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Flanders Tech: Next gen prototype Vittoria classics tubular spotted on Giant-Alpecin & Orica-AIS

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Digging through the rush of the paddocks of the men’s and women’s pro peloton gearing up for yesterday’s Tour of Flanders, we spotted a few new bikes and components designed to get the riders up and over the race’s steep cobbled climbs and the number of pavé sections interspersed throughout. At first glance the biggest difference vs. the typical bikes the pros race throughout the year, is that in the northern classics lots of special tires come out. While we counted at least 9 teams between the two elite races rolling on Vittoria tubulars, including a mix of previous generation Corsa SC and Pave CG to the new Graphene+ Corsas, only two teams were riding a new unmarked prototype that caught our eye.  Take a closer look, get some more details, plus see why Giant-Alpecin were running 105 brakes…

 

Flanders-Tech_RVV_Orica-AIS_prototype-next-generation-Vittoria-Corsa-Pave-graphene-classics-tubular-28mm-tread

The new tire is looks to be a combination of the fast rolling new siped tread center of the recently introduced Corsa, with the addition of alternating chevron shoulders for loose surface cornering grip, as a bit of a carry over from the pervious Pavé. The tire also bears a strong resemblance to the other recent Corsa tires, so it looks like it will use the same 320 TPI Kevlar-reinforced Corespun cotton casing, latex inner tube, and multi-compound Graphene + rubber.

We’ve spoken with Vittoria about the new tire and they’ve told us that it is a tire developed in partnership with Giant-Alpecin to meet their needs for the cobbled classics. Vittoria says that it is still in the testing phase so they have no firm date on its release or a finalized name for it yet, but they did confirm that it is a 28mm classics tubular. There had been some chatter that riders (and mechanics weren’t entirely thrilled to lose the Pavé that had been a mainstay of the spring classics, especially with the recent trend towards wider tires in the pro peloton, so this looks like it might offer a good replacement.

Flanders-Tech_RVV_Orica-AIS_prototype-next-generation-Vittoria-Corsa-Pave-graphene-classics-tubular-28mm-sidewall

The Giant-Alpecin team was riding the prototype tires both front and back for added comfort and grip on the cobbles. The fat tires were a bit of a tight fit for them under their standard Dura-Ace single-bolt mount brakes, so they switch across the board on their rim-brake (previous generation) Defy Advanced SL framesets to what appear to be 105 dual-pivot SLR EV brakes, minus the 105 series branding.

The Orica-AIS Scott Foil bikes use direct mount calipers which lend a bit more clearance, so their team was able to stick with the standard Dura-Ace calipers. Also, generally being a bit lighter than the men, the Orica-AIS women didn’t need quite as much cush, so the team only used the new 28mm prototype tires in the rear and went with the new Corsa 25mm tubulars up front.

Interestingly, when we reached out to Vittoria, they asked which specific prototype tire we were asking about. So I guess we have to keep our eyes peeled, as there are clearly more of them out floating around!

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Matthew Vangelisti
Matthew Vangelisti
7 years ago

Vittoria was foolish to drop the iconic Pave tire that was instrumental in so many cobbled classic wins. The current prototype is still off as the entire tread will need to be able to grip wet dirty cobbles. The 3 podium finishers were all on 30mm tires in 2015 so expect a wider tire under the Giant Alp team on Sunday.

jay
jay
7 years ago

What is that cable release on the front brake called? I need that!

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago
Reply to  jay

Shimano SM-CB90.
Very helpful for running wider tires on Campy rim brakes (the lever release on mine won’t clear inflated GP4000 25mm tires)

Morten Reippuert
Morten Reippuert
7 years ago

I love my 27mm Pave tubs – the casing is super tough yet fast for lightweigth touring in the Apls/Pyeranes and handles acrobatic descents on steep gavel likea much wider and heavyer tire. I usually run them at 4-5 bars while carrying 10kg af luggage i addition to my own weight (85kg). Sure 15mm sprinter gator skins are even tougher but the roling resistance and grip is not in the same league as the Pave’s

SNIPE-HUNTER
7 years ago

Yup, that ain’t no 105 brake. R451 mid-reach, brah. Unlikely that Vittoria has made a mistake by moving from the fine “file/chevron.” Those dang old tire professionals know damn well what they’re doing. Can’t wait to get my grubbies on a set that I’ll use for Saturday morning “worlds.”

jeb
jeb
7 years ago

I’ve used Pave clinchers with clement latex tubes for gravel events the last few years and they have been fantastic. Bummed when I saw they’d been discontinued.

SNIPE-HUNTER
7 years ago

Clement doesn’t offer latex tubes.

Matthew Vangelisti
Matthew Vangelisti
7 years ago

I gave up on Vittoria coming out with a new PAVE and bought a set of Challenge Paris-Roubaix classics tires in 27mm. The measure 28mm+ now. I use them on my cross bike in the fall/winter/spring so no worry about space. The entire tread is chevrons all the way across. At 300g it is very sturdy designed for punishment. Challenge “Because tires win races”. But it was interesting to see most teams were running a special Continental prototype classics tubular.

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