This is, according to Trek, the fastest bike the US brand has ever tested in the wind tunnel, with a claimed 16-watt saving over the outgoing model at 26 mph / 41.84 kph (in its triathlon guise).
On that note, the Speed Concept is available in two versions: this UCI-legal time trial bike and a tri option with down tube storage and the addition of Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler at the rear for enhanced comfort.
The front end of the new Trek Speed Concept has been completely redesigned. - Simon von Bromley / Our Media
Heavily dropped seat stays and large compensation triangles are key aero features of the new Trek SpeedConcept frame. - Simon von Bromley / Our Media
The UCI says ‘no’ to aero-enhancing storage and road time trials aren’t long enough to significantly benefit IsoSpeed, so neither port across to Pedersen’s Trek-Segafredo team bike.
There are deep tube profiles throughout, however, exploiting what is possible within the UCI’s rulebook, while the heavily-dropped seatstays now feature a stepped design on this third-generation Speed Concept.
This rear disc wheel is a Zipp Sub 9, with the Zipp branding removed. - Simon von Bromley / Our Media
A Bontrager Aeolus RSL 75 is Pedersen's front wheel of choice. - Simon von Bromley / Our Media
Everything is integrated up front, as you’d expect, with the base bar flowing into the head tube, which in turn has a deep, truncated Kammtail design. The fork is suitably skinny, too.
We photographed Pedersen’s bike ahead of the stage one time trial in Copenhagen, where the Dane finished sixth on home roads.
Mads Pedersen's Trek Speed Concept has 60T 1x chainring up front. - Simon von Bromley / Our Media
Taped up holes are nothing new, but don't let any UCI commissaires see it... - Simon von Bromley / Our Media
For that short, 13.2km test, Pedersen used a 1x setup, pairing a huge 60-tooth chainring with his SRAM Red eTap AXS 12-speed drivetrain.
The front wheel is a Bontrager Aeolus RSL 75 and the rear a Zipp Super-9 disc, both wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Race tyres.
Pedersen uses a bridge to get a narrower-than-stock elbows position. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaThe foam padding runs almost all the way up the extensions for extra support and comfort. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaPedersen has custom carbon fibre armrests, which were apparently made for him by Bontrager. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaBlip buttons under the bar tape allow Pedersen to shift while on the bull horns. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaEven Tour de France riders use tape to cover the valve holes on their disc wheels. The branding may have been removed but the dimples are a giveaway that this is a Zipp disc wheel. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaPirelli's P Zero Race isn't the Italian brand's fastest tyre, but this could be swapped out for race day. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaPedersen uses a Bontrager Hilo carbon saddle for time trials, with some added grip tape on the nose. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaAll of Trek–Segafredo's wheels have been upgraded with Kogel ceramic bearings. - Simon von Bromley / Our MediaWe weighed Pedersen's bike ahead of the Tour de France. - George Scott / Our Media8.44kg. Not bad! - George Scott / Our Media
George Scott is BikeRadar's head of content, overseeing web, video and podcast content. He has been writing about bikes for more than a decade and riding them for much longer. George is a road cyclist at heart but caught the gravel bug in 2020 after buying his Mason Bokeh and now rides little else. As a cyclist, he’s happiest exploring new gravel trails around Bristol or riding in the mountains, even if he can't climb them quickly. George studied journalism and cut his teeth at Eurosport before joining RoadCyclingUK in 2010. He became editor of RCUK in 2014 and, after a spell as a freelance journalist writing for Cycling Plus, Rouleur, Cyclist and T3, joined BikeRadar in 2019.
Simon von Bromley is a senior technical writer for BikeRadar, and a regular contributor on BikeRadar’s podcast and YouTube channel.
Simon joined BikeRadar in 2020, but has been riding bikes all his life, and racing road and time trial bikes for more than a decade. He’s also developed a keen interest in gravel bikes and riding off-road in recent years.
As well as covering news and trending topics in road and gravel cycling, Simon writes in-depth reviews and features on power meters, smart trainers, aero tech, and nerdy topics such as chain lubricants, tyres and pro-bike tech from races such as the Tour de France.
He has a keen interest in any tech that can help him (or you) ride faster and is obsessed with the tiniest details.
Before joining BikeRadar, Simon worked on the picture desk at BBC Studios and as a freelance writer and photographer. He has had work published on Cyclingnews.com and in Cycling Plus magazine.
Height: 183cm
Bike size: 56cm / Medium-Large
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
