Following the release of the all-new Liv Brava Advanced Pro, the Giant counterpart is set loose with a brand new lightweight carbon composite frameset. Geometry figures of the 2021 Giant TCX Advanced Pro are untouched, but Giant have gone to great lengths to bring the weight of their new cyclocross race machine down to just 850g. That’s a 200g drop compared to the previous iteration, and that’s before we even talk about the lighter fork…
2021 Giant TCX Advanced Pro
The new TCX Advanced Pro from Giant features an all-new frameset made from their advanced-grade carbon composite material. In addition to the 17.5% reduction in frame weight, the carbon fork also sheds grams, now weighing a claimed 400g versus the previous generation’s 460g.
With that reduction in weight comes the same torsional and lateral stiffness seen on the 2020 TCX Advanced Pro.
Geometry remains largely untouched, with Giant clearly extremely happy with figures that have served them well. The seat tube angle remains at 73° in M-XL, while the S frame is a little steeper at 73.5°. The latter features a 71° head tube angle, while the larger sizes steepen in 0.5 increments, up to 72.5° in L and XL.
Chainstays measure up at 430mm, with the 142mm rear end able to accommodate tire widths up to 45mm. Reach figures still span a 370mm to 406mm range, while seat tube lengths also remain unchanged. The one single difference we’ve identified is the headtube which is now 3mm taller.
That, and Giant now spec the stems 10mm longer, at 110mm in size L.
Frame Details
The frameset of the 2021 Giant TCX Advanced Pro is much lighter than that of the previous generation, in part due to the manufacturing process of the carbon composite.
It is a modified monocoque construction that eliminates the outermost woven composite sheet (found on heavier framesets) to reduce weight without affecting ride quality, strength or stiffness.
Giant use a cyclocross-specific tube set, featuring a flattened and smoothed top tube shape for easier shouldering.
Most TCX Advanced Pro models come with a new D-Fuse SLR seat post that’s 20 percent more compliant than the existing D-Fuse SL. In addition to the proprietary D-Fuse seat post, the new frame does allow riders to switch to a standard round 30.9mm seat post.
The 2021 Giant TCX Advanced Pro features internal cable routing and two water bottle mounting points; one on the downtube and one on the seat tube.
The frame and fork both make use of flat mount hydraulic disc brakes.
Pricing & Availability
The 2021 Giant TCX Advanced Pro is available at three price points. The budget option TCX Advanced Pro 2 will set you back $2,500. For that you’ll get a SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain with 10-33T cassette, SRAM Apex 1 brakes, and a Giant P-X2 Disc Wheelset home to Maxxis All-Terrene, 700c x 33c tubeless tires.
The mid-range option, the TCX Advanced Pro 1, is priced at $3,500. It is built up with a Shimano GRX-RX810 drivetrain with Ultegra 11-34T Cassette. Shimano GRX RX-810 hydraulic disc brakes perform the stopping, while the frame rolls on the Giant SLR-2 WheelSystem home to All-Terrene tires.
At the top-end is the $5,000 TCX Advanced Pro 0 model. It gets electronic shifting from SRAM Force eTap AXS, SRAM Force eTap AXS brakes and the Giant SLR-1 WheelSystem. All are available now direct from Giant.
