Julian Alaphilippe's Specialized S-Works Shiv TT
If we thought Julian Alaphilippe had a Midas touch when he blitzed to victory on Stage 3, it now seems as though the Frenchman can do no wrong in this year's Tour de France. Lest we thought his time in the spotlight was over when he lost the yellow jersey by a scant eight seconds on Stage 6, he snatched it back in dramatic fashion two days later.
Five stages later, Julian Alaphilippe continues to defy expectations as he refuses to relinquish the coveted Yellow Jersey. Many thought the Stage 13 time trial would spell the beginning of the end of his time leading the Tour de France, so you can bet that more than a few jaws hit the floor when he crossed the line in Pau and not only kept the jersey, but won the stage and put time into the General Classification heavyweights in the process.
So instead of highlighting Geraint Thomas' Pinarello, or Rohan Dennis' Merida, we're showcasing the Specialized S-Works Shiv TT of stage winner and leader of the Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe.
Specialized gave this bike a complete makeover for 2019, getting rid of rim brakes in favor of disc brakes, as well as updating the geometry to make it handle better on technical time trial courses. Alaphilippe's bike features a complete Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, although Specialized sells the bike with a SRAM AXS drivetrain. Electronic shifting and hydraulic disc brakes are a godsend for time trial bikes. Messy internal cable routing wreaks havoc on shift and brake cables, but now riders can enjoy flawless shifting and exceptional braking control while racing against the clock.
As you would expect from a Specialized-Sponsored team, Roval wheels feature prominently - a Roval 321 Disc on the rear and a CLX 64 Disc (not to be confused with a disc wheel) on the front. Alaphilippe used the S-Works TT helmet, and we can assume his S-Works 7 road shoes are hidden beneath those Specialized-branded aero shoe covers. By way of an equipment regulation that only the UCI could come up with, aero shoe covers are allowed on the road because it's possible that a rider might need them to keep their feet warm. However, aero shoe covers are not permitted when racing on an indoor velodrome because there should be no concern for cold feet when racing in a controlled environment. It's safe to say that Alaphilippe was not concerned with keeping his toes warm during today's stage, but the aero benefits of shoe covers are undeniable.
While you'll have to wait a few more months before you can take delivery of one of the new S-Works Shiv TT machines, here is some of Julian Alaphilippe's gear that you can buy right now.
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