\nBut as many riders will tell you, the Tour de France is the Tour de France. It’s the biggest race in the world. So every team spends a significant amount of extra energy ensuring every bike is dialled, with the latest and greatest components at their disposal, and every marginal gain eked out of their setups.<\/p>\n
For this reason, it’s still a hotbed of tech and an absolute must-see for tech-savvy cyclists around the world.<\/p>\n
And also, occasionally, the biggest bike brand in the world throws everyone a curveball and brings a brand new time trial bike to the race, hides it in the back of a van, and the mechanic forgets to shut the door.<\/p>\n
If you follow us on social media, you’ll be aware that Tom and I have been on the ground in Barcelona in the lead-up to the race, and we’ve been bouncing from team hotel to team hotel, hunting down as much tech as we can find.<\/p>\n
This gallery will house the cream of the crop of what we’ve seen. Around 70 images of the coolest, nerdiest, hackiest tech we’ve seen. Grab a coffee, scroll down, and enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n
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\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThere are a couple of things going on here. Firstly, check out that additional strut that sits behind the head tube is an unusual frame design. Secondly, the plate that sits at the top of the base bar’s stem to hide the cables is sitting proud of the base bar itself. Hopefully the mechanics get round to fixing that before stage 1.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nLittle and large! TotalEnergies had two different handlebar options, and they couldn’t be more different.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThe front end of Remco Evenepoel’s new Specialized Tarmac SL9, with his Olympic champion gold colourway, looks really smart.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThe new Bianchi Specialissima is a smart-looking machine, and this dark green colourway was really subtle in certain light\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\u2026but it popped into this stunning shimmering flake in the sun.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nI also have a lot of time for Movistar’s new paint scheme. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n“Assemble Before Flight” \u2013 this is a nice touch on the DT Swiss disc wheels used by the Uno X team.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThis TGale TT saddle is a cool-looking thing, and it pops nicely in this photo against the yellow of the Visma Lease a Bike bus.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nVisma goes through the effort of adding a little 3D-printed bung into the hole on the back of the seatpost sliding rail. Presumably a marginal aero win.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nI also really like the addition of the component weight on this mono riser and TT extensions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nAnother thing I really like is the team’s newfound attention to detail, and this simple but neat method of improving aerodynamic performance. This bolt isn’t ideally placed, so the team has stuck a small circle of tape over it. It’s the perfect size to cover the hole with no unnecessary extra.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThe same can be found here, with the saddle clamp adjustment dial, which sits behind this well-shaped sticker. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThis one’s a little more arbitrary, with a simple strip of what I assume is electrical tape, but it’s enough to hide the hex bolts that hold this aero WolfTooth chain catcher in place.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nWe found the same on Poga\u010dar’s seatpost clamp bolt too; this is another very neat touch. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThe rear derailleur on Josh Tarling’s time trial bike had the hole in the rear mech arm taped over.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nTim Merlier went another route by snapping his off! Of course, this wasn’t intentional, and it was about to be replaced.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nAnd Filippo Ganna even had the chainring spider bolts taped, although the excess material here feels a little counterproductive.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nThis one at Cofidis was also a little counterproductive. Taping up the mount only to then bolt another one to the underside. This is presumably because the original position made it hard to quickly glance down and see when the rider’s hands were in position.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nTotalEnergies was getting in on the tape-over-holes action too. This is over the top tube bento box mount holes on their time trial bike.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nLikewise, Uno-X, whose time trial bike had this underneath the base bar.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nWhile we’re on Uno-X briefly, I had a lot of time for these low-profile bottle cage bolts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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(Image credit: Future)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nLikewise, this 3D-printed out-front mount is complete with Uno X branding incorporated into the design.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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