Is the mountain bike experiencing a renaissance? This question seems almost obvious after a number of new products have recently come onto the market that are primarily characterised by their low weight and are around or below the UCI weight limit. The most recent example is the new TCR, which Giant officially presented to the world at the Taipei Cycle Show. The 10th generation of the racing bike is said to have taken steps forward in all relevant criteria. Our test of the top model shows how big these steps are, what fascination a competition racing bike weighing less than 6.8 kilograms triggers and why the new model's field of application is nevertheless limited.
In the age of disc brakes and aero optimisation, lightweight models have a difficult time. On the one hand, unlike their predecessors with rim brakes, they can no longer achieve fabulous weights well below the weight limit of the Cycling World Federation, and on the other hand, they are significantly slower than aerodynamically optimised specialists due to their more filigree tube shapes. Even if climbers and weight fetishists probably see it differently: The formula "aero is trump" is repeatedly confirmed in our simulations. According to this, a fast road bike benefits in many racing situations compared to a lighter model despite its higher weight. A swan song for the mountain bike? Not at all. After all, the new TCR impressively demonstrates that it is still too early for this and will probably continue to appeal to many racing cyclists with its restrained design language.
Steep ramps? With the Giant TCR ka problem!
The explosiveness with which the new bike accelerates and catapults the rider forwards with every turn of the cranks is truly impressive. The Advanced SL 0 literally flew up the up to 16 degree steep ramps around Taichung, the headquarters of the bike giant and our test area. The Giant TCR delivers an addictive riding experience that only a handful of models currently offer. "To be honest, I was a little sceptical as to whether the detailed improvements would be noticeable in the saddle," admits ex-pro Tom Dumoulin. "But the bike has improved in all respects," summarises the brand ambassador, who brought Giant its last major tour victory at the Giro d'Italia in 2017.
At 6520 grams (without pedals and bottle cage), the Jayco-Alula team's test bike is currently one of the lightest racing bikes in the TOUR test. The Factor O2 VAM (6520 grams), Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL8 (6550 grams), Storck Aernario.3 Platinum (6560 grams) or Wilier Zero SLR (6530 grams) play in the same league and could also remain below the minimum weight permitted by the UCI when ready to ride. However, even the old "Total Compact Road" played in the Champions League in terms of weight and was only 20 grams heavier on the scales. The frame of the new Advanced SL 0 weighs 758 grams. Cervélo R5 (784 grams) and Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL 8 (723 grams) in this region. The fork comes in at 386 grams.
Giant: Greater manufacturing precision
"It's the lightest frame and the lightest road bike we've ever built," summarised Nixon Huang proudly at the presentation in the state-of-the-art headquarters. According to the Road Category Manager, the weight tuning is based on greater manufacturing precision - both in the cutting of the carbon mats (cold blade cutting) and in the baking of the front frame triangle (one-piece moulding). The surface area of the frame has also been reduced. For example, while the junction between the seat tube and seat stays was reinforced on the predecessor, the new TCR saves material here. The seat dome and top tube are also slightly more filigree.
Giant TCR: 6 watts faster than its predecessor
Despite the diet, the Giant TCR still achieves excellent stiffness values and makes a respectable leap forward in terms of aerodynamics. To overcome the air resistance at 45 km/h, six watts less are required compared to the predecessor. With 221 watts, the TCR ranks among its lightweight competitors such as Bianchi Specialissima RC (222 watts), Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2 Aero (222 watts) or Storck Aernario.3 Platinum (220 watts). More is hardly possible with bikes in the lightweight category or requires an immense amount of effort, such as Specialised on the S-Works Tarmac SL 8 (209 watts/6.6 kilos). Generally speaking, the best race all-rounders and aero specialists are at least ten watts faster.
In the wind tunnel, the TCR benefits from the new full carbon wheels from our own brand Cadex, which almost reach the level of our fast reference wheelset (221 watts) and, at 2400 grams, also contribute to the low overall weight and excellent acceleration. The Taiwanese also modernised the front: the brake lines now run semi-integrated under the stem into the head tube, through which the more aerodynamic Giant Propel (209 watts/6.7 kilos), the seat position can be adjusted relatively easily. This is a clear advantage over comparable race models with one-piece solutions. The new handlebars also have a more streamlined shape.
The development department had little room for improvement in terms of ride comfort. The integrated seat dome is set further back and offers excellent suspension, and the cockpit also jolts relatively little on rough tarmac. The tubeless tyres, another new development from Cadex, do the rest, although they are actually slightly narrower than 28 millimetres. A maximum of 33 millimetre tyres fit through the frame and fork.
Facts & figures about the Giant TCR Advanced SL 0
- Price: 12299 Euro
- Weight: 6.5 kilos
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL
- TOUR grade: 1,7
Geometry
- Seat/top/bottom tube: 496/560/166 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR: 570/387 millimetres/1.47
- Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 624/598 millimetres/1.04
- Wheelbase/caster: 990/59 millimetres
Equipment
- Drive/Circuit (1.0): Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (2x12; 54/40, 11-30 t.)
- Brakes (1.0): Shimano Dura-Ace (160/160 mm)
- Tyres (1.0): Cadex Race GC 28 mm (eff.: 27 mm)
- Impellers: Cadex Max 40
- Impeller weights: 1019/1387 grams (v./h.)
Measured values
- Aerodynamics (3.0): 221 watts
- Weight (1.3): 6,520 grammes
- Driving stability (1.0): 9.50 N/mm
- Rear comfort (1.7): 118 N/mm
- Comfort front (2.7): 94 N/mm
- Ride/ bottom bracket stiffness (1.0): 71 N/mm
Equipment and prices
"We at Giant are all crazy about the TCR," said chief developer Owen Chang on the sidelines of the presentation. It remains to be seen whether the bike giant will also find fans for its new product outside the company headquarters and whether the lightweight machine will appear more often in the professional peloton again. After all, Jayco-Alula and Simon Yates, Vuelta winner in 2018, relied almost exclusively on the faster Propel in the previous season, with the TCR even remaining on the support vehicles for mountain stages during last year's Tour de France. Nevertheless, the new model has already made its racing debut. Filippo Zana piloted the TCR to ninth place at Strade Bianche last weekend.
Apart from the average aerodynamics, the laminated seatpost is another factor that prevents the Advanced SL 0 from selling well. Despite the high level of comfort, it makes transport in the car more difficult and only offers a small adjustment range on the clamping head. When adjusting the seat height, the seat dome has to be shortened depending on body proportions. At 12299 euros, the top model is now also the most expensive bike in the Taiwanese stable, with a surcharge of 700 euros for the predecessor. Although the next equipment variant costs almost half as much, the Advanced Pro 0 does not come close to the performance of the professional bike due to the lower carbon quality of the frame and heavier wheelset and drivetrain.
A total of seven versions (from 2799 euros) and two frame sets (3699 and 2499 euros) are available in Germany. With the exception of the basic model, all models shift electronically with groupsets from Shimano (Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105) or SRAM (Force). A version with the new SRAM Red AXS, photos of which are already circulating on the Internet, is expected to follow with the official presentation of the gear system.
Giant TCR Advanced SL 0
- Frame: Advanced SL
- Fork: Advanced SL
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2(2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Impellers: Cadex Max 40 (Carbon)
- Tyres: Cadex Race GC (28 mm)
- Price: 12,299 Euro
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 AXS
- Frame: Advanced
- Fork: Advanced SL
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Force AXS (2x12; 46/33, 10-36 t.)
- Impellers: Giant SLR 0 40 (Carbon)
- Tyres: Cadex Race GC (28 mm)
- Price: 6999 Euro
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 0 Di2
- Frame: Advanced
- Fork: Advanced SL
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.) | Shimano Ultegra Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Impellers: Giant SLR 0 40 (Carbon)
- Tyres: Cadex Race GC (28 mm)
- Price: 6499 Euro
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1
- Frame: Advanced
- Fork: Advanced SL
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano 105 Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Impellers: Giant SLR 1 40 (Carbon)
- Tyres: Giant Gavia Course 0 (28 mm)
- Price: 4799 Euro
Giant TCR Advanced 0
- Frame: Advanced
- Fork: Advanced
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano 105 Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Impellers: Giant SLR 2 36 (Carbon)
- Tyres: Giant Gavia Course 1 (28 mm)
- Price: 3999 Euro
Giant TCR Advanced 1
- Frame: Advanced
- Fork: Advanced
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano 105 Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Impellers: Giant P-R2 (aluminium)
- Tyres: Giant Gavia Course 1 (28 mm)
- Price: 3499 Euro
Giant TCR Advanced 2
- Frame: Advanced
- Fork: Advanced
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano 105 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 t.)
- Impellers: Giant P-R2 (aluminium)
- Tyres: Giant Gavia Course 1 (28 mm)
- Price: 2799 Euro
Julian Schultz
Editor
