C’est un moment que les cyclistes du monde entier attendent avec impatience. Pour la première fois depuis le début de la pandémie, le Tour de France revient dans sa période régulière.
(c) Jacques Azam
The best-looking bikes of the 2021 Tour de France
It's a moment that cyclists around the world have been looking forward to. For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the Tour de France returns in full force. Let's remember that the 2020 Edition had been postponed until fall because of COVID-19. The Tour is the opportunity for the best racers in the world to compete for the prestigious yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysées after 3400km of racing spread over 21 stages. It is also an opportunity for the manufacturers to showcase their bikes in all their glory and their latest technologies. For the occasion, we’re featuring our favorites models displayed on the Tour.
1. Julian Alaphilippe’s S-Work Tarmac SL7
For a world champion of Julian Alaphilippe's stature, you need a proper bike, and Specialized went all out. The new S-Work Tarmac SL7 was carefully painted to include all the colors or the rainbow that make up the world champion jersey. It is also equipped with a Dura-Ace 9000 Di2 groupset that will propel the rider at full speed towards the Champs Elysées. Both wheels and tires had already made the headline back in August: During the second stage of the 2020 Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe became the first rider to win a stage on clincher tires. Not wanting to change a winning recipe, the world champion keeps this same combination made up of Roval Rapide CLX wheels and Turbo Cotton tires.
2. Ineos Grenadiers’ Pinarello Dogma
Fans of the Italian brand have been waiting for it for some time now. Indeed, this new Dogma will have the opportunity to shine during the Tour de France, as well as the Tokyo Olympic Games that will take place on July 23rd. Simply named F (to avoid a certain unlucky number), it is the concept of balance that is put forward by Pinarello. We are talking about the most versatile bike in the peloton according to the manufacturer. Not only does it weight 216g less, but its main bending points are also 12% more rigid and 4.8% more aerodynamic than the F12. Also, Pinarrello offers the team to race with the brake system they prefer; both rim and disc brakes has been seen used throughout the Tour. Given the versatility of the Dogma F, it should come as no surprise that Ineos riders will be collecting points for both the polka dot and green jerseys.
Pinnarello lovers will also be very happy to learn that with the release of the Dogma F, the F12 models are offered at a 15% discount, a first for the Italian manufacturer!
3. AG2R Citroën’s BMC Teammachine
After several years of searching for the perfect bike, the veteran team —which got a facelift this year —AG2R opted for the BMC Teammachine SLR01. The frame is unmistakable, has its bear the team’s colors: a stripe of bright red on an immaculate white. No more is the brown hues we’ve come to associated to AG2R. A good or a bad thing? We'll let you decide! As for the components, it is the venerable and authentic Campagnolo Super Record groupset that will be used by the racers. In this regard, some use the mechanical groupset while others prefer its electronic counterpart. In short, a bike that breathes newness without putting aside the AG2R heritage.
4. TeamBike Exchange’s Bianchi Oltre XR4 Disc
Once again this year, the famous Italian brand does not compromise on the design of the bikes that will be ridden by the Team BikeExchange. Its emblematic “celeste” stays in the spotlight, in part thanks to the addition of an oblique stripe of darker hue that will surely turns head. The Shimano Dura-Ace disc groupset will keep riders moving at full speed on the downhill corners. In this regard, keen observers will have noticed a black sticker on the rear derailleurs, hiding the group's sign. Rumors suggest a new visual for the Dura-Ace groupset, which has been untouched for several years.
BONUS: Specialized Aethos – Sagan Disruption Collection
First introduced in 2020, this limited edition of the Aethos was unveiled by Specialized on June 26 during the first stage of the Tour. Inspired by everyone’s favorite Slovakian rider, it will undoubtedly be in the heart of the peloton for the mountain stages. The Aethos, with its ultra-light design and reinforced tubes, is the perfect bike for climbing. It's precisely these features that will allow Peter Sagan to get over the bumps effortlessly, even though they have often been an obstacle in recent editions of the Tour.
The information below is required for social login