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On Tuesday, Specialized launched the new S-Works Tarmac SL9. The American brand says the latest version of its flagship race bike is faster where it matters most: getting riders to the finish line first.<\/p>\n
Rather than focusing on a just one aspect like weight or drag, the company said the SL9 was designed around what it calls \u201cTime to Finish\u201d\u2014a simulation that combines aerodynamics, weight, rolling resistance, rider power, terrain and environmental conditions to estimate how quickly a rider can complete a real race course.<\/p>\n
According to Specialized, the bike is four watts more aerodynamic than the previous Tarmac SL8 at 45 km\/h. It also has a claimed weight of 687 g. Complete builds start at 6.5 kg.<\/p>\n
Among the most noticeable design changes are a narrower head tube, redesigned fork, reshaped down tube and a new rear section which they call the \u201cWin Fin.\u201d Specialized said the latter was developed after studying breakaways in pro races, where riders typically carry a single water bottle instead of two, changing airflow around the frame.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also a new seatpost profile and updated cable routing. They are, of course, designed to reduce drag and make you go faster. But that also means they won\u2019t mess up handling or how the bike feels when you\u2019re riding. Specialized said the SL9 matches the stiffness and compliance targets of the outgoing SL8 despite its revised aerodynamic tube shapes.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n As far as proving this improved performance claims, Specialized did a nifty little simulation of the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes. According to the bike brand, the SL9 would have completed the route 14 seconds faster than the SL8 under identical conditions.<\/p>\n The S-Works Tarmac SL9 is expected to be raced by Specialized-sponsored WorldTour teams later this season.<\/p>\n To learn more head on over to Specialized.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n