{"id":781962,"date":"2026-07-05T14:50:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T14:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/781962\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T14:50:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T14:50:07","slug":"cooling-hacks-prototype-bikes-and-new-tt-groupset-parts-tour-de-france-ttt-tech-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/781962\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooling hacks, prototype bikes and new TT groupset parts: Tour de France TTT tech gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"

The heat haze shimmered, and sand clouds blew as the unrelenting Barcelona sun beamed down on the Tour’s opening stage start zone.<\/p>\n

The team time trial in the heart of Barcelona started on the seafront, and the team buses all arrived very early in the morning to secure the spot they wanted. A 6:30am departure from their hotel secured Netcompany Ineos a win in the first race of the day.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Cyclingnews tech duo on the ground at the race spent a day in the heat, touring the pits before migrating to the warm-up area behind the start ramp, as the teams assembled for their departures.<\/p>\n

This meant we got to experience a conveyor belt experience of the WorldTour’s tech, including aero equipment, cooling strategies, UCI checks, and last-minute tweaks and changes.<\/p>\n

There are some cool bits of tech in here: custom skinsuits, new time trial helmets, arm cooling baths and much more.<\/p>\n

As ever, this is a big gallery with 60+ images, so grab a coffee and settle in.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

After being refused entry at Ineos, we kicked off properly with a visit to Visma, where the team were happy to let us tour their pit; Vingegaard\u2019s bike had this extra-tidy carbon-fibre computer mount. Probably the neatest we saw on the day. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Slightly less dialled was this Movistar shifter wiring; this wasn\u2019t the cleanest setup on show, and exposed wires can still be seen on some bikes. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Cofidis teams’ Look time trial bikes had some new Campagnolo Super Record time trial equipment fitted, new 1x chainrings, and TT-specific shifters. This was a 64-tooth ring. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Specialized\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Josh Croxton)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the prototype Specialized Shiv that was on the race; there were a couple of bikes for Evenepoel: one black, one painted in a kind of black-and-white camo. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

A very neat sticker covering the pedal axle and, in theory, providing a tiny gain on this Uno-X Ridley; nice work. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

We snapped the Lidl-Trek pit before things got crazy. Note the double row of Kickr Headwind fans and misting fans with water bottle feeds to keep the riders comfortable.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always nice to see the mighty Campagnolo Boras at a race, especially in a deep-section version. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Not all teams fit their TT bikes with the same handlebars, but each of Lotto-Intermarche’s Orbea bikes had these neat Speedbars installed; note the different ends of the extensions. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Who doesn\u2019t love a rack full of matte black, aggressive-looking time trial bikes? Lotto-Intermarche has gone with Miche 1x chainrings for their Shimano cranks; the great Shimano 1X chainring search continues. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This was a spare Ineos time trial bike; note the modular extension risers, as opposed to a one-piece unit, and electrical tape over what looks like some bolt holes too. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

We managed to get close up with the Ineos race bikes later on though, and noticed a couple were running SRM Cybrei carbon cranks with the SRM PM9 power meter unit. The claimed weight for a 170mm version is 340 grams. You’re looking at about \u20ac2,100 for these, not including the aero chainring. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The non-drive-side crankset hole was taped over to smooth airflow.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s still some Ultegra in the race; Caja Rujal had an interesting mix of components on its bikes: Ultegra mechs with bling KMC chains. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This tape was starting to flap on the extension shifters. I hope the team corrected it before the race start. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Movistar bikes had these towelling-style pads velcro’d into their extensions. We initially assumed it was for sweat-wicking and grip when the going got hot, but when the riders arrived at the start ramp, the towels had been doused in icy water to help cool the riders’ arms.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This was an interesting setup: a raceware computer mount, with what looks like some kind of heatshrink over the shifters. The computer certainly sat a little prouder than some other teams’. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Tom Pidcock had a custom black and gold Pinarello TT machine. This was his handlebar with what looked like some kind of 3d printed arm pads on the upper extensions. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This clock was set up at Jayco Alula, showing 39.4 degrees Celsius and 30% humidity. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Several teams had these fans that misted water; the cooling game is constantly evolving. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Orbea Ordu has a modular-looking front end; spot the flat head screws on the upper base bar riser.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This is some of the new Campagnolo Super Record time trial equipment: the shifter pods sit against the brake lever units, and admittedly do look a little bulky. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This mono base bar riser over at Jayco Alula wasn\u2019t one piece. Some teams taped these riser blocks up, but these were left. The computer mount is nice and recessed here; it\u2019s neater than some teams’ setups. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

We saw a lot of Wattshop handlebars, the company owned by Dan Bigham. The satellite shifters are very neatly integrated here.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another look at the Campagnolo time trial brake levers. This handlebar had a few wraps of bar tape, not grip tape fitted.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The latest Cube bikes look very aggressive. Total Energies were happy to roll one out for us to have a look at. They also use Carbon-Ti 1x chainrings on their Shimano cranks. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Groupama had these silvery Tri-bar extensions: these could be 3D-printed, given the colour and finish.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Ben O\u2019Connor had this Dash saddle fitted to his matte-black time-trial bike; it is a very light, TT-specific model. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the front end of another team bike; the hand holds are bolted on at the very ends of the extensions, and a lot are personalised to each rider now. A bit of gel wrapper has been added into the computer mount too – a common fix for rattly or loose computers.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This Movistar disc wheel had a Zipp Tyrewiz pressure monitoring unit; on the front, there was just a regular valve. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Despite using wired shifters, the Caja Rural team had done a fairly good job of keeping it out of the wind.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

A similar solution was found here at XDS-Astana too.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Traditional bar tape on aero extensions isn’t a common sight these days, but we did find some over at Cofidis, with little holes cut into it for the Campagnolo shift buttons.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Lab 71 denotes Cannondale’s top-tier product line, and this bike certainly looked top-tier, although I might suggest they tidy up that seatpost dust cover. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The head tube of the Cube Aerium C:68 TT is unusual. It has a second strut behind the main head tube, presumably to add stiffness, or perhaps to aid airflow off the head tube. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I really like that TotalEnergies have their logo etched into the K-Edge chain catcher – a nice touch.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Tudor BMC bikes looked dialled; these handlebars are the Wattshop ones that are used by a lot of teams. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I was drawn to this \u2018aero fin\u2019 on Marco Haller\u2019s BMC Timemachine Mpc; there are so many cool things to look at on that bike. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Groupama Wilier Supersonicas have a lot of Miche components fitted, including the tri-spoke and colour-coded aero chainrings. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Alpecin were keeping their bikes under wraps. They had these bikes out for warming up, but they raced on different ones. Van der Poel seemed to have some of the cleanest and most integrated bars on the team. The riders were all eating ice pops just before the start to cool off. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

A Super Record 1x chainring is just cool to see; Shimano now stands alone as the last main groupset manufacturer without a big 1x aero ring.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not pretty, but it worked: grip tape and zip ties to keep the satellite shifters in place for this bike. I hope the mechanics cut the ends nice and flush.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I liked these neat base bar grips over at Lotto; they were some of the best-looking and fitting I saw. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

An inner tube and neat anti-valve rattle patch on one of the Caja Rujal wheels; the inner tube is alive and well. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Healy\u2019s cockpit was looking pretty dialled, though the front end wasn\u2019t the cleanest of the bikes we saw. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Ineos had smoothed over their thru axles with tape on the race TT bikes; I didn\u2019t see this from many other teams. I doubt mechanics will have been stopping to change wheels mid-race; it would have been a full bike swap. That\u2019s also a new tri-spoke wheel from Scope that was recently released. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Total Energies Cube bars looked very neat and slick; note the one-piece extensions and lack of individual spacers.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Pidcock had a special black and gold time trial bike that was different from the rest of his squad; Olympic Champion Evenepoel won\u2019t be happy. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another shot of Pidcock\u2019s handlebars. It looks like the 3D-printed pads used in some helmets now. Perhaps Abus hooked him up.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

A fun sticker for De Lie: \u2018The bull of Lescheret\u2019\n<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Caja Rujal also use Bikone components and bottom brackets, the same as Team UAE; this isn\u2019t the \u2018aero\u2019 bottom bracket Poga\u010dar uses, though; this one has quite large splines. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Even more electrical tape over the squad’s riser spacers to neaten things up. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

These carbon extensions at Movistar looked neat, but the angle of the bottom riser spacer caught my eye when I saw a gap. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

At first I thought this was a problem, but I believe it\u2019s set up deliberately to achieve the desired handlebar angle. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the inside of that Campagnolo TT shifter again; it\u2019s a little on the chunky side, but look to offer multiple shift options for 1x configurations. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Stockings filled with ice cubes were utilised by lots of teams; and since they were banned by the UCI, they littered the start area floor once squads rolled out. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Poga\u010dar arrived at the warm-up area behind the start ramp in an ice vest, but also in a new helmet from his sponsor MET, and I’m reliably informed he’s in a new skinsuit too. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

It’s not the first time we’ve seen the helmet, but it’s yet to be released by the Italian brand. Interestingly, as he warmed up here, he had an ice sock compressed between his wrists – an efficient area to cool since the veins sit so close to the skin.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Nils Politt had chalk paste on his hands, presumably to help grip when the going got sweaty. He’s not the only one…<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Filippo Ganna and Josh Tarling used it too, but since they applied it to wet hands (see below for why), they needed to use the nearby fan to dry it off. Also notable in this image is their differing skinsuit fabrics.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This helmet also caught our eyes for obvious reasons! It’s the new Ultimate Race X from Uvex. The Cofidis rider hadn’t yet put the visor on properly, but since this was around 10 minutes before their start, we’ll let him off. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I’m told that Evenepoel was also in a new skinsuit. Notice here how the trip strips in the fabric are more closely spaced than those of his teammate next to him. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Victor Campenaerts took the ‘pour water over your head’ approach to staying cool, but he was also wearing a cut-off pair of aero arm sleeves which were soaking wet. He removed them before the race, though.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The UAE Team Emirates squad all wore these Pissei-branded overshoes, which look really well-fitted to this rider’s feet.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I really liked how these Q36.5 overshoes shimmered in the sunlight.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Here’s another view: the white fabric is stretched so thin that it’s almost become see-through<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

While most overshoes’ trip strips run vertically, those on Paul Seixas’s Swissside overshoes ran the opposite way. If you look closely, you can see that he also has socks underneath that do the same. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

At Tudor, there was a mix. On the left, a smoother but double-layered fabric, and on the right, a more traditional vertical trip design.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The Visma-Lease a Bike team also used double-layered overshoes, branded up with Nike and Nimbl. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

I really liked the design of this Total Energies skinsuit too, with the trip strips forming a V shape behind the helmet. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Five members of the Netcompany Ineos staff rocked up at the start with a trolley cart full of gear, and proceeded to unfurl these folding tables and place these tubs on top. Everyone watching on was confused. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

They were subsequently filled with cold water, and all of the riders sat for a few minutes with their arms submerged before they set off to race. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The temperature was measured here at 8.8\u00b0C, but I expect the target was more of a broad range. <\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Ganna and Tarling had a brief chat, but mostly sat in silence. Interestingly you can see here that the two riders were using different visors on their Kask helmets<\/p>\n

\n

\"Tech\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Ganna looked super focussed thoughout his time in the start area, and he very nearly delivered his team the yellow jersey come the finish, losing just eight seconds to Jonas Vingegaard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The heat haze shimmered, and sand clouds blew as the unrelenting Barcelona sun beamed down on the Tour’s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":781963,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":["post-781962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=781962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/781962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/781963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=781962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=781962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=781962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}