Remco Evenepoel spotted on an unreleased Specialized S-Works Shiv TT at the opening team time trial of the Tour de France
Despite all the hype around his radical, all-new aero machine, Evenepoel finds himself in fifth place on the GC after Stage 1
While the Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe mechanics tried their best to keep it under wraps, the camouflaged Specialized S-Works Shiv TT bike of World Champion Remco Evenepoel has garnered a fair bit of attention at the Tour de France Grand Depart.
In the automotive industry, striped camouflaging is used to hide the shape and detail of a new test mule, but the downside is a vivid and easy-to-spot object - no riding incognito here. The same can be said for Specialized and what is clearly an all-new S-Works Shiv TT bike, a fact validated by the UCI prototype sticker on the upper seat tube.
Originally launched in 2019 at the Tour de France Grand Depart, the Specialized S-Works Shiv TT has long needed an update - despite still being competitive and winning races, Olympic gold medals and World Championships under the legs of Belgian Remco Evenepoel. Known for its lightweight chassis and sleek aerodynamic design, the Morgan Hill-based company has looked to up the ante of its best time-trial bike and bestow it with a more contemporary design.
Like the newly launched Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9, the new Shiv will undoubtedly benefit from a fresh Fact 12r layup, entirely new tube shaping, and balanced weight distribution throughout the chassis. In terms of the new blueprint, the bike benefits from a radically narrower leading edge on the headtube, which is also deeper in profile than the current model.
The fork, downtube and seat tube are also notably deeper and sharper, and more in line with current aero trends, while a distinct Win Fin-style seat tube cutout extends over and hugs the rear wheel.
The rear triangle, in particular, is akin to an arrowhead: the seat stays join the seat tube at 90 degrees, mirroring the chainstay below, and then meet at the dropouts. We expect this to have been implemented for a boost in aerodynamics, compliance, and tyre clearance (presumably up to 32mm) - and one that visually sets it apart from its chief rivals. Like his teammates, Evenepoel's prototype Shiv was running 30mm Specialized Turbo TLR tyres.
Closer examination of Evenepoel’s spare bike on the roof of his team car showed a SRAM Red AXS groupset complete with a whopping 68T chainring paired with a 10-36T cassette and 160mm cranks. There’s also a new aerodynamic seatpost clamp allowing saddle tilt and fore-aft adjustments.
The cockpit is fairly similar affair to what we’ve seen used by Remco in the past, with a vee-shaped basebar attached to custom carbon-fibre extensions. As has become commonplace on SRAM-sponsored teams at this year's Tour de France, Remco is using custom Leap Components Aero Grip Blip Mount shifters emblazoned with his initials, R.EV.
While the Roval solid disc rear appears unchanged, the front Roval wheel is notably deeper than that of his teammates, all of whom are riding the current Specialized S-Works Shiv TT.
We'll update this with more information and details as we receive them.
