One point four! Many manufacturers strive for it, but only very few achieve it. We're talking about the best overall rating that TOUR has ever awarded to a road bike. In the current evaluation system, which has been in place for almost seven years and reflects the ride characteristics that can be experienced, only eight bikes have ever achieved this. Measured against the total number of test bikes in this period, this corresponds to less than one per cent.
The 4 best road bikes in the 2022 TOUR test
This fraction can be explained by the high demands we place on an aerodynamic competition bike. But it's not just us: after all, our test procedure is highly regarded in the industry and continues to set standards in the important disciplines of aerodynamics, stiffness and comfort by which a modern racing bike must be measured. Only those who succeed in combining these parameters in a vehicle in the best possible way can ultimately secure the top score of 1.4.
Continuous further development
There are currently four bikes at the top. The Canyon Aeroad and Specialized Tarmac, which were the first racing bikes with disc brakes to take the top spot, faced competition this year from the Giant Propel and Scott Foil. The elite club also shows the directions from which the manufacturers' development departments are moving towards the common goal of the best competition racer. Some are trying to make their emphatically aerodynamic bikes lighter so that they are not only fast on the flat, but can also keep up on the climbs.
The most recent example is the Scott Foil RC Ultimate. Although Scott has made full use of the new UCI regulations and developed an extremely flat frame, the bike, which only needs 206 watts for the test speed of 45 km/h in the wind tunnel, weighs just 7.2 kilograms. Giant's brand new Propel Advanced SL also follows this idea; the bike retains its good aerodynamics of 209 watts for 45 km/h, but the Taiwanese were able to reduce the weight to 6.8 kilograms.
Other designers are working on making their lightweight all-rounders more aerodynamic. The S-Works Tarmac SL 7 is a style-defining example, always weighing less than 7 kilos, and in its current development stage has reached the 210 watts of pedalling power required for 45 km/h. Overall, it can be said that the TOUR front-runners, with slightly different strengths and weaknesses in terms of weight and aerodynamics, show what is currently technically possible.
Of course, there are lighter bikes that undercut the UCI weight limit, as well as aero specialists that stay below the prestigious 200 watt mark, such as the Giant TCR Advanced SL (6.6 kilos) or the Simplon Pride II (199 watts). However, the best in individual disciplines fall slightly in one of the other categories and miss the current top score of 1.4 by a few tenths.
In addition to these core virtues of a competitive racer, comfort is receiving more and more attention; even well-trained racers benefit from a springy and cushioned bike that conserves strength and fitness. Although all four bikes are still true competition racers, the seating position and saddle rake are sometimes extremely sporty.
However, the days when a race model thundered over the tarmac are over. Instead, the quartet surprises with a level of frame comfort that not even all designated Marathon racing bikes offer. The Scott stands out in particular, and the excellent suspension on the saddle will be the benchmark for future aero racers of equal standing.
The quartet also achieved top results in the stiffness values for the bottom bracket, steering head and fork, which account for 25 per cent of the overall score. Only the Canyon falls slightly in terms of fork stiffness, albeit only in the grade; this doesn't matter in riding practice. If the Koblenz-based company put more effort into making the bike lighter, the Aerorad CFR would come very close to the new top score of 1.3.
Best road bikes - Big catch!
The catch with our best test bikes is the price. The manufacturers pay for the development costs of a modern aero road bike, which are many times higher than for a marathon bike or gravel bike simply because of the complex measurements in the wind tunnel. Crisis-related inflation and the use of the finest components also drive up prices.
With the exception of the Canyon, all models have a price tag in the five-digit range. It should not be overlooked that the competition for the top score in the TOUR test is now decided by the smallest nuances and tenths of a decimal point. And riding fun is also available for less money, as all manufacturers also offer cheaper versions of their high-end racers.
Can road bikes achieve 1.0 in the TOUR test?
The TOUR grading scale is based on what is technically possible and sensible. For example, we award a score of 1.0 for weight if the bike reaches the UCI limit of 6.8 kilograms when ready to ride (including pedals). An even lighter bike would not get a better score. The same applies to the stiffness and comfort criteria, where the benchmark is what is technically feasible; it is not desirable to make a road bike infinitely stiff; a score of 1.0 is achievable in this discipline, but the values are capped. An overall score of 1.0 for a bike is theoretically possible; however, as individual criteria - such as weight and aerodynamics - require opposing design measures, the challenge remains high.
With the advent of electric gears and disc brakes, we have adapted our grading scale to take account of technical progress. This also applies, for example, to current tyres with better technical properties. The current top score of 1.4 can therefore no longer be compared with older road bikes that achieved this score with rim brakes and mechanical gears.
Julian Schultz
Editor
