Way back in the 2022 Tour de France’s opening time trial, the Trek-Segafredo team had their hopes of a glorious yellow jersey pinned to former World Champion Mads Pedersen. By limiting his losses to the big favourites, there would always be the chance of taking the yellow jersey on home roads in Denmark. Sadly, he just missed out, but his Trek-Segafredo team backed him up with good performances by Bauke Mollema and Tom Skujiņš, in 9th and 29th places respectively.
With the Tour’s potentially critical final time trial looming, we’re taking a look at Skujiņš’s Trek Speed Concept bike, to see its drag-cheating design up close.
The third generation Speed Concept builds on the success of its predecessors with more integration, refined aerodynamics, and in its triathlon version, additional seated comfort from an IsoSpeed-enhanced seatpost/seat tube junction.
Time trial bikes are all about efficiency, both aerodynamically and dynamically, and the Speed Concept follows modern convention by keeping the integrated base ‘bar and stem horizontally level with the top tube. Shaped to blend in with the head tube, its recessed design also creates a smoother internal route for any hidden brake hoses and gear cables.
Instead of altering the height of the base bar, time trial extensions often perch on tall support towers, in order to perfect each individual rider’s most effective position. The extensions used by Skujiņš and the Trek-Segafredo team are customised to suit, and include their preferred satellite gear shifting setup.
The brake levers are SRAM S-900, with SRAM Blip shifters on the base bar and SRAM Clic shifters on the extensions.
Skujiņš rides Bontrager’s Hilo Pro Carbon time trial and triathlon saddle. Designed with a full-length split channel, the Hilo Pro has oversized carbon rails, and dual-layer foam padding to help riders hold an aero tuck with more comfort for longer. The saddle’s shell is also designed to flex, minimising vibration, and the cover has anti-slip features.
Taking aerodynamics to the limit, Skujiņš’ time trial bike even has a small piece of tape covering the leading edge of the integrated seatpost clamp…
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