{"id":279782,"date":"2025-07-21T11:14:27","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/279782\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T11:14:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:14:27","slug":"remco-evenepoels-specialized-s-works-tarmac-sl8-has-600-chainrings-and-20-bottle-cages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/279782\/","title":{"rendered":"Remco Evenepoel\u2019s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 has $600 chainrings and $20 bottle cages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Remco Evenepoel’s Tour de France ended on the Col du Tourmalet on Saturday, with the Olympic champion abandoning the race on stage 14.<\/p>\n

Evenepoel didn\u2019t have the best start to the Tour, being caught out by the crosswind echelons formed on stage one around Lille and ceding 39 seconds to his GC rivals. He shone on stage five, however, winning the individual time trial to add another Tour de France stage win to the one he claimed in 2024.<\/p>\n

Evenepoel may now be out of the race but we took a closer look at his Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8<\/a> ahead of the Grand D\u00e9part in Lille.<\/p>\n

The Belgian’s Tarmac SL8 for the Tour had a gold paint job with black accents and white logos. The paintjob celebrates his gold medal in the 2024 Olympic road race in Paris, when he escaped on the Butte Montmartre, three ascents of which are a new feature added to the final stage of the Tour this year.<\/p>\n

7.18kg bike weight
\n\"RemcoRemco Evenepoel’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 at the start of the 2025 Tour de France. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"\"Evenepoel’s 7.18kg bike weight is quite a way off Specialized’s claim at launch. Ashley Quinlan \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

At launch, Specialized claimed that a complete S-Works Tarmac SL8 was just on the UCI\u2019s 6.8kg weight limit, but even in his smaller size and with some weight weenie swap-outs, we weighed Evenepoel’s bike at 7.18kg, almost 300g adrift of that number.<\/p>\n

Given the almost identical build we saw at last year’s Grand D\u00e9part<\/a>, in Florence, weighed less than 7kg, we suspect the lavish gold paint job is to blame here. Paint can add significant weight, after all \u2013 and is one of the primary reasons so many modern bikes are black<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We’ve also previously seen Evenepoel on an all-black Tarmac SL8 on mountain stages, which could be even lighter.<\/p>\n

\"\"A custom gold and black paint job. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"\"A gold K-Edge mount adds a touch of bling to the Roval Rapide Cockpit. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Evenepoel uses the carbon Roval Rapide Cockpit<\/a>, which is standard on the S-Works Tarmac SL8. It\u2019s apparently a significant contributor to the Tarmac SL8\u2019s aero gains over the SL7, with Specialized claiming that it will save riders 32cm in a sprint finish over the previous separate bar and stem combo.<\/p>\n

\"\"Evenepoel’s 380mm bar width and turned-in levers are signs of a classic pro setup. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"\"The 115mm effective stem length looks to be made by Roval specifically for Evenepoel’s needs. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Evenepoel\u2019s cockpit is 380mm wide, with a 115mm stem length, a size that\u2019s commercially available but looks to be custom-made to suit his geometry and the pros\u2019 preference for narrower handlebars<\/a> and the more aero position they offer.<\/p>\n

Although the Rapide Cockpit comes in standard black, Evenepoel\u2019s K-Edge computer mount gets the same gold treatment as his frame, along with his personal ‘R’ logo.<\/p>\n

New, lighter wheels
\n\"RemcoEvenepoel opted for the new Roval Rapide CLX Sprint wheelset for the flat opening stages of this year’s Tour. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

When we shot Evenepoel\u2019s bike, the Roval Rapide CLX Sprint<\/a> wheelset was box-fresh, having been launched by Specialized in June. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s distinguished by a deeper 63mm section at the front, and a shallower 58mm rear wheel. The carbon composite spokes with titanium ends and nipples contribute to the 1,395g claimed weight for the wheelset.<\/p>\n

Alongside these Sprint wheels, Specialized also introduced the Roval Rapide CLX III wheelset for rolling days, with 51mm front \/ 48mm rear rim depths, and a claimed weight of 1,305g.<\/p>\n

Why differential rim heights on these new wheels? As with the Tarmac SL8 frameset, Specialized says that the majority of aero gains occur at the front of the bike, hence the deeper rim, while airflow towards the rear is so turbulent that Specialized has targeted weight reduction with the shallower wheel depth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Unreleased, updated Turbo Cotton TLR tyres in a 30mm width. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

The tan-sidewall tyres marked only with \u2018Cotton TLR\u2019 are new and as-yet-unreleased.<\/p>\n

Specialized’s current top-spec RapidAir TLR<\/a> Racing Only tyre is all-black. Specialized claims that tyre is its fastest ever, so we\u2019d guess this ‘Cotton TLR’ tyre, in a 30mm width, is even faster if the pros are choosing to use it.<\/p>\n

\"\"Around 30mm is the pros’ preferred tyre width now. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Although it’s a 30mm tyre, according to the hot stamp on the sidewalls, we measured the inflated width at 29.56mm on the rear and 29.3mm up front. Specialized says that the CLX III rims are aerodynamically optimised for 28mm tyre width, but perhaps the benefits of wider tyres outweigh any small aero losses.<\/p>\n

While the Cotton logo was in full view on Evenepoel\u2019s road bike, it was blacked out on the tyres on his time trial bike, so we think the new tyre is probably now close to launch \u2013 or maybe that was a different, time trial-specific version that the brand still wants to keep under wraps. We’ll have to wait and see.<\/p>\n

New 3D printed saddle
\n\"\"The S-Works Power Evo with Mirror saddle is a new design. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Specialized\u2019s product launch deluge ahead of the Tour saw it unveil the super-lightweight S-Works Torch Remco<\/a> shoes, weighing 296.4g a pair in Evenepoel\u2019s size 41.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Specialized also launched the 212g S-Works Power Evo with Mirror 3D printed saddle<\/a> used by Evenepoel, which adds more struts and includes bio-based materials in its 3D printed top, according to the brand. Along with the wider nose, Specialized reckons the new saddle is more comfortable in a wider range of ride positions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Gold treatment for the saddle base, too. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Evenepoel has the top-spec carbon-railed version and more gold accents on the saddle base.<\/p>\n

Large chainrings in carbon
\n\"RemcoA Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset with CarbonTi chainrings… Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"\"…paired with an 11-34t Dura-Ace cassette. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Evenepoel\u2019s Shimano Dura-Ace<\/a> groupset for the Tour swapped out the standard alloy chainrings for carbon chainrings from CarbonTi. For the flat stage one parcours, he was running 56\/44t rings paired with a wide-range Dura-Ace 11-34t cassette.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carbon chainrings are a popular swap-out for the pros, with Tadej Poga\u010dar also running carbon rings on his Colnago V5Rs<\/a>, complete with his own logo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"A CeramicSpeed bottom bracket should lower friction in the drivetrain. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media
\n\"\"Evenepoel runs a 165mm crank length. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Evenepoel\u2019s Dura-Ace cranks turn in a CeramicSpeed<\/a> bottom bracket. They\u2019re 165mm long, reflecting the pro trend to run shorter cranks and also his 171cm height. Poga\u010dar also runs 165mm cranks, while Jonas Vingegaard has 160mm cranks on his Cerv\u00e9lo S5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Evenepoel’s Tacx bottle cages are inexpensive. Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

While the rest of Evenepoel\u2019s bike might be top spec and spendy for the average rider, his bottle cages are more everyday, in the form of Tacx\u2019s 32g Deva, which can be picked up for under \u00a315 or $20 each.<\/p>\n

Specs | Remco Evenepoel’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 for the 2025 Tour de France<\/strong>
\n\"\"Remco Evenepoel’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/p>\n