{"id":45498,"date":"2023-01-11T10:45:08","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T09:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=712485"},"modified":"2023-01-11T11:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T10:35:42","slug":"time-pedals-return-to-mens-worldtour-with-trek-segafredo-but-what-next-for-one-of-pro-cyclings-most-storied-brands","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/time-pedals-return-to-mens-worldtour-with-trek-segafredo-but-what-next-for-one-of-pro-cyclings-most-storied-brands\/","title":{"rendered":"Time pedals return to men\u2019s WorldTour with Trek-Segafredo \u2013 but what next for one of pro cycling\u2019s most storied brands?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By George Scott\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 11 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Time pedals will return to the men\u2019s WorldTour peloton in 2023 after the French brand, owned by SRAM since 2021, signed a sponsorship deal with Trek-Segafredo.<\/span><\/p>\n

Riders across both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Trek-Segafredo squads will use Time pedals through the forthcoming season, adding to Time\u2019s existing partnerships with the Canyon\/SRAM and SD Worx women\u2019s teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making the switch from <\/span>Shimano SPD-SL<\/span><\/a> pedals, Trek-Segafredo riders will use Time\u2019s distinctive <\/span>XPro pedals<\/span><\/a>. The design uses Time\u2019s iClic technology, which keeps the pedal engagement mechanism partially open to allow for easier entry when clipping in.<\/span><\/p>\n

SRAM bought Time\u2019s pedals business in 2021<\/span><\/a>, after five years with Rossignol. A return to the men\u2019s WorldTour marks a major show of force in putting Time pedals back at cycling\u2019s top table.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trek-Segafredo is one of three WorldTour teams sponsored by SRAM for 2023, though Jumbo-Visma\u2019s Cerv\u00e9lo bikes have switched to Wahoo Speedplay pedals from Shimano, and Movistar continue to use Look pedals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTime is proud to support this first-class WorldTour team for the coming seasons. It\u2019s a huge step for us to return to the biggest races with Trek-Segafredo,\u201d said Benjamin Marinier, Time\u2019s pedals product manager.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what?<\/h2>\n
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Trek-Segafredo riders will use Time XPro pedals.<\/span><\/figcaption> SRAM<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Look popularised the clipless pedal <\/span>with the PP65 in 1984<\/span><\/a>, used by Bernard Hinault to win the Tour de France in 1985. The decade that followed saw a number of similar designs come to market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shimano\u2019s first clipless pedal<\/a>, the Dura-Ace 7401, arrived in 1987, the Speedplay X followed in 1989, and Shimano returned in 1990 with the M737 as its first SPD pedal.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was Time that dominated professional cycling. Having been founded in 1987, Time launched the TBT in 1988 \u2013 the first pedal design to introduce float (the small amount of lateral movement built into a pedal or cleat).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

11 consecutive Tour de France victories came on Time pedals, from Pedro Delgado\u2019s 1988 triumph to Marco Pantani\u2019s 1998 victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pedro Delgado, pictured wearing the yellow jersey, became the first rider to win the Tour de France using Time pedals in 1988.<\/span><\/figcaption> AFP via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Time remained popular with Tom Boonen through the 2000s, but the brand\u2019s popularity has waned on the pro road scene since, even if a small but loyal consumer following has remained. <\/span><\/p>\n

Notably, Time\u2019s Atac pedals continue to be popular off-road \u2013 Wout van Aert has used Time to pedal to cyclocross World Championship victory, and Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot won the 2022 cross-country worlds using Time pedals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Trek-Segafredo used Shimano pedals last year, with the Dura-Ace SPD-SL model pictured here on Jasper Stuyven\u2019s bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In short, Shimano, having launched the 7750 Dura-Ace in 2003 as its first SPD-SL design, has become the dominant force in the men\u2019s peloton, with Look and Wahoo Speedplay as the supporting cast.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>DCMX.com<\/span><\/a>, of the 22 teams at last year\u2019s Tour de France, 13 used Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals, eight used Look Keo pedals and one used Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Time design has a distinctive hook to the front of the pedal.<\/span><\/figcaption> SRAM<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While Time pedals are currently used by the Canyon\/SRAM and SD Worx women\u2019s WorldTour teams, the brand\u2019s tie-up with Trek-Segafredo significantly increases its presence in pro cycling and, of course, marks a return to the men\u2019s peloton.<\/span><\/p>\n

The deal is also indicative of a wider trend within pro cycling for groupset and bike manufacturers to tie sponsored teams into partnerships that <\/span>also include the supply of wider components<\/span><\/a>, including wheels, finishing kit and, in this case, pedals.<\/span><\/p>\n

What next?<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Will Time refresh the XPro design?<\/span><\/figcaption> David Caudery \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

SRAM\u2019s purchase of Time in 2021, and the investment that comes with the brand\u2019s increased presence in the peloton, underlines the parent company\u2019s commitment to the pedal market. That, surely, will come with a refreshed product line-up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Time\u2019s current road pedal range includes the long-standing Xpresso, <\/span>introduced in 2012<\/span><\/a>, and the XPro, launched in 2017 alongside claims of a larger pedal platform and more aerodynamic design. <\/span><\/p>\n

Expect an update \u2013 SRAM\u2019s chance to put its stamp on Time \u2013 in the not-too-distant future.<\/span><\/p>\n

As it stands, the XPro range covers three pedals, from <\/span>\u20ac169<\/span> to <\/span>\u20ac475<\/span>, while the Xpresso line-up also includes three models, from \u20ac53 to \u20ac127.<\/span><\/p>\n