Nothing outpaces the Specialized Tarmac SL8 Road Bike, thanks to an unprecedented fusion of aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and ride quality previously deemed unattainable. After eight iterations spanning over two decades of refinement, it's not merely the swiftest Tarmac to date, it reigns as the world's fastest racing machine.
In the realm of competitive cycling, victory hinges not on aerodynamics or weight alone, but on sheer speed. Achieving such velocity demands a meticulous blend of aerodynamics, lightweight design, stiffness, and compliance. Through rigorous race simulations utilising real-world data, Specialized's Ride Science team confirms the Tarmac SL8 as the pinnacle of speed, surpassing its predecessors by substantial margins; 16.6 seconds quicker over 40km, 128 seconds faster in the Milan San Remo, and 20 seconds speedier on the iconic Tourmalet climb.
Specialized have strategically infused aerodynamic enhancements where they matter most, the leading edge, not merely where they appear aesthetically pleasing. This endeavour has birthed their most aerodynamically refined road bike ever. Yes, it eclipses even the Venge. Capitalising on clean airflow for maximum advantage, the Tarmac boasts a novel nose cone, the Speed Sniffer, optimising aerodynamics. By repositioning the steer tube rearward, the tube dictating head tube width, Specialized have sharpened the leading edge of the head tube, yielding a significantly reduced drag profile. Adhering to new UCI regulations, the Tarmac SL8 incorporates the narrowest, most aerodynamic seat post they've ever crafted, ensuring swift dissipation of fast-moving, turbulent air around the legs.
Drawing insights from the Aethos, the Tarmac SL8 was engineered to meet UCI weight standards while featuring a comprehensive aerodynamic configuration. The result is a mind-bogglingly light 685g frame, 15% lighter than the Tarmac SL7 and lighter than any other offering in the World Tour. Leveraging lightweight optimisation in critical areas like the down tube, seat tube, and rear of the bike, learnings gleaned from the Aethos, the frame's structure efficiently distributes loads, rendering additional carbon stiffness layers superfluous. *Unless, of course, you consider Kasper Asgreen's race on a 585g Aethos frame during a Tour stage.
Boasting a 33% enhancement in stiffness-to-weight ratio over the SL7, the Tarmac SL8 elevates legendary handling, aggressive responsiveness, and World Championship-proven geometry to unprecedented heights. Amplified stiffness at the pedals and enhanced precision at the bars are seamlessly merged with a compliant ride in the saddle, setting a new gold standard for race bike comfort. Thanks to a Rider-First Engineering ethos, every rider, irrespective of size, enjoys identical unparalleled ride quality and handling. In the saddle, the Tarmac SL8 offers 6% more compliance, gracefully gliding over rough road surfaces with a suppleness unparalleled in the realm of high-performance race bikes. The Tarmac's established geometry and 32mm tyre clearance remain identical to the SL7, ensuring effortless adaptation and the flexibility to accommodate higher volume tyres when necessary.
The disparities between two male cyclists can eclipse those between a male and a female. Gender, in isolation, furnishes insufficient data for specialisation, rendering the creation of male or female-specific bikes arbitrary and antiquated. Every cyclist can now harness the transformative benefits of the Tarmac SL8.
The Tarmac SL8 Pro delivers outstanding performance, equipped with a full SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset featuring a power meter, Roval Rapide CL II tubeless-ready wheelset, and a Roval Rapide Handlebar coupled with an SL7 stem. Ready to race straight out of the box.
SRAM Force eTAP AXS
The most precise Force AXS is here. Choose from integrated power solutions for road and gravel. Accelerate with intelligent gear ranges. Drop mass with redesigned hood shapes that fit a wider range of hand sizes, and enjoy the consistent curve of hydraulic stopping power. Personalise it with AXS.