11 tech highlights from the start of the biggest race on the Women’s WorldTour calendar
The 2023 Tour de France Femmes is now in full swing, with riders tackling 956km over the course of eight stages.
The race comprises 22 teams – all 15 Women’s WorldTour teams and seven invited teams from the second-tier UCI Women’s Continental roster.
There is some tech hegemony among those teams, with Canyon and Liv especially well-represented, sponsoring three squads apiece. Only Specialized managed that feat in the men’s Tour de France.
However, the Tour de France Femmes includes several large brands without representation in the men’s field – Orbea (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and Felt (Human Powered Health) are the two key examples.
Dig about more and you’ll find plenty else to keep even BikeRadar’s dedicated tech sleuths entertained.
From incredible custom paintjobs to off-sponsor tech choices, including a totally different bike brand in one case, the Tour de France Femmes is a rich seam of interesting tech.
We were on the ground for the first two stages in and around Clermont-Ferrand to bring you the most interesting tech from the 2023 Tour de France Femmes. Here are our 11 highlights.
April Tracey’s Ultegra R8070-equipped Ribble Endurance SL R Disc
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/April-Traceys-Ultegra-R8070-equipped-Ribble-Endurance-SL-R-Disc9-0bc4be0.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"The")
Lifeplus–Wahoo rider April Tracey is riding the 2023 Tour de France Femmes onboard this Ribble Endurance SL R Disc equipped with a previous-generation Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8070 groupset.
It’s unusual to see pro bikes equipped with second-tier components, let alone a road bike groupset released back in 2017.
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/April-Traceys-Ultegra-R8070-equipped-Ribble-Endurance-SL-R-Disc8-2401a3b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"The")
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with Ultegra R8070 – other than a switch to 12-speed, an aesthetic update and some other small changes, the differences between the latest Ultegra Di2 R8170 groupset and the older, 11-speed kit are minimal.
Regardless, it’s still novel to see an older groupset being raced at such a high level.
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/April-Traceys-Ultegra-R8070-equipped-Ribble-Endurance-SL-R-Disc3-636dc6d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"The")
Slightly unravelling that impression of affordability is the pair of €4,449 Mavic Cosmic Ultimate 45 wheels fitted to the bike.
These ultra-light mid-depth wheels use carbon spokes to hit a claimed weight of 1,255g, and are seen here with custom contrasting white Mavic decals.
No corners have been cut for Tracey’s tyres either, with the Lifeplus–Wahoo rider running Continental’s highly rated GP5000 S TR tubeless tyres.
Tracey’s bike also marks a rare appearance for Wahoo’s Speedplay Powrlink Zero power meter pedals at the top of the sport.
Marie-Morgane Le Deunff’s compact Bianchi Oltre RC
!["Marie-Morgane]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/team-arkea-samsic-bikes11-6b7dbd6.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Marie-Morgane")
With a heavily aero-optimised design and compact frame, the Bianchi Oltre RC is one of the peloton’s most striking road bikes.
That’s especially true on smaller-sized versions, as evidenced here by Marie-Morgane Le Deunff’s bike.
In a similar style to the Cervélo S5 (as ridden extensively by men’s yellow jersey winner, Jonas Vingegaard), the Oltre RC uses a high-rise one-piece cockpit to increase the effective stack height of the front end of the bike, while keeping the frame compact.
!["Marie-Morgane]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/team-arkea-samsic-bikes8-95f49da.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Marie-Morgane")
This design reduces weight, increases stiffness and improves aerodynamic performance, according to Bianchi.
As expected, the Oltre RC is seen here without its eye-catching ‘air deflector wings’, in order to comply with UCI regulations (specifically, article 1.2.034).
!["Marie-Morgane]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/team-arkea-samsic-bikes4-fe545f1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Marie-Morgane")
Riders can also choose to ride the more traditional Bianchi Specialissima – a classic double-triangle road bike designed with climbing (and passione) in mind.
Le Deunff opts for Shimano’s Dura-Ace C36 wheelset, shod with Continental Competition Pro Ltd tubular tyres – a tyre that used to be very popular among WorldTour pros, but has largely fallen out of favour in recent years (more on that later).
Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling ride the new Orbea Orca
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/CeratizitWNT-Pro-Cycling-ride-the-new-Orbea-Orca13-a9a684a.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"The")
Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling are riding the new Orbea Orca for their inaugural appearance at the Tour de France Femmes.
Going against wider trends in bike design, the new Orca bike prioritises light weight and ride quality over aerodynamic optimisation, with a size 53cm top-spec OMX frame said to weigh just 750g.
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/CeratizitWNT-Pro-Cycling-ride-the-new-Orbea-Orca9-8a30fbb.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"The")
The team bikes run Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 Di2 groupsets paired with FSA Powerbox power meter cranksets. They roll on wheels from Orbea house brand Oquo, fitted with Vittoria’s new Corsa Pro tyres set up tubeless.
A custom bike for the European champion
!["Lorena]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Lorena-Wiebes-bike4-44d2a14.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Lorena")
Current European road champion and SD Worx rider Lorena Wiebes is riding a custom-painted Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7.
While the rest of the team are on fetching eggplant purple bikes, Wiebes is riding a subtle satin black bike with a tasty European champs motif on the fork.
!["Lorena]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Lorena-Wiebes-bike3-1e2e379.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Lorena")
The rest of her bike is similar to her teammates, with Roval’s new one-piece Rapide cockpit, Roval Rapide CLX wheels, Specialized S-Works Turbo Cotton clincher tyres, a full SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset and team-issue Time pedals.
Off-sponsor saddle choices
!["ISM]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/ISM-saddle-2-79679ac.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"ISM")
Israel Premier Tech Roland rider Tamara Dronova-Balabolina deviates from a team-issue Selle Italia saddle in favour of an ISM PN 3.0.
This noseless saddle features a deep cut-out and is used more commonly on time trial bikes.
!["ISM]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/ISM-saddle-1-1c0102c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"ISM")
Team DSM’s Pfeiffer Georgi has made a similar move, opting for ISM PS 2.0 instead of a team-issue Syncros saddle.
While off-sponsor tech choices will likely raise eyebrows at team HQ, a serious saddle sore could easily spell the end of a rider’s Tour de France campaign, so rider fit is likely to be prioritised.
A rider-specific bike sponsor?
!["Team]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Team-Coop-Hitec-Jenny-Rissveds-De-Rosa-Merak-a24429a.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Team")
Taking off-sponsor product choices to the extreme, Team Coop-Hitec rider Jenny Rissveds has her own bike sponsor. She’ll ride this De Rosa Merak while her teammates use a variety of bikes from Liv.
This is a very unusual arrangement in professional cycling – we can’t recall another occasion where one rider in a major team has had their own bike sponsor (please let us know in the comments if you can think of one).
Rissveds is better known as an XC racer, where she rides Ibis’ mountain bikes in her role as team leader of the Swedish outfit, Team 31–Ibis Continental.
Rissveds’ Hunt wheels do at least appear to be sponsor-correct, although these are wrapped with Continental GP5000 tyres despite Schwalbe being listed on the team’s website as a ‘partner’.
Hot-weather hacks
!["Team]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Hot-weather-hacks-4-e8a0166.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Team")
Europe is sweltering in the midst of a serious heatwave.
Soaring temperatures have seen teams turn to classic tricks to keep cool when cycling in the heat.
!["SD]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Hot-weather-hacks-1-7a41c64.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"SD")
Team DSM–Firmenich were pictured warming up in ice vests beneath the slither of shade offered by the team bus awning.
SD Worx soigneurs were also spotted filling tights with ice. These will be ferried from coolers in the team car to riders by domestiques throughout the course of the race.
Stringent bike checks for 2023 and beyond
!["UCI]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/UCI-tech-checks-ad967cc.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"UCI")
New rules introduced in April mean teams racing at the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes may only use “critical equipment” (eg, wheels, framesets and groupsets) pre-approved by the UCI.
The new rules are designed to prevent teams from unfairly using prototype equipment. The UCI says this will promote “fair and equitable access to equipment in cycling events… ensuring a level playing field for all competitors”.
Approved equipment is marked with tamper-proof RFID stickers, with UCI commissaries checking bikes prior to each stage.
Teams faced fines between CHF 5,000 and 100,000, or even outright disqualification, for non-compliance.
Between this and enforcing stringent sock-height rules, the long arm of UCI ‘law’ reaches far into the world of cycling. Do you think these changes are a good thing or will they stifle innovation? Let us know in the comments.
Mystery Schwalbe Pro One tyres appear again
!["Schwalbe]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Schwalbe-Pro-One-Aerothan-cdb27d1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Schwalbe")
Schwalbe continues to tease these mystery Pro One tyres with blue sidewalls and matching logos.
As discussed in our Tour de France tyre tech analysis, the tyres have a non-standard blue bead and logo, which don’t appear on the standard Pro One TLE available at your local bike shop.
This matches the branding seen on the prototype Schwalbe Pro One Aerothan spotted at Eurobike.
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/MGTdFF-232001-8b98a85.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"MG_TdFF")
Like Schwalbe’s Aerothan inner tubes, the Pro One Aerothan is speculated to be based on a thermoplastic polyurethane casing. It comes with claims of drastically reduced weight and rolling resistance versus a standard tyre.
As ever, we will continue to pester Schwalbe for further details until it gives up the gossip.
Women’s-specific bikes live on with Liv
!["Liv]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Liv-bikes-1d2a0d1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Liv")
Liv is the last major road bike brand that still produces women’s-specific road bikes with geometry and sizing that differs from the men’s equivalent.
The brand is well represented at the Tour de France Femmes with Liv Racing TeqFind, Team Coop-Hitec Products and Team Jayco AlUla riding either the Langma Advanced SL Disc or EnviLiv Advanced Pro. The Avow Advanced Pro will be wheeled out for the stage 8 time trial.
!["25c]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/MGTdFF-231632-7703aed.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"25c")
Pictured is Amber Pate’s (Team Jayco AlUla) EnviLiv. This aero road bike is built around a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 groupset and carbon-spoked Cadex 50 Ultra wheels with custom high-contrast decals. Pate is using Vittoria’s previous-generation Corsa TLR G2.0 tyres, in a size 25c.
Tubeless tech reigns supreme (almost)
!["Michelin]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/Tubular-tyres-in-20231-eb49694.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Michelin")
The tubeless tech takeover is nearly complete – so much so that it will soon stop being a talking point in BikeRadar tech round-ups.
However, for now, a handful of teams have stuck with tubular tyres for the 2023 Tour de France Femmes.
Like the men’s team, Cofidis Women Team are running Michelin Power Cup tyres on their Corima wheels.
!["Continental]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2023/07/team-arkea-samsic-bikes3-f8964c9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Continental")
Arkéa Pro Cycling Team has stuck with Continental Competition Pro LTD tyres mounted to Shimano Dura-Ace wheels.
These were once among the most commonly specced tyres in the pro peloton, but are now almost never seen. How times change, and how quickly.