Two of 2022’s World Champions are racing Specialized bikes this year, so when SD Worx & Soudal Quick-Step unveiled their 2023 kit, we thought we’d take a closer look at these two subtle rainbow-adorned World Champ Tarmac SL7 bikes. Last year was the first time the UCI awarded a Under-23 title, and New Zealander Niamh Fischer-Black was the first young rider across the finish line. And for the elites, Remco Evenepoel was the 89th man to win the title at the event in New South Wales last summer.
We’ve certainly featured a lot of pro Tarmacs over the years as they’ve been ridden to a ton of wins, and the SL7 is no exception under the likes of Alaphiippe, Cavendish, Sagan, and already Evenepoel when he won La Vuelta. So here are two more World Champ Tarmac SL7s…
Fischer-Black’s SD Worx S-Works Tarmac SL7
Twenty-two-year-old Niamh Fischer-Black races for SD Worx aboard this subtly rainbow-themed World Champ Tarmac. Since there isn’t really a separate U23 circuit, she races on the road in the women’s elite peloton and won’t have much opportunity to show off her rainbow jersey.
But this custom-painted bike will be a nice reminder of her successful 2022 season, and hopefully good motivation for the coming year.
Legends are built not born.
Fischer-Black’s Specialized race bike is kitted out with a 12-speed SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset (48/35T x 10-33T) equipped with a Quarq AXS power meter spider.
Her contact points are a set of mid-spec composite Time Xpro 10 pedals, a 3D-printed S-Works Romin Evo Mirror saddle, and a 2-piece cockpit combining an alloy Tarmac integrated stem with a Zipp Service Course SL alloy bar, wrapped in Supacaz tape. Her proprietary aero seatpost is also sporting the new mount for the updated Garmin Varia radar+camera+taillight that helps keep Fischer-Black safe while training out on the road.
Her wheels are the latest dual-depth tubeless Roval Rapide CLX wrapped in new S-Works Turbo RapidAir tires.
Evenepoel’s Soudal Quick-Step S-Works Tarmac SL7
Remco Evenepoel’s Fact Carbon 12R frameset and custom paint job are pretty much identical to Fischer-Black’s.
But his finishing kit is a bit different because of his Soudal Quick-Step team sponsors.
Evenepoel’s World Champ Tarmac is built up with a complete 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group (54/40T x 11-30T) including the integrated D-A crankset power meter, plus CeramicSpeed bearings inside.
He also adds a classic rainbow chain catcher in front of his front derailleur too, doubling as the mount for his power meter’s cadence magnet.
His contact points are a set of hard-to-beat Dura-Ace R9100 pedals with red 0° float cleats, a 2-piece cockpit combining an alloy Tarmac integrated stem with PRO Vibe Aero SL carbon bar also wrapped in Supacaz tape, and a 3D-printed S-Works Power Mirror saddle… although we have seen him trying out a prototype that is likely an S-Works Phenom with Mirror 3D-printed padding.
It’s interesting to note as we see more 1-piece bar+stem cockpit and the debate rages over fully internal cable routing… even with a team of mechanics to set up & maintain their bikes AND superlight Roval cockpit options, both of the World Champions are running separate bars & stems, and cables that are external under their stems.
His wheels are the ultralight latest tubeless-ready Roval Alpinist CLX II with new 26mm S-Works Turbo RapidAir tires. No Varia mount for Evenepoel, but he does get a number plate bracket mounted directly to the back of his seatpost.
Evenepoel also gets a few shout-out’s to the long-running Quick-Step team’s Wolfpack nickname, like the small logo on his toptube and the custom rainbow K-Edge out-front CPS mount bolted to his stem faceplate.
