The new Specialized Tarmac Road Bike is engineered for speed but it embodies much more than just aerodynamic excellence. With its lightweight, Rider-First Engineered™ frame, it delivers optimal ride characteristics, regardless of size. So, whether you're aiming for personal records, king of the mountains titles, or podium finishes, the Tarmac is primed to support your ambitions, making it the ultimate all-in-one bike.
Featuring a full SRAM Rival Etap AXS electronic groupset for precise and rapid shifts, paired with S-Works Turbo 700x26mm tyres for swift 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 continues to drive the development of the new Tarmac. To craft tube shapes that conform to the UCI regulations while maximising speed, Specialized drew from their FreeFoil Shape Library, utilising a range of optimised shapes tested in their Win Tunnel. The outcome is a new Tarmac Expert that's 33 seconds faster over 40km than its predecessor, the Tarmac SL6, pure speed without compromise.
While aerodynamics were crucial to the Tarmac's evolution, weight was also a key consideration 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 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 pursuit of the ultimate race bike, Specialized applied their Rider-First Engineered™ approach to ensure that the new Tarmac delivers unparalleled balance and handling, irrespective of size. Feedback from elite test riders representing their World Tour Teams (Boels-Dolmans, Deceuninck-Quick-Step, and Bora-hansgrohe) informed adjustments to enhance ride quality, ensuring comfort even during the longest rides, without compromising the Tarmac's renowned 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 a breeze to maintain but also effortless to transport, offering the best of both worlds.