A new Giant TCX Advanced Pro with fully internal cable routing has been spotted being ridden by Elmar Reinders of Team Jayco-AlUla.
The TCX Advanced Pro is Giant’s cyclocross bike. The brake and gear cables on the current-generation bike run externally to the head tube and down tube, where they are then routed internally.
However, cables are hidden at the front end of Reinders’ bike.
The change to internal cable routing on the TCX would likely require a switch from the Overdrive 2 steerer tube. Its oversized headset bearings and a tapered, 1-1/2in to 1-1/4in steerer tube are designed to stiffen the steering, but leave little room for cables to pass through the headset.
We suspect Giant has moved to the Overdrive Aero D-shaped steerer tube, which enables cables to be integrated on the new Defy Advanced Pro endurance road bike and Propel Advanced Pro aero bike.
The TCR could be the next Giant road bike in line to receive this system, which sees brake hoses routed internally through the handlebar, under the stem and in front of the steerer into the head tube.
While the Defy and Propel bikes use the Contact SLR Aerolight stem, Reinders’ bike looks to be specced with the more curved Cadex Race Stem.
Though it’s not easy to make out, the gently flattened tops of the handlebar resemble the Giant Contact SLR road bars.
Given Reinders is only dabbling on the cyclocross bike during the road cycling off-season, it’s not surprising he’s not using a gravel bike handlebar from Cadex, Giant’s in-house component brand.
Internal cable routing aside, there are few obvious differences between the current TCX and what could be a prototype.
At a pinch, the seatstays appear less dropped on the new bike and the top tube / head tube junction looks beefier, perhaps to make room for the new steerer and integrated cables, or to stiffen the front end for improved handling.
Reinders says he is running Cadex AR 35 wheels wrapped in 40c Cadex AR tubeless gravel tyres.
The space between the tyres and the frame looks consistent with the current TCX’s 45mm tyre clearance.
According to Reinders’ Instagram post, his custom TCX Advanced Pro is specced with 11-speed Shimano GRX Di2.
This semi-wireless electronic groupset is missing from the 2024 TCX range. The two highest-spec models come with SRAM Force eTap AXS and Rival eTap AXS respectively.
But Giant specs Shimano GRX Di2 on the Revolt Advanced Pro O, which uses semi-external cable routing like the current TCX.
So the rationale behind the changes doesn’t appear to be to accommodate Shimano’s electronic groupset.
Competitors to the TCX in the cyclocross market, such as the Canyon Inflite CFR and Pinarello Crossista F, have recently adopted integrated cables.
So Giant may be closing the gap here – in cyclocross racing, a clean cockpit is less about aerodynamics and more about removing the risk of snagging a cable as you shoulder your bike.
In the past, Giant has introduced new features, such as disc brakes and its D-Fuse seatpost, to the TCX before adding them to its gravel and endurance road bikes.
After the TCX, we imagine the TCR and possibly the Revolt will be next to gain integrated cables.
We have contacted Giant for comment.