FSA and sister brand Vision will debut a selection of new time trial tech at the stage one time trial of the 2022 Tour de France.
A new monstrously-large 64-tooth full-carbon FSA chainring sits alongside a new 91mm front wheel and an updated disc wheel from Vision.
The components will be used by FSA’s five sponsored teams at this year’s Tour – EF Education-Easypost, Team Bahrain-Victorius, Team Jumbo-Visma, Team Confidis and Pro-Continental B&B Hotels p/b KTM.
Pricing and availability is to be confirmed.
Full Carbon 64t chainring
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The 2022 Tour de France kicks off with a 13.2km time trial around Copenhagen. Featuring essentially no climbing, we expect speeds to be high on the opening stage.
Such high speeds call for suitably large chainrings, though this 64-tooth monster has to be one of the largest ever used at a Grand Tour time trial (chainrings roughly in the 58 to 60t range are the norm).
Though larger chainrings do, of course, offer potentially greater top-end speed, increased drivetrain efficiency is the primary draw of platter-sized chainrings.
A chain has to articulate less around a larger chainring, which can increase efficiency.
A larger chainring also allows riders to spend more time in the middle of the cassette, where the chainline is best – and thus, efficiency greatest.
Constructed from an unspecified “special composite material” that is said to be borrowed from Formula 1 technology, the chainring is claimed to weigh 219g.
The chainring is 1x-specific and dedicated to 12-speed drivetrains.
Vision Metron 91 front wheel
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Team Bahrain-Victorius and EF Education-Easypost will use the new 91mm-deep Vision Metron TT front wheel at this year’s race.
Claimed to weigh 938g, the wheel features a 21mm-wide (internal) rim and is optimised to be run with 28c tyres.
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The rim is laced with 21 aero spokes that are said to have been developed specifically for this wheelset. These attach to a PRS hub that rolls on ceramic bearings.
Vision claims the wheelset “can be 15.18 seconds faster than other competitors in a 40km time trial”.
Vision Metron TFW disc wheel
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Vision has also updated its Metron TFW disc wheel, with the new model dropping a claimed 50g, bringing weight down to 930g. The previous-generation wheel was raced by EF Education-Easypost (or Team EF Education-Nippo as it was known then) in 2021.
The Metron TFW is tubeless-compatible and rolls on a row of six steel bearings. A tubular and clincher wheel also appears to be available. It is compatible with either rim or disc brakes and costs $4,410, according to the Vision website.
The wheel is also claimed to be finished in an ultralight paint that weighs only 4g. Furthermore, Vision claims this finish “improves aerodynamics”.
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Specially branded wheels will be used by EF Education-Easypost as part of its collaboration with Palace and Rapha.