We just got up close with the Tour de France leader's bike, Julian Alaphilippe's Specialized S-Works Tarmac Disc
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Jul 14, 2019, 16:05 IST
It's a tradition that the leader of the Tour sport some yellow on his bike. Alaphilippe's Tarmac has yellow bar tape and computer mount.
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Each rider has a number plate attached to his seat post. Alaphilippe is rider No. 21. The No. 3 represents the number of stage wins he has in the Tour in his career.
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Some Tour leaders' bikes go overboard with yellow. We like that the Frenchman's has not too much.
Each Tour rider's bike has a transponder attached to the chain stay. It relays the rider's location and start/finish time.
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Alaphilippe's Shimano gears run from an 11-tooth cog for the sprints up to a 30-tooth cog for the climbs.
The yellow bottle cages by Tacx complement the tape.
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Alaphilippe opts for 50-centimeter-profile carbon aero wheels by Roval, a Specialized brand. The tires are also by Specialized: These are the S-Works Turbos, 26mm tubular tires, which are glued onto the rim.
The fast Frenchman rides a Specialized EVO saddle, which features a cut-out for added comfort.
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The Specialized S-Works Tarmac retails for $11,000, but Alaphilippe's bike in this build would costs a bit more.
How long can Alaphilippe stay in yellow? Stay tuned.