Ben O'Connor clinched victory on Col de la Loze while utilizing an aero bike.
In the 2025 Tour de France, Australian cyclist Ben O'Connor rode the Giant Propel Advanced SL bike to victory on Stage 18, scaling the challenging Col de la Loze. Let's delve into the details of his bike setup, the distinctive livery, and the reasons behind his choice of the Propel Advanced SL over the TCR Advanced SL.
Bike Components
The heart of O'Connor's bike is the Giant Propel Advanced SL, boasting a superlight, blacked-out finish. The wheels are CADEX Max 40 WheelSystem, wrapped in Aero Cotton tires. The handlebars are CADEX Aero Integrated, and the saddle is the Amp 3D, weighing just 147g. For added safety, O'Connor donned the Giant Pursuit helmet designed specifically for the Jayco AlUla team.
Livery
The blacked-out finish of O'Connor's bike is a striking choice, often favoured for its aesthetic appeal and potential weight reduction due to the minimised use of paint.
Reasons for Using the Propel Advanced SL
The decision to opt for the Propel Advanced SL over the TCR Advanced SL climbing bike reflects a growing trend in professional cycling. This trend focuses on "do-it-all" aero bikes, aiming to meet the UCI's minimum weight limit of 6.8 kg, making them suitable for both flat and mountain stages. By choosing the Propel Advanced SL, O'Connor was able to capitalise on the aerodynamic benefits of an aero bike while maintaining a competitive weight, crucial for high-speed racing on varied terrain. In contrast, the TCR Advanced SL is usually chosen for its lightweight design, ideal for pure climbing stages. However, the Propel Advanced SL's aerodynamic advantages made it a strategic choice for O'Connor's races, including the mountainous Stage 18 of the Tour de France.
For flat stages, O'Connor uses a 56/44, 11-32T gearing setup, but he is expected to switch to a more leg-friendly 54/40, 11-34T setup for mountain stages.
It's worth noting that the Jayco AlUla team lent a purple and black Propel Advanced SL bike to the media for use before the Grand Depart. The bike features a deep head tube and fork, a fully integrated CADEX Aero cockpit, and UCI-legal turned-in hoods. The tires are 30mm CADEX Aero tubeless rubber.
The team's component needs are met by Giant's in-house brand, CADEX, and the bikes are outfitted exclusively with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FC-9200-P 12-speed groupsets. The pedals are Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100, and the bike does not use a traditional seatpost but rather the Vector integrated seatpost, which requires careful trimming by mechanics to achieve the ideal saddle height.
References: 1. CyclingTips 2. Velonews 3. BikeRadar
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