Top 5 Tour de France bikes
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Even if you’re not quite up in the pro cycling ranks yet, you can still get a slice of Tour de France action. Check out these slightly more budget friendly bikes inspired by July’s big race.
1. Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105 2014 - Road Bike
Review
The Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105 is tantalisingly the very same BallisTec carbon frame construction as that found below Peter Sagan et al at this year’s Tour. Of course, as the name suggests, you’re swapping Team Cannondale’s green-painted SRAM Red groupset for more demure Shimano 105, plus one or two other trade-downs, but the skeleton is one and the same.
The SuperSix Evo is a speed machine, no doubt, but with concessions to comfort in the shape of Cannondale’s famous SAVE vibration absorbing construction, this ride is as cosseting as it is refined.
| Quick Look | |
|---|---|
| Price | £999.00 |
| Frameset | BallisTec Carbon |
| Groupset | Shimano 105 with FSA Gossamer chainset |
| Brakes | Shimano Tiagra |
| Wheels | Shimano R501 |
| Best for | Rouleurs |
2. Giant Propel Advanced 3 2014 - Road Bike
Review
The Giant Propel Advanced is the choice of the Giant-Shimano sprinters like Marcel Kittel, with the team’s climbers preferring the ultra-light TCR Advanced. Just like the team bike, our chosen cheaper Propel is all about aero advantage – just check out that seatpost and front-end shape. For a mere two grand you’re buying into a lot of pro-level technology here, but of course with a thriftier specification list.
Gearing comes courtesy of Shimano 105 and it’s Giant own-brand finishing kit all round, right down to the tyres. Not that that’s a bad thing, with its reliability record and it’s fair to say this bike represents the cheapest way to get your aero fix.
| Quick Look | |
|---|---|
| Price | £1,999.00 |
| Frameset | Advanced grade composite |
| Groupset | Shimano 105 |
| Brakes | Giant SpeedControl |
| Wheels | Giant P-Elite A |
| Best for | Sprinters |
3. Lapierre Xelius 400 Compact 2014 - Road Bike
Review
The Lapierre Xelius 400 is still fairly spendy at £2,800, but not only do you get a lower budget version of Team FDJ’s patriotically French filly of choice, it’s even badged up like the team bike. With a Shimano Ultegra groupset, carbon seatpost and tubeless tyres, you’re still getting a high-end race-ready package here, so it’s certainly not all show and no go.
If it’s the FDJ Francophile colour scheme that’s particularly caught your eye, Lapierre has dressed several of its other bikes in FDJ livery too, including the comfortable Sensium and the budget-friendly Audacio.
| Quick Look | |
|---|---|
| Price | £2,799.99 |
| Frameset | Carbon |
| Groupset | Shimano Ultegra |
| Brakes | Shimano Ultegra |
| Wheels | Shimano AWH6800 tubeless |
| Best for | Copycats |
4. Specialized Tarmac Pro Race 2015 - Road Bike
Top Bargain
Review
The Specialized Tarmac Pro Race is the lightest weapon in Specialized’s race arsenal, so it’ll be the bike of choice for Team Astana’s climbers. While the squad tries to "make benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan" this July on the top of the range model, you can get yourself an entry level Tarmac for just over a grand.
This model of course has the spec pared back to a simple Shimano Sora groupset, plus its carbon frame is FACT9r carbon to the pros’ 11r, but it’s exciting to think you’re riding something essentially cast from the same mould as a Tour favourite. If you need further convincing, Omega Pharma-Quickstep will also be hitting the Tour astride Tarmacs, so that’s not one but two Tour teams recommending this bike – praise indeed.
| Quick Look | |
|---|---|
| Price | £4,000.00 |
5. Scott Foil 10 2015 - Road Bike
Review
The Scott Foil is actually available in a ‘team issue’ version as ridden by Orica-Greenedge, but lower down the ranks we found the smokin’ hot Foil 20 at a third of the team bike’s six-grand price tag. It weighs a smidge more – the frame is quoted at 980g to the team bike’s 880g – and there’s no Shimano Dura-Ace or deep section wheels on the Foil 20.
Still, this more affordable Foil has capable Shimano 105 gearing and a fantastic level of finishing kit. There’s even a flash of Orica-Greenedge green lighting up the frame, for that little extra dash of pro inspiration.
| Quick Look | |
|---|---|
| Price | £2,249.10 |