team is using.

This article provides a detailed rundown of all the bikes and equipment used by the 22 teams competing in the 2023 Tour de France.

The Tour de France is cycling’s pinnacle event of the year. This represents the perfect opportunity for bike and equipment manufacturers to increase visibility. Many bike brands use the Tour de France to launch and showcase their latest products to cycling fans each year.

While all the bike frames are sponsored, not all other components, such as the groupset, wheelset, saddles, pedals, tires, and power meters, are sponsored. The teams who don’t have a sponsor for a particular component will buy their preferred brands. It’s often hard to differentiate between sponsored or purchased equipment.

Key takeaways

• Each team will have a choice of aero , lightweight , and TT bike depending on the stage’s profile. Colnago, Cube, Pinarello , and Specialized , don’t differentiate between lightweight and aero bikes. So the teams riding these brands only have a choice of a road and TT bike.
• Canyon and Specialized (3 teams) and Canyon (2 teams) have the biggest presence in 2023.
• Shimano dominates the groupset presence with 18 teams using their latest 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 groupset, followed by the three teams on SRAM Red eTap AXS and only one team on Campagnolo Super Record EPS .
• There are 12 wheelset brands present in 2023. Each wheelset manufacturer provides the riders with various rim depths from shallow (30 to 45mm) to mid (45 to 55mm) and deep (above 55mm), depending on the day’s terrain.
• Shimano wheels has the biggest presence, with five teams running its latest R9200 wheelsets in 36/50/60mm rim depths.
• Roval , Specialized’s bike components brand wheelsets are ridden by the three teams sponsored by Specialized.

2023 Tour de France Riders’ Gear

Wout van Aert’s Red Bull Helmet at the 2023 Tour de France

Mark Cavendish’s Sunglasses at 2023 Tour de France

Mark Cavendish’s Shoes at 2023 Tour de France

Mark Cavendish’s Bike at 2023 Tour de France

Jasper Philipsen’s Bike at 2023 Tour de France

AG2R Citroën Team

• Climbing bike : BMC Teammachine SLR01
• Aero bike : BMC Timemachine Road SLR01
• TT bike : BMC Timemachine
• Groupset : Campagnolo Super Record EPS
• Bottom bracket : CEMA
• Wheels : Campagnolo Bora WTO Ultra 33 / 45 / 60
• Components : BMC integrated bars
• Pedals : Look Kéo Blade
• Power meter : Power2Max
• Tyres : Pirelli P Zero Race SL
• Bike computer : Wahoo Elemnt Roam / Bolt
• Saddle : Fizik

Alpecin-Fenix

• Climbing bike : Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
• Aero bike : Canyon Aeroad CFR
• TT bike : Canyon Speedmax CF SLX
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• Wheels : Shimano Dura-Ace C36 / C50 / C60
• Components : Canyon handlebars and stems
• Pedals : Shimano Dura-Ace R9100
• Power meter : Shimano Dura-Ace R9200-P
• Tyres : Vittoria Corsa Pro

Astana-Qazaqstan Team

• Climbing bike : Wilier Filante SLR
• Aero bike : Wilier Zero SLR
• TT bike : Wilier Turbine SLR
• Bottom bracket : CeramicSpeed
• Wheels : Corima WS Black 32 / 47
• Components : Wilier integrated handlebars
• Bike computer : Garmin Edge 840 / 1040
• Saddle : Prologo

Bahrain Victorious

• Climbing bike : Merida Scultura
• Aero bike : Merida Reacto
• TT bike : Merida Time Warp TT
• Wheels : Vision Metron 45 / 60 SL
• Components : Vision Metron 6D handlebars
• Power meter : Shimano Dura-Ace R9100-P
• Tyres : Continental GP 5000s TR

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Bora-Hansgrohe

• Climbing bike : Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7
• TT bike : Specialized S-Works Shiv TT
• Wheels : Roval Rapide CLX II / Alpinist CLX II
• Components : Roval Rapide Handlebar
• Tyres : Specialized S-Works Turbo / Turbo Cotton / Rapid Air
• Saddle : Specialized

• Climbing bike : LOOK 785 Huez RS
• Aero bike : LOOK 795 Blade RS
• TT bike : LOOK 796 RS
• Components : LOOK handlebars and stems
• Pedals : Look Kéo
• Power meter : SRM
• Tyres : Michelin Power Competition
• Saddle : Selle Italia

EF Education-EasyPost

• Climbing bike : Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71
• Aero bike : Cannondale SystemSix LAB71
• TT bike : Cannondale SuperSlice
• Components : Vision Metron 6D
• Power meter : Power2Max NG Road

Groupama-FDJ

• Climbing bike : Lapierre Xelius SL3
• Aero bike : Lapierre Aircode DRS
• TT bike : Lapierre Aérostorm DRS
• Components : PRO handlebars and stems

Ineos-Grenadiers

• Climbing bike : Pinarello Dogma F
• TT bike : Pinarello Bolide
• Components : MOST handlebars and stems

Intermarche-Circus-Wanty

• Climbing bike : Cube Litening Air C:68X
• Aero bike : Cube Litening Aero C:68X
• TT bike : Cube Aerium TT
• Wheels : Newmen Advanced SL R 50 / 65
• Components : Cube integrated handlebar/stem
• Power meter : Rotor inPower
• Bike computer : Bryton Rider S800

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Israel-Premier Tech

• Climbing bike : Factor O2 VAM
• Aero bike : Factor Ostro VAM
• TT bike : Factor Slick
• Wheels : Black Inc 30 / 45 / 60
• Components : Black Inc one-piece handlebars
• Power meter : FSA Powerbox
• Bike computer : Hammerhead Karoo 2

Jumbo-Visma

• Climbing bike : Cervélo R5
• Aero bike : Cervélo S5
• TT bike : Cervélo P5
• Groupset : SRAM Red eTap AXS
• Wheels : Reserve 34/37, 52/63
• Components : Cervélo integrated handlebars and stems
• Pedals : Speedplay
• Power meter : SRAM Red

• Clmbing bike : Trek Émonda SLR 9
• Aero bike : Trek Madone SLR 9
• TT bike : Trek Speed Concept
• Wheels : Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 / 51 / 62
• Components : Bontrager handlebars and stems
• Pedals : TIME
• Saddle : Bontrager

Lotto Dstny

• Climbing bike : Ridley Helium
• Aero bike : Ridley Noah Fast
• TT bike : Ridley Dean Fast
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 /
• Wheels : DT Swiss ARC 1100 / PRC 1100
• Components : Ridley integrated handlebars and stems

Movistar Team

• Wheels : Zipp 202 / 303 / 404 Firecrest
• Power meter : SRAM Red AXS

Soudal Quick-Step

• Components : PRO handlebars

Team Arkea-Samsic

• Climbing bike : Bianchi Specialissima
• Aero bike : Bianchi Oltre RC
• TT bike : Bianchi Aquila

• Climbing bike : Scott Addict RC
• Aero bike : Scott Foil RC
• TT bike : Scott Plasma 5
• Components : Syncros handlebars and stems
• Saddle : Syncros

Team Jayco Alula

• Climbing bike : Giant TCR Advanced SL
• Aero bike : Giant Propel Advanced
• TT bike : Giant Trinity Advanced Pro
• Wheels : Cadex 36 / 42 / 65
• Components : Cadex bars and stems
• Saddle : Cadex

UAE Team Emirates

• Climbing bike : Colnago V4Rs
• TT bike : Colnago TT1
• Wheels : Enve SES 3.4 / 4.5
• Components : Deda handlebars and stems

UNO-X Pro Cycling Team

• Climbing bike : DARE MA-AFO
• Aero bike : DARE VSRu
• TT bike : DARE TSRf
• Components : DARE handlebar and stem
• Bike computer : Garmin Edge 830 / 1030

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Alex Lee is the founder and editor-at-large of Mr. Mamil. Coming from a professional engineering background, he breaks down technical cycling nuances into an easy-to-understand and digestible format here.

He has been riding road bikes actively for the past 12 years and started racing competitively in the senior category during the summer recently.

Mr. Mamil's content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not a substitute for official or professional advice. Please do your own due diligence.

Mr. Mamil participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We also participate in various other affiliate programs, and at times we earn a commission through purchases made through links on this website.

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Looking for a go-faster wheel upgrade? Here's what the pros are riding at the 2022 Tour de France

First Published Jul 14, 2022

The Tour de France is the ultimate test for riders and their equipment, and wheels take some serious abuse over the three weeks. They have to be rugged enough to survive the Stage 5 cobbles, light enough to climb the highest peaks, and aerodynamic enough to gain those extra few millimetres at the finish which can make the difference between marking a rider’s name in history and getting a telling off by the DS (directeur sportif).

Riders can switch between wheelsets as the Tour goes on and here are some of the most noteworthy that we've spotted in this year's race.

Time Trial Wheels

As this year’s race kicked off with a time trial that’s where we’ll start as well. The time trial brought us plenty of new tech, from Specialized balaclavas to huge helmets and visors.

Filippo Ganna was the pre-race favourite. Team Ineos shunned wheels from sponsor Shimano in favour of ones from Princeton Carbonworks with a wavy profile. Ganna opted for a full disc wheel at the rear labelled with “experimental prototype” and a tri-spoke front wheel that also featured a ‘wavy’ trailing edge to each of the spokes.

> Sram sues Princeton Carbonworks for patent infringement

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Princeton CarbonWorks (@princetoncarbonworks)

This isn't a front wheel that we've previously spotted although it does appear to resemble the Princeton Mach 7580. Both wheels were clad in tubeless Continental GP5000TR TdF tyres that also made their appearance for the first time. You can read all about them in our Tech of the Week roundup .

> Tech of the Week (July 2022)

There were plenty of other disc wheelsets on show during the TT. For example, Team BikeExchange Jayco used this Cadex disc and four-spoke combo set up with tubular tyres.

Don't worry there were still some  conventional spokes to be seen, for example on Campagnolo-sponsored teams who opted for the tubeless-ready Bora Ultra WTO 80. No prizes for guessing how deep that is...

It would be rude not to mention the Vision wheels adorning the EF Education-EasyPost team bikes, a Metron TFW at the rear and a Metron91 at the front. These have also received the Rapha-Palace treatment and are set up tubeless with Muc-Off valves. Each rider had a different colour combination, reminiscent of the Canyon-Sram women's team wheels.

Wheels for flat stages 

For flat stages, we typically see wheels of around 60mm in depth, especially for the sprinters who want every aerodynamic advantage when it comes to the finale. Stage two was won by Fabio Jakobsen. He and the three teams in the race sponsored by Specialized have been using the new Roval Rapide CLX II wheels for flat and rolling stages.

> Which of these Tour de France wheelsets is best for you? Rapide vs Alpinist

The Rapides are now tubeless-ready and measure 51mm deep at the front and 60mm at the rear while weighing in at a competitive 1,520g.

Also racking up the stage wins courtesy of Wout Van Aert are the Shimano Dura-Ace C50 and C60 wheelsets. Wout appears to prefer to run his with tubs but Jumbo Visma swapped all of their riders to the tubeless version for the cobbled Stage five, likely after their troubles at Paris-Roubaix earlier in the year.

> Two Shimano tubular wheels break at Paris Roubaix

We just can't talk about the Tour de France without mentioning Tadej Pogacar and on flat stages the Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 (1,425g) with CULT ceramic bearings is his wheelset of choice.

Team UAE Emirates and AG2R Citroen can also be found riding the 60mm deep WTO 60 (1,530g) for very flat stages. Both team's wheels are missing the 'Ultra' bit of the name from the decals but the internal spoke nipples suggest they are indeed from the Ultra lineup.

> Review: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45 wheelset

You'll find the teams of EF Education-EasyPost and Bahrain Victorious using Vision Metron 60 Disc SL on the flatter stages, I don't know about you but I'm disappointed that these didn't get some funky graphics like the TT wheels. Both teams have been using these tubeless, you can see what everyone else is up to in this article :

> Are we witnessing the death of the tubular tyre?

Lotto Soudal went through some major changes this year, switching from Campagnolo groupsets and wheels to Shimano groupsets and DT Swiss wheels.

They're joined by B&B Hotels KTM using similar equipment. On flat stages, the teams are using wheels from the ARC lineup which are available in 50 (pictured), 62 and 80mm depths and have SINC ceramic bearings. The wheels use the brand's 180 hubs with ratchet EXP tech that can also be found in plenty of other wheelsets in the peloton.

> A complete guide to DT Swiss wheels

Zipp have just one team using their wheels in the TdF and that's Movistar. On flat stages, the infamous 404 wheels are most common although we've also seen 454 NSWs being used.

As things begin to go up, the 353 NSWs come out to play and we've even seen some older 202 wheels being used. Despite Zipp's heavy marketing of tubeless technology with their hookless rims, we tend to see the Movistar riders using tubulars at the Tour.

> Review: Zipp 404 Firecrest Disc wheels

Wheels for the mountains

With Specialized and Shimano sponsoring the majority of the teams, we can expect to see plenty of their wheels winning in the mountains as well.

Quickstep Alpha-Vinyl, Bora-Hansgrohe and Total Energies have all been using the Roval Alpinist CLX II for particularly mountainous stages, and with a 1,250g claimed weight for the tubeless wheelset it's easy to see why.

> Review: Roval Alpinist CLX II wheelset

Shimano wheels are sure to leave their mark on the Alps as well with Team Jumbo Visma, Ineos Grenadiers, Groupama-FDJ, DSM, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Arkéa-Samsic all using the Japanese brand's wheels.

Vingegaard's monstrous effort up the Grandon on stage 11 was undertaken on a set of Dura-Ace C36 wheels which, as their name suggests, are 36mm deep. They measure 21mm internally and 28mm externally.

Corima might not be the largest brand but they've got good representation in the peloton with both Cofidis and Astana-Qazaqstan riding their wheels. In the mountains, we've seen the MCC 32s being put to good use with the tubular pair weighing in at 1,295g. They have just 12 carbon spokes front and rear.

> Buyers Guide: 10 of the best road and gravel wheelsets

A brand that some might not be as familiar with is 'Newmen', Cube's in-house component brand. This German company develops and assembles the hubs themselves rather than using off-the-shelf parts, and Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux has the choice of the Advanced SL R.38, R.50, R.65 or R.80 wheelsets. In the mountains it's the R.38 Streem that's being used most often with a claimed weight of 1,366g for the pair.

Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome will be lining up on the start line with his Israel Premier Tech team on Black Inc. hoops. Pictured are the Black inc Thirty wheels (1,390g for tubeless or 1,230g for tubular) which seem to be the team's go to for mountain stages despite Black inc. making an even lighter 'Twenty' wheelset (1,240g for tubeless).

> Review: Black Inc Twenty wheelset

The tech team have had a quick chat about which Tour de France wheels we'd most like in our garage...

Liam: "I'd have the Campag's, I think they've got the best hubs and the finish is awesome."

Mat: "Good question, I quite like the Black Incs but I'm going to go for a set of DT Swiss. I've always been impressed with the tech and find their wheels perform very well."

Jamie: "I want a set of the Rapha Palace Vision TT wheels just to put on the wall...if I actually have to ride the wheels then I'm a big fan of the Roval Rapide CLX IIs."

Which are your favourite wheels? Let us know which set you'd most like to take home if money was no object in the comments section below...

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Jamie has been riding bikes since a tender age but really caught the bug for racing and reviewing whilst  studying towards a master's in Mechanical engineering  at Swansea University. Having graduated, he decided he really quite liked working with bikes and is now a full-time addition to the road.cc team. When not writing about tech news or working on the Youtube channel, you can still find him racing local crits trying to cling on to his cat 2 licence...and missing every break going...

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A Tour de France for the ages

It was a Tour de France for the ages. By the end, nobody could be surprised at the victory of Jonas Vingegaard.  

The Dane showed sangfroid and strength, consigning Tadej Pogačar to second place. Every great champion needs a great rival, and theirs was an immense fight.

Jumbo-Visma were the dominant team, with six stage wins and two of the race’s strongest riders. Nobody was more versatile or prominent over the 21 stages than Wout van Aert. The emphatic green jersey winner won a long time trial, a bunch sprint and attacked in numerous breakaways.

Here’s a look at how Vingegaard won a breathless Tour de France and at the glory of other prominent peloton peers.

Stage 1 and 2

On a rainy time trial around Copenhagen that had riders’ nerves jangling, trust a Flandrian to be in his element. Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s ace Yves Lampaert had the power, speed and control on the 13.2km course.

His victory might have been a surprise against more fancied names, but it was a delight for those who love a modest strongman getting his dues.

There was double delight for his team on stage two. In Nyborg, sprinter Fabio Jakobsen finished off his team’s effort, capping two years of tireless work since his life-threatening crash at the Tour of Poland. 

Within the race’s first three days, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s race was a success.

Stage 4 and 8

Wout van Aert was everywhere in the first week. Second in the time trial, second in the first two bunch sprints, pulling on the yellow jersey in the process.

All that was missing was a win, and it came in impressive fashion on the road to Calais on day four. Jumbo-Visma delivered a display of team tactics, hitting the front and riding full gas into the final steep climb, ten kilometers from the finish.

Van Aert finished off the job with a solo ride to the finish, making the impossible look casual. Four days later, he was victorious again, in the green jersey this time, from a small bunch sprint on a steep hill in Lausanne. 

It was just the beginning of a Tour where all-rounder Van Aert stood out every single day.

It looked like the Tour might be going the way of Tadej Pogačar again, given his advantage in the opening time trial, his ease over the cobbles, and his two stage wins in the opening week.

Thirty-nine seconds separated the yellow jersey and Jonas Vingegaard. On stage 11, Jumbo-Visma deployed their plan on the queen stage between Albertville and Col du Granon. 

They attacked again and again on the Col du Galibier with their dynamite Dane and Primož Roglič, forcing their isolated rival to chase.

It ate into his energy and his resilience. On the brutal final climb, with five kilometers left, Vingegaard accelerated and Pogačar had no answer. Hunger and focus in his gaze, DURA-ACE C36 wheels on his bike, Vingegaard increased the gap with every pedal stroke.

This was the mind-blowing move which won the Tour. By the finish, he put almost three minutes into his rival. He pulled on the yellow jersey and exploded the Slovenian’s aura of invincibility in one memorable stage.

We’re used to races being won up mountains, but how about down them? Tom Pidcock provided a descending masterclass, attacking over the Galibier. Taking the corners with speed and fluidity, he bridged across to the day’s breakaway. It would prove crucial.

Slotting into the breakaway group alongside four-time champion Chris Froome, the Ineos Grenadier got the better of his breakaway colleagues on his Tour debut.

He’s already an Olympic mountain biking champion, a cyclo-cross star and a Brabantse Pijl victor. Now, the 22-year-old is the youngest ever Tour stage winner on the famous, crowd-filled Alpe d’Huez.

A big win for Ineos Grenadiers, and surely not the last for a big British talent stukk starting out his career.

Stage 15 and 21

In a Tour de France low on opportunities for bunch sprinters, the fast men had to keep calm and carry on through tough stages in the Vosges, Alps and Massif Central.

Good things come to those who wait. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took his first Tour de France stage win the hard way.

It was on a cauldron of a stage between Rodez and Carcassonne, barely a metre of flat on the route raced in 40-degree temperatures.

The breakaway was only swept up 500 meters from the finish, before Philipsen got the better of Wout van Aert. Cool, calm and very fast.

The Belgian added a second in a more conventional sprint scenario. On the Champs-Élysées, as the sun went down in Paris and the Tour, he finished bike lengths ahead of closest challenger Dylan Groenwegen.

Ever since losing the race lead, Pogačar kept his promise to keep attacking Jonas Vingegaard. Uphill, down dale, even on the flat with 180 kilometers to go. He had over two minutes to make up.

The Dane and his team proved equal to every move. It came down to the last mountain stage, finishing at Hautacam.

The Slovenian heaped the pressure on, accelerating in front. It culminated in a technical Col de Spandelles descent before the final climb where Vingegaard grounded his pedal and nearly crashed. A few minutes later, Pogačar overshot a corner, fell – and the yellow jersey waited for him, sportingly. 

The pair shook hands in a beautiful moment. Hostilities resumed on the climb to Hautacam, where Vingegaard removed any doubt. He all but won the Tour by attacking and putting over a minute into his adversary for his second stage victory.

The French were facing a first Tour de France without a stage win in their home race until Christophe Laporte saved their blushes with an opportunistic triumph in Cahors.

He took advantage of a moment’s hesitation in the final kilometer to jump to the dying breakaway leaders. Then, he accelerated again on a rise 400 meters for the finish for solo glory.

Just desserts for the classy Jumbo-Visma domestique, who had given everything for Vingegaard and Van Aert during the race.

We thought Wout van Aert had exhausted superlatives, not to mention himself, during a race where he was regularly on the attack, chased hard for Jonas Vingegaard and won bunch sprints.

He had one more arrow left in his quiver for the 40.7km time trial to Lacapelle-Marival and Rocamadour. He set the fastest time, beating world champion Filippo Ganna no less, and resigned flying teammate Vingegaard to second place.

Win number six of the race for Jumbo-Visma and tears at the finish line for cycling’s Mr. Versatility.

The stars of the GC

It was a poetic conclusion in Paris, a Dane taking victory after a race that started in Copenhagen. Jonas Vingegaard was coolness personified, showing his mental and physical strength. He also had the King of the Mountains jersey to enjoy, proof of his pedigree as the race’s best climber.

Pogačar and Geraint Thomas joined him on the final podium in second and third. The 36-year-old Ineos Grenadier put in a classy performance, showing his experience as he judged his effort to perfection. From one of the lowest points of his career last year to revitalising his GC hopes. Never discount a Tour champion.

There was French joy too, as David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) fought his way to fourth place, the home nation’s highest finish since 2017. 

Meanwhile, Aleksandr Vlasov of Bora-hansgrohe and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) could be satisfied with fifth and sixth overall after setbacks earlier in their season.

It was a topsy-turvy race for Romain Bardet (Team DSM), who had been on the cusp of the podium before being affected by the scorching heat in the Pyrenees. Eighth place was no shame for a man who showed his love of attacking racing and whose preparation was affected by Giro d’Italia illness.

Related stories:

Science of Speed

For Those Who Never Compromise: Shimano DURA‑ACE R9200

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