The new Specialized Tarmac Road Bike is engineered for speed but it embodies more than just aerodynamic excellence. With its lightweight, Rider-First Engineered™ frame, it delivers optimal ride characteristics, regardless of size. So, whether you're chasing personal records, king of the mountains titles, or podium finishes, the Tarmac is poised to support your aspirations; truly, one bike to rule them all.
Outfitted with a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic groupset for precise and swift shifts, paired with S-Works Turbo 700x26mm tyres for rapid rolling, this new Tarmac offers high-performance capabilities at a more accessible price point.
"Aero is everything” - a mantra Specialized have upheld for years, and it remains the driving force behind the new Tarmac. In the pursuit of tube shapes that adhere to UCI regulations while maximising speed, Specialized drew inspiration from the Venge's development and leveraged their FreeFoil Shape Library. Armed with a repository of optimised shapes, Specialized subjected these designs to rigorous testing and validation in the Win Tunnel using a modular test bike. The outcome is a new Tarmac Expert that's 33 seconds faster over 40km than the Tarmac SL6, unadulterated speed with no compromises.
While aerodynamics were paramount to the Tarmac's evolution, weight played a crucial role in refining this optimal race bike. Historically, "aero bikes" often sacrificed weight reduction for drag reduction. However, with the new Tarmac, the aim was to maintain or surpass the UCI weight limit out of the box without compromising aerodynamics. Leveraging the FreeFoil Shape Library, isotopic FEA analysis, and the expertise of top engineers, Specialized crafted a frame weighing a mere 920g, without sacrificing aerodynamics, stiffness, or ride quality.
Continuing their quest to perfect the race bike, Specialized applied their Rider-First Engineered™ approach to ensure that the new Tarmac offers unparalleled balance and handling, regardless of size. Feedback from elite test riders representing their three World Tour Teams (Boels-Dolmans, Deceuninck-Quick-Step, and Bora-hansgrohe) guided adjustments to enhance ride quality, ensuring comfort even during extended rides, without compromising the Tarmac's legendary handling and agility.
Drawing from insights gleaned from the Venge, the new Tarmac features streamlined integration for a sleek, efficient cockpit that's user-friendly. Specialized have optimised routing for various configurations (mechanical shifting, traditional stems, round bars) while preserving its aerodynamic attributes. These enhancements not only make the new Tarmac easy to maintain but also effortless to transport, offering the best of both worlds.