Tour de France Bicycles & Historical Bike Weights
Author’s note: This article which was first written in 2010 has been continuously updated throughout the years.
After swapping my Cannondale 3.0‘s hodgepodge of Campagnolo components for Shimano Dura-Ace 7700s, the bike weighs in at 19.0 pounds. In this day and age of ultra-light (and über-expensive) vélos bedecked with enough carbon fiber to embarrass a B2 Stealth Bomber, this seems a bit portly and admittedly, she could easily lose another 1.5 lbs. if I cared to spend a few hundred dollars for a lighter wheelset, saddle and handlebar.
But can you believe that my C’dale (with its 19-year-old aluminum frame) actually weighs less than the bicycles that Miguel Indurain, Jan Ullrich and Bjarne Riis rode to Tour de France victory in the mid- to late 90s? And every winning Tour bike before that!
Below are some of the bikes ridden to glory in the modern Tour de France era. Bike weights hovered between 18 and 22 pounds from 1968 to 1998, after which they plummeted especially with Lance Armstrong demanding every technological advantage. In 2004, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) imposed a minimum weight requirement of 15.0 pounds (6.8 kilograms) for bicycles raced in international events under their jurisdiction—including the Tour de France—so the lightest bike ever ridden to overall Tour victory was Armstrong’s Trek 5900 SL, weighing 14.5 pounds in 2003. (That win was later nullified.)
Some other observations are below. [August 11, 2013: Items below that are struck out are due to disqualifications of once-declared victors like Lance Armstrong implicated in doping scandals.]
- In the last 40 years, a handful of bicycle manufacturers have dominated the race for the yellow jersey: Pinarello (15 as of August 2020), Gitane (with 9 or 12 victories), Peugeot (10), and Trek (9). Read this post for a detailed analysis and controversies regarding which bike company has won the most.
- TVT (of France) claims to have at least 5 victories spanning from 1986-1991. Their bikes were frequently rebadged as other marques.
- 1973 was the first time the Tour was won on a titanium bike. Luis Ocana was riding a Speedwell Titalite frameset, although it may have been badged as a Motobecane. (Thanks to Robert Child for this info.)
- In 1999, Lance Armstrong’s time-trial bike was a Trek-badged titanium Litespeed Blade, which was another time a Tour de France victory (later nullified) was achieved using a titanium bicycle.
- 1994 was the last time the Tour was won a steel bike—a TIG-welded Pinarello-badged beauty ridden by Miguel Indurain.
- Indurain and Bjarne Riis rode TIG-welded metal-matrix frames to victory in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
- Aluminum bicycles were ridden to glory by Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
- Ever since Lance Armstrong lead the Tour on a stock Trek OCLV in 1999, every winning bike has been made completely out of carbon fiber except for Oscar Pereiro’s Pinarello Dogma, which had main tubes made out of an AK61 magnesium alloy and rear triangle made out of carbon fiber.
- Shimano also finally had a win in the Tour starting in 1999 2007.
- For the climbing stages in all seven of Lance Armstrong’s TdF overall first-place finishes, he used a downtube front shift lever to save weight (about 2-3 ounces). Nowadays, combination brake/shift levers (such as SRAM Red) are just as light as a separate downtube and brake lever—and bicycle manufacturers don’t even put braze-ons for downtube levers on their frames anymore—so 2005 will likely go down in history as the last year that downtube levers were used by a Tour de France winner.
- Alberto Contador’s Trek Madone 5.2 in 2007 was the first* Tour-winning bike with a mountain bike-like sloping top tube. Now almost all modern race bikes have “compact” frames, with the main holdouts being Cannondale and Pinarello.
*It has been claimed that Marco Pantani’s 1998 bikes had slightly sloping top tubes. - SRAM had its first victory in 2010 despite Andy Schleck’s infamous chain-skipping incident. (He was later awarded TdF victory after Alberto Contador tested positive for clenbuterol.)
- Cadel Evan was the first TdF winner using electronic shifting (Shimano Di2 on a BMC Teammachine SLR01) in 2011.
- Around 2018, more and more bicycle manufacturers were adopting “dropped” seatstays. Supposedly they are more aerodynamic and allow more compliance than traditional seatstays that meet at the junction of the top tube and seat tube.
With the UCI limit of 6.8 kilos being so easy to achieve nowadays for sponsor-backed professionals, what will be the latest innovations we will see in the next decade of Tour de Frances? More widespread adoption of electronic shifting and aerodynamic tubing are a near certainty. Eventually, Shimano and SRAM will come out with 11-speed shifting to catch up with Campagnolo. [August 11, 2013: Done.]
I’ll go ahead and predict that by 2020 some sort of disc brake system for road bikes will be introduced and that electronic equipment (e.g., sensors, meters and communication devices) will be more integrated into the frames. [August 11, 2013: I made these predictions in 2010 and by now they already seem fait accompli.] Any one else with predictions?
| Year | Winning Racer | Bicycle Manufacturer | Weight, lbs. (kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Jacques Anquetil | Helyett | 22.4 (10.2) | (1) |
| 1965 | Felice Gimondi | Magni | 24.2 (11) | (1) |
| 1967 | Roger Pingeon | Peugeot | 22.9 (10.4) | (1) |
| 1968 | Jan Janssen | Lejeune | 19.1 (8.7) | (1) |
| 1972 | Eddy Merckx | Eddy Merckx (Colnago) | 21.1 (9.6) | (1) |
| 1973 | Luis Ocaña | Motobecane | 18.7 (8.5) | (1); a titanium Speedwell Titalite frameset |
| 1976 | Lucien Van Impe | Gitane | 18.3 (8.3) | (1) |
| 1977 | Bernard Thévenet | Peugeot | 22.0 (10.0) | (1) |
| 1980 | Joop Zoetemelk | Raleigh | 22.4 (10.2) | (1) |
| 1985 | Bernard Hinault | Hinault | 21.1 (9.6) | (1); time-trial bike? |
| 1987 | Stephen Roche | Battaglin | 21.1 (9.6) | (1) |
| 1988 | Pedro Delgado | Pinarello (built by TVT) | 21.6 (9.8) | (1),(17) |
| 1989 | Greg LeMond | Bottechia (built by TVT) | ? | (17) |
| 1990 | Greg LeMond | LeMond | 20.0 (9.1) | (1); time-trial bike |
| 1993 | Miguel Indurain | Pinarello | 22.7 (10.3) | (1) |
| 1993-1994 | Miguel Indurain | Pinarello-badged (Dario Pegoretti) | 19.8 (9.0) | (16) |
| 1995 | Miguel Indurain | Pinarello Espada | 17.8 (8.1) | (1); time-trial bike |
| 1996 | Bjarne Riis | Pinarello | 19.8 (9.0) | (1) |
| 1997 | Jan Ullrich | Pinarello | 19.8 (9.0) | (1) |
| 1998 | Marco Pantani | Bianchi; Bianchi Mega Pro XL Reparto Corse | 17.8 (8.1); 15.34 (6.96) climbing bike | (1), (18) |
| 1999 | Lance Armstrong | Trek 5500 | ? | (2); Frameset: 3.9 lbs. (1.75 kg). 1″ head tube, threaded chromoly steerer, 9-speed Dura-Ace |
| 2000 | Lance Armstrong | Trek 5900 | ? | (2); frameset: 2.8+.9=3.7 lbs. (1.25+.42=1.67 kg), 1-1/8″ head tube, threadless aluminum steerer, 9-speed Dura-Ace |
| 2000 | Lance Armstrong | Trek 5900 SL | <15.0 (<6.8) | (2),(5),(6); Frame: 2.2 lbs. (1.0 kg), for mountain stages |
| 2001 | Lance Armstrong | Trek 5900 | ? | (2) frameset: 2.5+.9=3.5 lbs. (1.15+.42=1.57 kg), 9-speed Dura-Ace, still used downtube front shifter for mountains |
| 2002 | Lance Armstrong | Trek 5900 | 18.0 (8.2) | (1) |
| 2003 | Lance Armstrong | Trek Madone 5.9 | 15.8 (7.2) | (1),(14); road stages |
| 2003 | Lance Armstrong | Trek 5900 SL | 14.5 (6.6) | (2),(14); frame: 2.2 lbs. (.98 kg), mountain stages |
| 2004 | Lance Armstrong | Trek Madone SL | 15.0 (6.8) | (2),(3),(4),(13),(14); frameset: 2.4+.7=3.2 lbs. (1.10+.34=1.44 kg) |
| 2005 | Lance Armstrong | Trek Madone SSLx | 15.0 (6.8) | (3) |
| 2006 | Oscar Pereiro | Pinarello Dogma-FPX | 15.0 (6.8) | (3),(8); Magnesium AK61 Superlight |
| 2007 | Alberto Contador | Trek Madone 5.2 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3),(10),(12); First official win by a Shimano-equipped bicycle. |
| 2008 | Carlos Sastre | Cervélo R3-SL | 15.0 (6.8) | (3),(9); Rotor Q-Ring elliptical chainrings mounted on FSA crankarms |
| 2009 | Alberto Contador | Trek Madone 6-Series | 15.0 (6.8) | (3),(11) |
| 2010 | Alberto Contador Andy Schleck | Specialized Tarmac SL3 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3),(7); First win by a SRAM-equipped bike? |
| 2011 | Cadel Evans | BMC Teammachine SLR01 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3),(15); first TdF winner using electronic shifting (Shimano Dura-Ace Di2) |
| 2012 | Bradley Wiggins | Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3) |
| 2013 | Chris Froome | Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); 126mm stem, 40cm bars, 172.5mm Dura-Ace cranks, and 23mm Veloflex tubulars |
| 2014 | Vincenzo Nibali | Specialized Tarmac / Specialized Roubaix (for cobbles) / Specialized Shiv (TT) | 15.0 (6.8) for Tarmac | (3); Tarmac: Campagnolo Super Record mechanical groupset; FSA carbon fiber handlebars, stem and seatpost; Veloflex Carbon 700X23c tubulars |
| 2015 | Chris Froome | Pinarello Dogma F8 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, O.Symetric chainrings |
| 2016 | Chris Froome | Pinarello Dogma F8 XLight | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070, O.Symetric chainrings, Stages power meter |
| 2017 | Chris Froome | Pinarello Dogma F10 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9100 with custom bar-tops switch, O.Symetric chainrings |
| 2018 | Geraint Thomas | Pinarello Dogma F10 XLight | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9170 |
| 2019 | Egan Bernal | Pinarello Dogma F12 | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); Shimano Dura-Ace |
| 2020 | Tadej Pogačar | Colnago V3Rs | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); rim-brake model; Campagnolo; Colnago’s first TdF victory |
| 2021 | Tadej Pogačar | Colnago V3Rs | 15.0 (6.8) | (3); disc-brake model for 17 of 21 stages; Campagnolo Super Record EPS |
| 2022 | Jonas Vingegaard | Cervélo S5 (& R5 in mountainous stages) | 15.0 (6.8) | (3), (19); Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 12-speed; second TdF victory for Cervélo and first since 2008 |
References:
- Les Velos Mythiques Vainquers du Tour de France by Yves Blanc and Bruno Bade, as described in the Starbike Weight Weenies Forum.
- Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France-winning machines, James Huang, CyclingNews.com, July 2007.
- UCI weight limit of 15 lbs. (6.8 kg) in effect.
- Other components Armstrong used are described in Wired Magazine, July 2004.
- Trek Press Release, July 2000.
- Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France Bikes, Chain Reaction Bicycles, 2001.
- Andy Schleck’s Specialized S-Works SL3 SRAM Red & Zipp Tour ride, The Road Diaries, July 2010.
- Oscar Pereiro – Dogma-FPX Bike on display, YouTube user Taurus0423, November 2006.
- Cervélo launch Carlos Sastre R3-SL and S3 limited edition frames, BikeRadar.com, June 2009.
- Alberto Contador’s Astana Trek Madone 5.2, CyclingNews.com, May 2008.
- Alberto Contador’s Astana Trek Series 6 Madone, CyclingNews.com, July 2009.
- Trek Madone: The Bike That Owned the Tour de France, Gizmodo.com, July 2007.
- Trek Madone 5.9 Project One, CyclingNews.com, November 2004.
- Trek’s 2005 Carbon Fiber Lineup, Chain Reaction Bicycles, November 2005.
- Evans’ BMC teammachine SLR01, Velonews, July 2011.
- Tour de France winning bikes, BikeRadar, June 2012.
- From TVT’s letter. Thanks to James Greenlees for sending me it.
- Retro pro bike: Marco Pantani’s 1998 Bianchi Mega Pro XL, BikeRadar, February 15, 2010.
- Changes to UCI equipment rules allowed for frame tubes with a deeper profile.
Photo by Ray Dobbins
Photo by CanalBlog.com
Photo by VeloClassique.com
Photo by User airmailv2 on flickr.com
Photo by User airmailv2 on GregLemondFan.com
Photo by John Pierce; sent by James Greenlees
Photo by BikeCult.com
Photo by SportsFanaticcoza
Photo by The Guardian
Photo by Chain Reaction Bicycles
Photo by Wikimedia
Photo by weblogscltv.com
Photo by User taurus0423 on YouTube
Photo by Gizmodo
Photo by roadbikereview.com
Photo by Bike Radar
Photo by The Road Diaries
Photo by Sky Pro Cycling
Photo by Team Sky
Photo by Colnago
Photo by Christophe Ena/AP
Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters
Photo by The Independent
There are 12 comments.
never ceased to amaze me that armstrong demanded such attention to detail on the bike weight and then rode with a gold chain round his neck.
Why cross out Armstrongs bikes? They didn't dope, he did. SMH
I guess that could be added as another part to the list of controversies :)
https://felixwong.com/2017/07/which-bicycle-manufacturers-have-won-the-tour-de-france-the-most/
How things have come on since the early 00's.
Our first thoughts are probably related to frames but wheels, groupos and other detail parts must have come on strides; plenty of steel framed bikes out there now that are close to or even below the UCI limit...
Love this info. I am working on a novel in which the 1974 Tour figures prominently. I notice that the year's 74 and 75 are missing from your chart. Why? And can you tell me what Merckx rode to the winner's podium in those years and also suggest what were the major bikes riders were on during those years? The details are important to me in the telling of my story. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you and keep up the great work. That's a beautiful Gitane up there.
Hi nice web site.
What about TVT bikes?
eg: Lemond in 1990 used one.
Thanks.
Luis Ocaña rode some stages on a Speedwell Titanium frame. I had one probably weighed about 18 LBS. Andy Gilmour
"Ever since Lance Armstrong lead the Tour on a stock Trek OCLV in 1999, every winning bike has been made out of carbon fiber."
Oscar Pereiro 2006?
Thanks for stopping by my website and for pointing out Oscar Pereiro's bike!
It appears his winning bike was made out of magnesium for the main tubes, and carbon fiber for the rear triangle and fork:
That certainly warrants a mention on the page. I've updated now.
Hi,
Thanks for putting this together - its an interesting read. However I999 wasn't the first time a titanium bike was ridden in the TDF, in fact Ocana won the 1973 tour on a titanium Speedwell frame, which was badged as a Motobecane. Ocana's winning bike wasn't made in France, but the manufacturing heartland of Great Britain - Birmingham !!!
Best wishes
Rob
Thank you for the information, Rob! I have confirmed it and updated the page now. Happy cycling.
The cost of a tour de France bike is highly dependent on the style, technology, and construction of the equipment. For professional bike pricing, UCI allows disc brakes to be used during the Tour de France. Now, a competition bike has at least one disc brake frame and one associated grouping unit.