When it was time to design a new Tarmac, we were daunted as to how we were going to improve on the previous model.
Already offering exceptional low weight, supreme stiffness, and that good ol' race snappiness, what were we to do? Easy. Turn traditional design on its head and develop the new S-Works Tarmac Ultralight. Without a doubt, it's the fastest race bike you've ever ridden.
To get the weight below 800 grams, we utilised advanced aerospace composite optimisation software to revolutionise the construction and layup of our new FACT 12r carbon. It's the most advanced material and schedule we've ever made—the shape, schedule, and material optimisation allowed us to shed nearly 200 grams. That's right, a 20% reduction in frame weight—the perfect recipe for your next hill climb PR. In our search to save every last gram, the S-Works Tarmac Ultralight also uses a newly developed paint finish that further reduces weight. In combination with our improved preparation process, it achieves a paint job that has the same weight as nine gummy bears, or 10 grams. We then further improved our Rider-First Engineered™ technology to ensure that the new Tarmac is stiff and compliant in exactly the right places.
With this revamp, we also updated the geometry—basing it on countless Retül data points and professional rider input. This enabled us to develop a performance road geometry that perfects the combination of a responsive front end and short wheelbase, delivering instantaneous response and optimal power transfer. And while stiffness aids in the aforementioned, compliance must also be utilised for an optimal ride quality. That's why we designed a seatpost that builds compliance into the upper 120mm where clamping doesn't happen, dropped the seatstays, and altered the seat tube shape.
We also added tire clearance up to 30mm, which translates to a 28mm Turbo Cotton on a Roval CLX 50 wheel. This allows lower pressures for decreased rolling resistance, increased traction, and more comfort. Altogether, these additions still have the Tarmac riding like a true race-machine, but just takes a bit of the sting out of those road imperfections.
You'll thanks us on your next long ride. Sure, this is all great, but we know that aerodynamics are the most important thing we can do to make you faster. Both our Bora-Hansgrohe and Team Quick-Step Floors pro tour riders, after all, are demanding aero improvements on every bike. With this, the aero goal was to discover where we could essentially "add aero for free," by not taking anything away from the hallmarks of the Tarmac design.
During the six-month iterative process, three areas were discovered where we could do this—a new fork shape, dropped seatstays with aero tubes, and a d-shaped seatpost and seat tube. The result? A bike that's approximately 45 seconds faster over 40km compared to other lightweight bikes in the same category. A speed savings that you'll feel when you're attacking off the front of the peloton.
This Tarmac comes spec'd with the ultimate lightweight package—Shimano's new Dura-Ace 9150 Di2 groupset, eecycleworks eebrake Dual Mount direct mount brakes, and featherweight Roval CLX 32s with 26mm Turbo Cotton tyres.