Yesterday I spent the day at Stage 18 of the Tour de France. One of the advantages of this particular stage is it’s a time trial. This means that each rider races individually, with the first rider of the day starting around 10:45AM, and the last rider of the day finishing around 5PM. This means that at the starting area the teams are visible at the buses and busy/active virtually all day long.
Which in turn means there’s tech (and new tech) available to photograph all day long. Further, since all riders will warm-up for varying time lengths on the trainers, they’re actually out and visible. One rider’s warm-up had him doing about 40 minutes or so on a trainer prior to the start. Whereas a regular stage may see no riders warming up on trainers, thus, they aren’t brought out for every stage.
Meanwhile, in the power meter (PM) world you’ll often get teams trying out new tech in the later days of the Tour, and that includes new power meters or updated prototypes of previously known power meters. There was more than one team riding prototype units out there.
Before we move on, remember one thing with pro teams and gear: They’re all sponsored. Companies pay for sponsorship of a team, and/or provide gear for free in exchange for visibility. It’s the way the industry works. For trainer and PM tech, it’s more commodity than other bike parts, and thus to a large degree the highest bidder will win.
Oh, and lastly, there are two specific new things not seen before or published anywhere else that I managed to find. One each in the trainer and power meter section.
Trainers of the Tour:
When it comes to trainers, they’re virtually always team-wide sponsorship’s. This means that the whole team is all using the same brand of trainer, albeit sometimes differing models. In many cases teams will choose trainer models that work without power for use on the Tour, which may skew them away from higher end computerized models – as many high-end models require being plugged in. Sure, team buses can provide such power (and they do in some cases), but it’s just one more thing that a team has to deal with on race morning.
As such, the vast majority of the Elite sponsored teams are likely using additional other higher-end connected trainers when not in a race situation. But for the purpose of today’s listing, I’m just focused on what was there and present on race day.
With that, first is an overall chart of what’s being used:
Tour de France 2016: Trainers
| Team Name | Brand | Production or Unreleased | Models Used |
|---|
| AG2R La Mondiale | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| Astana | Tacx | Production | NEO Smart |
| BMC Racing Team | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| Bora–Argon 18 | Tacx | Production | Satori Smart |
| Cannondale–Drapac | Kinetic | Production | Road Machine Smart |
| Cofidis | Tacx | Production | NEO Smart |
| Dimension Data | Lemond | Production | Revolution |
| Direct Énergie | Tacx | Production | NEO Smart |
| Etixx–Quick-Step | Tacx | Production | NEO Smart, Satori Smart |
| FDJ | Elite | Production | Volano - Turbo Roteo |
| Fortuneo–Vital Concept | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| Giant–Alpecin | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| IAM Cycling | Elite | Production | Real Turbo Muin B+ |
| Katusha | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| Lampre–Merida | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+, Real Turbo Muin B+ |
| Lotto–Soudal | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| LottoNL–Jumbo | Tacx | Production | NEO Smart |
| Movistar Team | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| Orica–BikeExchange | Elite | Production | Qubo Power Smart B+ |
| Team Sky | Wahoo Fitness | Production & Unreleased | KICKR, KICKR NextGen |
| Tinkoff | Tacx | Production | NEO Smart |
| Trek–Segafredo | CycleOps | Production | Supermagneto Pro, Jet Fluid Pro, Fluid2 |
Next, here’s a gallery of trainer goodness, with a pic from each team. You can hover over them to get the picture label specifying each team name.
It’s interesting to see that Tacx basically has everyone on the NEO’s across the board, minus two team’s with some Satori Smart units around. Likely they just wanted some quick and light trainers to have available without taking a wheel off.
Similarly, on the Elite – virtually every team is using the same model, albeit a much lower end model (but it does transmit ANT+/Bluetooth Smart). Again, in a warm-up scenario they don’t need a lot of complexity, so this works quite well.
Wahoo KICKR (new) Prototype:
On the prototype side, Wahoo was not-so-quietly showing off a new trainer (minus providing any details). It can easily be picked out by the ‘look at me’ yellow styling:
Here’s a bit closer look at it.
While at first glance many might of mistaken it for a regular KICKR, there are actually a number of tweaks to the two units when you look at them side by side:
A couple of obvious differences:
– Addition of a grey handle up top (and removal of the old handle)
– Different lower flywheel shell design (including a slight pop-out section)
– Change in the belt design (less inset than before)
– Addition of ANT+/Bluetooth Smart logos along top
– Yellow themed flywheel
Of course, Wahoo is keeping mum on the topic (despite Team Sky tweeting it out) and broadcast TV showing Froome warming up on it. The unit was there for a good solid 6-8 hours yesterday, however I didn’t get to hear it in operation during the time I was there. However rumor is it was quieter than a regular KICKR when Froome was on it, but given it’s outside where sound is easily absorbed, one has to take that with a grain of salt. It still has a belt with grooves, so there will definitely be some noise there (though many have suggested ways of cutting down that noise significantly through different belts).
Also of note is that while the team bus had two yellow-themed units, the other unit I saw was definitely just an old KICKR with a new flywheel sticker. In any case, I’m sure as we near Eurobike we’ll hear more, though it certainly falls in line with rumors out there of a new KICKR for the upcoming season. Plus, I get the feeling Wahoo was looking to stir things up a bit here, else they certainly wouldn’t have had Froome ride it, knowing TV cameras would be covering him during the warm-up.
Power Meters of the Tour:
Now remember, like trainers, I would place almost no value on why one team chooses a given tech over another team. Sure in marketing spin a team will say that they get something magical from one power meter over another, but in reality, that magic is called money. We see teams switch between PM’s as soon as a better offer comes along – even when that offer is sub-par in capabilities.
Also, you’ll see many cases where teams will be running units for the whole season that aren’t yet available to consumers. That’s in particular the case with 4iiii and Stages (left only power meters), where the teams (Team Sky and Etixx–Quick-Step) are in some cases using dual versions that aren’t shipping (or even offered in Stages case) to consumers. Plus of course the Quarq prototype example below.
Then there’s some cases teams have an official sponsor for a given power meter, but aren’t actually using it. That’s the case with Look for example, where Fortuneo-Vital Concept isn’t actually using the Look KEO power meter in the Tour, but just using the pedals. You’ll remember this being very similar to Garmin Vector pedals a few years back, with only a portion of the team actually using it. In the case of Garmin, that was due to it being more complex for team mechanics. I suspect the same may be true with Look, given the pod-like nature of their unit that’s structurally similar to Garmin.
With that – here’s the run-down of where teams stand.
Tour de France 2016: Power Meters
| Team Name | Brand | Production or Unreleased | Models Used |
|---|
| AG2R La Mondiale | Quarq (SRAM) | Production & Unreleased | SRAM RED power meter, Unknown RED Prototype |
| Astana | SRM | Production | Campagnolo Variant |
| BMC Racing Team | SRM | Production | Shimano Variant |
| Bora–Argon 18 | Power2Max | Production & Unreleased | Type S, Unknown new model |
| Cannondale–Drapac | N/A | Production | SRM Cannondale Variant |
| Cofidis | SRM | Production | FSA Variant |
| Dimension Data | ROTOR | Production | 2InPower |
| Direct Énergie | Power2Max | Production | Type S |
| Etixx–Quick-Step | 4iiii | Production & Unreleased | 4iiii Left Leg (only), 4iiii Gen2 Dual |
| FDJ | Shimano | Unreleased | Shimano Power Meter Prototype |
| Fortuneo–Vital Concept | Look | N/A | Not actually using |
| Giant–Alpecin | Pioneer | Production | Gen2 Dual-Leg Units (SGY-PM910H2) |
| IAM Cycling | SRM | Production | Shimano Variant |
| Katusha | Quarq (SRAM) | Production | SRAM RED power meter |
| Lampre–Merida | ROTOR | Production | InPower, 2InPower |
| Lotto–Soudal | SRM | Production | Campagnolo Variant |
| LottoNL–Jumbo | Pioneer | Production | Gen2 Dual-Leg Units (SGY-PM910H2) |
| Movistar Team | Power2Max | Production | Type S |
| Orica–BikeExchange | SRM | Production | Shimano Variant |
| Team Sky | Stages Power | Production & Unreleased | Gen2 Stages Power, Dual Pre-Prod |
| Tinkoff | SRM | Production | Shimano Variant |
| Trek–Segafredo | SRM | Production | Shimano Variant |
And for fun, here’s the run-down of photo galleries with pics of each power meter company on almost all the team bikes:
So, about those prototypes:
Quarq (SRAM): Yesterday I found a single rider from AG2R that was using a prototype Quarq power meter. This unit was mounted to a SRAM RED crank arm, however lacked any of the obvious spider backed components typically found on a Quarq power meter. Since the rider had just started his warm-up I was unable to find a different vantage point before I had to run elsewhere.
My guess would either be a bottom-bracket style power meter, or something built straight into the crank arms themselves. I suppose it’s possible they’ve reduced the chainring attachment size so much to make it totally invisible from the side I was on, but that seems unlikely since other competitors are still quite visible from further away. Further, it’s also possible it could be no power meter at all, and just a logo shell of nothing, but given every other bike in the collection had power on it, it’s highly unlikely a single bike would have no power yet still have a Quarq logo (especially on a time-trial stage where power is most critical).
You’ll see they’ve added a Quarq ‘Power Ready’ logo (using the Quarq Symbol), which hasn’t been used anywhere else to my knowledge.
Note that only the one rider from the team was using it yesterday, all other riders were using standard Quarq SRAM RED units.
Stages: Team Sky is running a blend of both single-leg Stages (standard production offering), as well as dual-leg editions (not currently offered to consumers). The dual-leg one hasn’t really changed much since the various prototypes we’ve seen over the past two years. You’ll remember some additional (and much better) pics I took of it back at Paris-Roubaix in my tech section.
4iiii: Etixx-Quick-Step is running a blend of both single-leg 4iiii Precision units (standard production offering), as well as dual-leg editions (not currently offered to consumers). Their dual-leg version that as previously shown off at Sea Otter, was announced today as being available (shipping) starting next week.
Power2Max: On one of Bora-Argon 18’s bikes there was a single unattributed Power2Max model. This model looks similar to the Type S, except that the battery/electronics pod is now placed perpendicular to the crank arm, versus with all other Type S units it’s aligned to it.
—
Phew! Lots of details to consider! But definitely to me the two biggies were whatever Quarq and Wahoo have up their sleeves.
I’ll round-up the more casual ‘enjoying the stage’ aspect in tomorrow’s post. And then of course we have Sunday’s final stage in Paris, which I’ll definitely be out and about at as well!
Thanks for reading!
(Side note: I generally don’t talk about rumors and/or unreleased products on the site. However, when a company rides something in the Tour de France you’re fair game as far as I (and every other media outlet) is concerned. Especially a time trial stage where products are left out in the open for 6-8 hours. Enjoy!)
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Wow, neither Vector or PowerTap..
The powermeter market is so difficult.
I don´t know which one I would buy.
Awesome eye-picking the details.
Ray,
I can be mistaken but looking at the list of the power meters I didn’t see any power meters on pedals like Garmin or P1 . Do you know why?
Regards
Garmin technically provides gear for a team (Cannondale), but they’ve said in the past that logistically Vector was too cumbersome to deal with in terms of day to day mechanical aspects. I’m sure pedal type preferences also came into play.
With PowerTap (and really any other brand), it’s really just a case of them not wanting to pay to play. Which is logical. I don’t think it buys them anything to pay to sponsor a pro team for power meters. They’re already a well known name in that field, and they’re also priced well enough so that they aren’t trying to compete just on brand-name.
Maybe that KICKR is yellow because Froome is using it?
Of course.
But there were two yellow KICKR’s, one old…and one new.
The quarq looks like just a bare spider – no power. Cranks are compatible hence ‘power ready’
Indeed, definitely a possibility.
Though super odd to ride that in a time trial, given its the one stage where power is most valuable.
I was thinking exactly the same, just a bare, but removable, spider.
Unbelievable! NO Pros are using 4iii’s ! ;)
photo 38 is 4iii
Etixx team uses 4iiii
It would have been the awesomest thing ever if there had been a team using Limits for power. :-p
Hi,
On the 4iiii website there’s absolutely no info about the dual leg power meter. Strange
Give it a few hours. :)
Dolf – see here link to 4iiii.com
Hmm, I’m curious about the minor Power2Max redesign. Maybe it’s just to play better with BB386EVO BB shells? Ant+/BLE? Hmm.
Looks like the p2m might be more than a minor redesign, cyclingtips had some photos showing that it now has a micro usb socket under the cover instead of a replaceable battery – link to cyclingtips.com
Yup, the micro-USB socket is interesting because it may mean (finally) end-user firmware upgrades. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised to see dual ANT+/BLE. Nothing earth shattering here, but power meter updates rarely are.
Cool! Thanks for the link!
Considering SRM some time ago decided to cut hard on sponsorships, it still amazes me that so many teams still decide to go with them. Even having to pay out of their own pocket, SRMs come head and shoulders above in maintenance and overall cost while offering little to no advantage over so many other brands that would be happy to go with at least a gear-and-assistance-for-publicity-type scheme of sponsorship.
You got any data on SRM return/repair rates or cost of ownership?
At 50€ a pop for a battery change plus two weeks of turnaround time I need not know anything else.
One of the kickr models was likely this one: link to wahoofitness.com
They have a yellow sticker promo model now. My guess is they hoped no one would notice the handle etc difference. Of all the days for you to be there ;)
I rewatched after your tweet and thought there was something odd with froome’s kickr, but at the time couldn’t place it.
I have a lot to learn about cycling. Running is so much simpler.
I feel the same way.
…and to pay a lot more….
True although judging by the number of running shoes I have got and for different types of running not always so clear cut! Anyway perhaps it is the more than the man than the machine as remember when Froome jumped on Geraint Thomas bike with different shaped cranks and presumably bit different bike fit there did not seem to be any slowing of his speed.
Instead of asking what you might have heard about the updated Kickr, which I’m sure you can’t reveal anyway, I’m curious what do you think should be updated on it, besides a nicer handle? Bigger flywheel? Simulated cobbles?
Simulated cobbles wouldn’t work with the belt drive. Maybe add hydraulics to the support arms or a haptic trainer mat :-)
I’d love some lateral movement left to right so you could stand up properly on the trainer. That for me seems like a much better improvement than simulating road surface.
A while back I saw somewhere that someone had actually mounted a CompuTrainer to a Rock and Roll trainer frame. It required some shop work, but kinda a neat idea for getting that lateral movement.
Kirk Kinetic will be coming out with this link to kurtkinetic.com
That looks cool! I just hope they will offer some kind of upgrade kit for the existing Kinetic R&R users.
Yup, there is. Though, the pricing seems a bit out of whack compared to just buying the whole thing new. Not a ton out of whack, but a tiny bit.
Did you pay attention to what head units were in use? From what I see on TV it’s mostly Garmin, with SRM the next most popular.
Yeah, the rough matrix is:
Sponsored by…
SRM: SRM PC8 head unit
Pioneer: Pioneer head unit
One Team: Sigma (sponsored by them, can’t remember off-hand who)
Everyone else: Garmin
I don’t know off-hand if Team Sky is using ELEMNT’s this year (in the past they’ve used Garmin units with a custom external shell).
Update: In looking at Froome’s bike from the TT via some photos on Cycling Tips, he’s clearly using a Garmin head unit. Looks like an Edge 510 (same as used in the past):
link to cyclingtips.com
Was it Direct Energie using Sigma? Pretty sure I saw Sigma on their bikes when they were Europcar last year.
Hi! Do you know what mount is that on first picture (with gopro session)? Trying to find better options that self-made ugly one.
It’s a K-Edge mount. Rock solid mount that gives you the best footage.
The Quark power could be a spindel based powermeter?
Looks like the right axle stub on the new Wahoo Kickr is no longer threaded. I believe this to be a friendlier interface for CF dropouts, particularly in trainer use.
Interesting that Team Sky seem to have exclusive deals with Wahoo & Stages.
I see on the 4iiii website dual sided PM’s are available, when can we expect an updated review. Thanks
Probably 3-4 weeks after a unit arrives to me.
Hi Ray, I read almost all your blogs, very good work, congratulations!(And very useful)
As you can see, some of the bike models of 2017 with red etap has those quarq ready crancksets, separated cranks and spiders, look at this bike:
link to berria-racing.com
It seems that sram will finally have the red crankset ready to put a spider based powermeter, without the obligation of purchasing the powermeter with the cranks, I think that it is a good idea, the consumers like us will appreciate it.
Keep with the grat work, thank you.
Any idea how Sky adjust the resistance of the Wahoo kickr units? I don’t see any power cables to them
It’s a bit off-topic, but does anyone know the make and model of the fans (silver blades/black base) in pictures 3, 12, 17 (Etix and Katusha) of the trainer gallery ?
link to media.dcrainmaker.com
Interestingly one of Canyon’s new cross bikes comes with a crankset which according to the specs is called the Quarq Prime. The spider has the same Power Ready icon and at this price-point it clearly does not have a power meter. Don’t really understand why they’d go with what appears to simply be a rebadged Sram Rival crankset since the rest of the components on the bike are all Rival 1…
link to canyon.com
link to staging.quarq.com:4433
Quarq Prime are cranksets that are power meter ready. Mostly a marketing gimmick to get people to buy the new Quarq DZero which goes live at the end of the month. You spend $1079 on the spider to get power. Similar to how Quarq supplies spiders for Sworks cranks.
The DZero looks like a good product. It takes the top tier position above the Elsa R and adds Bluetooth along with the 10k temp compensation found on the Elsa RS.
Interestingly Canyon’s new cross bikes come with cranksets which according to the specs are called the Quarq Prime and Quarq Prime Carbon. They look to be rebadged Sram Rival and Force crank respectively, their spiders have the same Power Ready icon and at these price-points they clearly do not include power meters. Don’t really understand the reasoning behind this as all the other parts on these bikes are already Sram Rival/Force 1…
I hope Interbike and Eurobike will provide more indepth details on the new Wahoo Kickr. ;-)