Most new bikes tiptoe into the spotlight—an Instagram leak here, a blurry wind tunnel photo there. But Factor just pulled a full stealth mission and dropped what might be the wildest race bike we’ve seen in years. Caught under Jake Stewart at the Critérium du Dauphiné, this mysterious machine appears to be the result of someone asking, “What if the Hanzo TT rig had a road-going twin?” and actually following through. And yeah, it’s wild, but awesome that it was hidden this long without anyone knowing.
We’re not at the Critérium du Dauphiné, but we can catch the action live on Peacock. Here’s what we think.
Bayonet Fever
Let’s start up front. This thing is loud. Factor’s bringing the bayonet-style fork from the TT world straight into the peloton. The bike is giving me Hope x Lotus HB.T vibes from the Olympics and slight Stromm echoes from Sea Otter Classic. The unique front end is complete with wide-set blades and an oversized frontal footprint that screams “aero or die.” If you thought the Ridley Noah Fast or Colnago’s Y1Rs were aggressive, this one is pushing the meter. The fork isn’t just deep—it’s steep, like “Is that legal?” steep.
The head tube is effectively massive thanks to the forward-mounted bayonet, and the whole system is mated to a Y-shaped cockpit that leans heavily into Colnago Y1Rs territory. There is no center strut like the S5—just two clean struts rising from the base like an aero sculpture.
All New Back End
Swing around back, and it’s more Factor Hanzo inspiration but evolved. The seat tube is heavily sculpted and hugs the rear wheel with barely a breadth of clearance, much like a Cervélo S5, but maybe even tighter. The seat stays are dropped and pushed way out, and the chainstays are as boxy as can be. It’s textbook aero, just taken a step further. And with the frame’s raw carbon finish (not even a logo), there’s no paint penalty here, which might help keep it from testing the UCI’s 6.8kg floor. Still, this is not a weight weenie’s dream—it’s all about slicing wind, not tipping scales.
What Does It Mean?
So, is this Factor’s next-gen aero platform? Will it be ready for the Tour? No official word yet, and Factor has “no comment,” but with a soft debut at the Dauphiné and a big ol’ spotlight on it now, it wouldn’t be shocking to see this beast officially unveiled before July.
For now, one thing’s clear: Factor’s not playing it safe. This is a bold, aggressive, aero-obsessed race weapon that looks like it was built in a wind tunnel and dropped straight onto a world start line.
Stay tuned. This one’s just getting started.
