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It might seem a long time ago now, but think back to Barcelona two weeks ago and the team time trial that kicked off this Tour de France.
As per usual, I got a little camera-happy in the team paddock and took far too many photos to sort through. Finally, on the eve of the stage 16 time trial, that work is done. While there are still plenty more photos and tech to weave into galleries over the coming days with whatever comes up as I roam the start village tomorrow, here's a selection of team time trial tech to get your juices flowing ahead of tomorrow's individual test around Lake Geneva.
Alpecin-Premier Tech had this new unbranded but clearly Shimano front wheel (and discs obscured from view by the Wahoo Kickr). The rim looks approximately 100 mm deep with a wider, rounder profile.Dura-Ace hubs and carbon spokes. Alpecin riders are on Pirelli's new P Zero Race TLR SL-R, which features the Italian brand's new patent-pending PAAS (Pirelli Advanced Aerodynamic System), which sifts the widest point of the tyre closer to the rim so it blends more seamlessly into the rim. It certainly makes for a more aero-looking solution on some rims.Mathieu van der Poel is a Zwift ambassador, and that relationship was evident in the Alpecin warm-up area, where every trainer was fitted with the Zwift Cog. The single-sprocket cassette-replacing system makes for easier swaps of bikes with different drivetrains without adjusting indexing. That's not an issue for WorldTour teams where every rider runs the same drivetrain, but perhaps it makes for quicker and easier setup. Van der Poel himself wasn't running the new Shimano wheel, instead opting for this unbranded Scope Artech 8.T. Alpecin used to run Aerocoach Aeox Titan front wheels, and still keeps at least one around, as seen here in the boot of a team car. Netcompany-Ineos was also running Scope Artech 8.Ts, but only on their spare bikes.
