An extra gear, questions over frame compatibility, and likely a new freehub.
It’s no big secret that component manufacturers are always working on the next new thing. Like new phone releases, you used to be able to set your watch to new groupset releases. However, Shimano hasn’t offered that frequency in a while.
It’s been five years since we had the release of the current Dura-Ace R9200 generation, and whispers of a new Dura-Ace R9300 groupset have already been circling for a couple of years. Shimano themselves added fuel to the rumour fire with the recent release of the new Dura-Ace R9300 wheels, and multiple sightings of what’s assumed to be a matching generation of new pedal.
And yet, all our sources in the know have been telling us that new groupsets aren’t happening this year. So fancy our surprise when we got a tip-off that new Dura-Ace components may break cover at the Vuelta a España.
Let’s talk about what was captured outside the team bus prior to Stage 1.
What the photos tell
The sighting reveals, or at least confirms, a few things many have already assumed for the next generation of Shimano’s flagship group. Namely, it’s 13-speed, and there’s still a version with a front derailleur.
The unexpected parts are the wires still connecting the derailleurs to what’s likely a central battery – just like current R9200/R8100/R7100 groupsets. Those aware of Shimano’s move to wireless shifting in mountain biking would have rightfully expected similar for the road, but it’s clear that the far smaller form factor of the photographed derailleur doesn’t allow space for onboard batteries.
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Wires, a new hanger, 13-speed. A photo tells plenty.
While what we see here could be an early prototype, the continued use of Shimano’s semi-wireless system (wireless shifters, wired derailleurs) aligns to rumours we’d previously heard.
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