RIDDEN AND REVIEWED
A superlative climber that also flies on the flat
The 10th-generation Giant TCR was crowned Best Climbing Bike in Cycling Weekly’s recent Race Bike of the Year awards, and for good reason. In the latest TCR, Giant has created a bike that embodies all of the cycling industry’s buzz words, with aero improvements, lower weight and increased stiffness all enhancing the performance of an iconic race machine.
So, with those high expectations setting the tone, it’s time to show our workings and delve into the detail of exactly why the TCR topped our test when the gradients got steep – here is all you need to know about the new Giant TCR, and how it rides.
Giant has switched from laser cutting to ‘cold-blade’ cutting for the carbon sheets, enhancing precision and reducing deformation risk for the new TCR. This method allows for fewer carbon pieces, helping to achieve a lower weight and higher stiffness.
In addition, Giant now constructs the front triangle from a single carbon piece using a single bladder mold, eliminating joins and further reducing weight while increasing stiffness.
The frame weighs in at 690 grams without paint – 75 grams lighter than the previous TCR and 155 grams lighter than the Giant’s aero machine, the Propel. While the Specialized’s S-Works Aethos climbing bike claims a frame weight of just 585 grams, comparisons are best
made with fully built models, where the TCR holds its own at 6.4kg.
The TCR’s aerodynamics benefit from tucked-in cables and flattened handlebar tops, contributing to a 4.19-watt improvement at 40kph. Additionally, narrower handlebar options help reduce drag, especially with the smallest size measuring just 34cm at the hoods. A move to a two-piece bar and stem will make bike-fit adjustments that much easier. For those seeking ultimate aero efficiency, a one-piece handlebar is available, offering an extra two-watt saving. This is something I am in two minds about – a two-piece cockpit is undoubtedly easier to service, and change, but the bars on the TCR do pose as my main point of contention. More on this later.
The real gains on the new TCR, in my opinion, are made outside of the frameset altogether. New Cadex Max 40 wheels fitted to our test model feature a 40mm rim depth, a 22.4mm hookless internal rim width, and ultra-light carbon spokes.
At 1,249 grams, these wheels strike a good balance between weight and stiffness, outperforming some competitors in terms of stiffness-toweight ratio by 10.5%.
THE BUILD
Twenty-eight years after its debut with the Spanish team ONCE, the Giant TCR is now in its 10th generati
