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I’ve been a massive Tour de France fan ever since I was a kid. Recently, I’ve been investigating the types of bikes they use for this race. How heavy are Tour de France bikes?
The Tour de France bike weight has a minimum limit of 6.8kg, with no upper threshold. The maximum weight of these bikes can go up to 8-9 kg, and even closer to 10kg in some cases.
Tour de France bikes are built to be reasonably lightweight, streamlined, and built for speed.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you want to know about the required bike specifications, and also the most popular Tour de France bikes and their weights that are being used today.
Tour de France Bike Weight
In 2021, all bikes used in the Tour de France were made from carbon fiber. This includes their frames, wheels, and a majority of their components, like handlebars and seat posts.
This helps keep the bikes below the minimum weight limit of 6.8kg imposed by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale).
Factors such as aerodynamics, rolling resistance, friction, and weight play a crucial role in the speed of a bike. Therefore, they want their bikes as light as possible as lower weights imply faster and more agile cycling.
UCI introduced the minimum weight limit rule in 2000.
They did it to ensure that manufacturers didn’t risk the safety of cyclists for the lightest bike possible. Though there have been debates over it throughout the years, UCI remains steadfast over this limit.
However, according to the rule book, there is no upper limit for the weight of a Tour de France bike. But, it wouldn’t be of much help even if there was, as stated earlier, heavier bikes are slower. Kind of a no-brainer, right?
Lighter bikes are preferred as they have the advantage of quicker accelerations and being easier to handle.
This way, teams can get their bikes down to the 6.8kg limit while offering leniency of about 100 grams or so for variations between their scales and the UCI’s.
Furthermore, accomplishing this task was made harder due to the disc braking systems and the introduction of aerodynamic tube shapes. These features have yielded slightly heavier and more robust frames. However, the weight of these bikes only varies from 6.8kg to around 7.2kg.
Similarly, time trials bikes have deep tube shapes, rear disc wheels, and deep-section front wheels. It is common for them to be relatively bulky at around 8-9kg, with the heaviest bikes topping out at 10kg.
The Tour de France is renowned for its developments, both in technology and also sports science. (Source)
The heftier bikes peak at around 8kg. Therefore, they use these bikes as aero bikes on flatter tracks. Since there are no slopes, weight is not much of an issue.
Due to this minimum weight limit, manufacturers don’t try to create dangerously light bikes. Instead, they try to focus on other areas of improvement. As a result, various debates have sparked between manufacturers, such as rims vs. disc brakes, inner tubes vs. tubeless tires, and more.
Rim Brakes vs Disc Brakes
Arguably, the most crucial part of a bike is its brakes. A common debate has spun up over the years as to which brake is the most ideal.
Disc brakes are well-known for mountain biking.
But, in recent years, they have become favored for road biking as well. At the start of the 2021 season, practically all of the top teams except for one used disc brakes.
Many teams feel committed to the technology of these brakes, leaving only a few teams still in favor of rim brakes.
Teams like Ineous Grenadiers, who are the sole representatives of the #savetherimbrake movement, have attempted to change this. However, the reality is that disc brakes are slowly taking over.
Though many riders have voiced their opinions on this matter, it is still highly likely that the whole peloton will soon stop using rim brakes.
Tubular VS. Clincher VS. Tubeless
Advancements in tires technology became mainstream during last year’s delayed Tour de France. During this time, specialized sponsored teams Deceuninck-QuickStep and Bora Hansgrohe surprisingly chose clincher tires fitted with inner tubes for their bikes.
Over the years, tubular tires have been every manufacturer’s go-to choice. That is because manufacturers glue tubular tires to the rim, which means that they stay on the bike even when it punctures. Ideally, this would allow the rider to continue riding until the wheel or the bike changes.
However, as time passed, tubeless tires adapted to the changes and have experienced an increase in popularity. Using tubeless tires implies that riders don’t have to stop in case of a puncture.
They can automatically repair any punctures, leaving the inner tube to last a long time.
Though Deceuninck-QuickStep and their wheel sponsor Roval may have deemed clincher tires as the best option, when considering tires technology, rim design, and interface, it is understandably not a widely accepted opinion.
The future of tires technology is uncertain, and no one knows for sure which tires the competitors prefer in the upcoming race.
The New Bikes at the Tour de France
Being the biggest bike race in the world, the Tour de France serves as a global veritable shop window for cycling brands and team sponsors. As an added benefit, racing would also serve as a testbed for the durability of new tech tested by these brands.
Resultantly, I’ll help keep a detailed review of the new models, technology, or prototype bikes from each brand to ensure you’re up-to-date with the latest news.
New Dura-Ace
An example of a new technological piece released is the new Dura-Ace groupset by Shimano.
The people expect it to be called Dura-Ace R9200, and the groupset was spotted on bikes of the Team DSM’s riders at Baloise Belgium Tour. I predict it to be widely adopted soon at the Tour de France.
New Bikes
As stated earlier, since renowned manufacturers use the Tour de France as a shop window for potential buyers, the best new releases would be the bikes. Just last year, two brands, Factor and Canyon, used the race to test their respective early bike releases, and people expect it to be no different this year.
Upon a glance, the most anticipated bike is the new Pinarello Dogma.
We expect the Pinarello-sponsored Ineos Grenadiers to ride the Pinarello. But, there are plenty of other models to be released. For example, we spotted the new Factory Slick in the Giro d’Italia and the new Trek Speed Concept at the Criterium du Dauphine.
In addition to the summer blossoming a whole array of new bikes, there have also been announcements for new wheel launches. Carbon wheels help to lighten bikes significantly and add strength and stability.
The following are descriptions of the teams competing in the Tour de France and their respective bikes and technology:
AG2R Citroen Team
Road bikes: BMC Team Machine SLR01
Weight: 6.8kg
Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record EPS
Time trial Bikes: BMC Warp TT
Wheels: Campagnolo
Clothing: Rosti
Saddles: Fizik
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: BMC
Astana- Premier Tech
Road bikes: Wilier Zero SLR, Wilier Filante
Weight: 7.02kg
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Wilier Turbine TT
Wheels: Corima
Clothing: Giordana
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: Willier
Alpecin-Fenix
Road bikes: Canyon Aeroad, Canyon Ultimate
Weight: 7.26kg
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time Trial Bikes: Canyon Speedmax
Wheels: Shimano (Aerocoach and Princeton Carbon Works as non-sponsor additions)
Clothing: Kalas Sportswear
Saddles: Fizik
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: Canyon
Arkea Samsic
Road bikes: Canyon Aeroad, Canyon Ultimate
Weight: 7.25kg
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Canyon Speedmax
Wheels: Shimano
Clothing Craft
Saddles: Selle Italia
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: Canyon
B&B Hotels p/b KTM
Road bikes: KTM Revelator Lisse, KTM Revelator Alto
Weight: 9.3kg
Groupsets: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: KTM Solus
Wheels: DT Swiss
Clothing: Gobik
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: Bryton
Finishing Kit: FSA
Bora-Hansgrohe
Road bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Specialized S-Works Shiv
Wheels: Roval
Clothing: Sportful
Saddles: Specialized
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: PRO, Specialized
Bahrain Victorious
Road bikes: Merida Reacto, Merida Scultura
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Merida Warp TT
Wheels: Vision
Clothing: Ale
Saddles: Prologo
Finishing Kit: FSA, Vision, Prologo
Cofidis
Road bikes: De Rosa Merak, De Rosa Pininfarina SK
Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record EPS
Time trial bikes: De Rosa TT-03
Wheels: Fulcrum
Clothing: Nalini
Saddlers: Selle Italia
Computer: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: Errea
Deceuninck-QuickStep
Road bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7, Specialized Aethos
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Specialized S-Works Shiv
Wheels: Roval
Clothing: Vermarc
Saddles: Specialized
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: PRO, Specialized
EF Education-Nippo
Road bikes: Cannondale SuperSix Evo, Cannondale System Six
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Cannondale SuperSlice
Wheels: Vision
Clothing: Rapha
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: FSA, Vision
Groupama-FDJ
Road bikes: Lapierre Aircode DRS, Lapierre Xelius SL
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Lapierre Aerostorm DRS
Wheels: Shimano
Clothing: Ale
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: PRO
Ineos Grenadiers
Road bikes: Pinarello Dogma F12 rim
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 rim
Time trial bikes: Pinarello Bolide TT
Wheels: Shimano; Lightweight, Princeton Carbonworks, and Aerocoach are non-sponsored additions
Clothing: Castelli
Saddles: Fizik
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: MOST
Israel Start-Up Nation
Road bikes: Factor OSTRO V. A. M
Time trial bikes: Factor Slick
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Wheels: Black Inc; Lightweight as a non-sponsor addition
Clothing: Jinga
Saddles: Selle Italia
Computers: Hammerhead
Finishing Kit: Black Inc
Intermarche-Wanty Gobert
Road bikes: Cube Litening C: 68X
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Cube Aerium C: 68 TT
Wheels: Newmen
Clothing: Santic, NoPinz
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: Bryton
Finishing Kit: Cube
Jumbo-Visma
Road bikes: Cervelo R5, Cervelo S5, Cervelo Caledonia
Time trial bikes: Cervelo P5
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Wheels: Shimano; Vision and Aerocoach are non-sponsor additions
Clothing: Agu
Saddles: Fizik
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: FSA
Lotto Soudal
Road bikes: Ridley Helium, Ridley Noah Fast
Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record EPS, C-Bear ceramic bearings
Time trial bikes: Ridley Dean TT
Wheels: Campagnolo
Clothing: Vermarc
Saddles: Selle Italia
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: Deda
Movistar Team
Road bikes: Canyon Ultimate, Canyon Aeroad
Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS
Time trial bikes: Canyon Speedmax
Wheels: Zipp
Clothing: Ale
Saddles: Fizik
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: Canyon
Qhubeka Assos
Road bikes: BMC Teammachine SLR, BMC Timemachine Road
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc, Rotor crankset
Time trial bikes: BMC Timemachine
Wheels: Hunt
Clothing: Assos
Saddles: Selle Italia
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: BMC
Team Bike Exchange
Road bikes: Bianchi Specialissima, Bianchi Oltre XR4
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Bianchi Aquila TT
Wheels: Shimano, Vision
Clothing: Giordana
Saddles: Fizik
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: FSA, Vision
Team DSM
Road bikes: Scott Addict RC, Scott Foil RC
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Scott Plasma
Wheels: Shimano
Clothing: Keeping Challenging; Team’s brand
Saddles: PRO
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: Syncros
Trek-Segafredo
Road bikes: Trek Madone, Trek Emonda
Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS
Time trial bikes: Trek Speed Concept
Wheels: Bontrager
Clothing: Santini
Saddles: Bontrager
Computers: Wahoo
Finishing Kit: Bontrager
Total Direct Energie
Road bikes: Wilier Cento10Air Wilier Zero SLR
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
Time trial bikes: Wilier Turbine
Wheels: Ursus
Clothing: Nalini
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: Garmin
Finishing Kit: Willier
UAE Team Emirates (Winning Team 2021 Tour de France)
Road bikes: Colnago V3Rs, Colnago Concept, Colnago C64
Groupset: Campagnolo Super Record EPS
Time trial bikes: Colnago K-One
Wheels: Campagnolo
Clothing: Gobik
Saddles: Prologo
Computers: SRM
Finishing Kit: Deda
Final thoughts
For me, watching the Tour De France is as much about the amazing technology exemplified in the bikes as it is about the racing. Can you picture yourself on one these dream machines?