This year’s edition of Paris-Nice gave us a predictable winner in Tadej Pogačar. The UAE Team Emirates leader looked imperious during the annual race to the sun, demonstrating the kind of form he’ll need if he’s to wrest back control of the Tour de France yellow jersey come July.
We were on hand not only to see Pogačar clinch the title in style but also to snoop around ahead of the start to see if we could spot any interesting pieces of tech. Here’s what we found…
Extreme Shift Shaping
(Image credit: Future)
While the latest UCI rules have placed restrictions of handlebar width, it didn’t specify any limits on the shifter positions. The result is that riders can still adopt a tucked in aero position as before, turning the hoods inwards to create the effect of narrowing the bars.
(Image credit: Future)
Intermarché – Circus – Wanty’s Taco van der Hoorn has long been a proponent of the extreme shifter angle and it was again on display at Paris-Nice – also note just how low the shifters are positioned on the bars, replicating the race bikes of old.
Pros don’t always jump straight on the latest bikes
(Image credit: Future)
Earlier this month the new Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4 line-up was revealed and included a Lab71 model that uses a new carbon lay up. It’s the US brand’s lightest yet, is UCI approved and will be used by its sponsored pro teams, including the WorldTour’s EF Education-EasyPost. But perhaps not quite yet.
The UCI frame sticker on this EF bike at Paris-Nice identifies it as a – previously range topping – HiMod model. And while the 40 gram weight saving of the new frame might sound as if it’d be advantageous to a weight conscious pro, the previous model in race guise could easily be built to just tickle the UCI’s 6.8kg lowest weight limit.
While featherweight frames are a key aspect of Cannondale’s new Lab71 halo project, bikes that will sit within it will also feature plenty of touches available to pros and ordinary riders with deep pockets – unique paint jobs and bespoke high end componentry set-ups for starters.
And quite clearly the ‘second tier’ bikes are still plenty fast enough – American Neilson Powless finished a creditable sixth overall.
No mounting tension for Soudal-Quickstep
(Image credit: Future)
Soudal-Quick Step’s Tim Declerq takes no risks with his computer, which is mounted to his Specialized Tarmac SL7 via a custom etched K-Edge unit with extra grip tape fitted within the mounting slot itself.
Safety first for Simon Yates
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