FSA and sister brand Vision will debut a selection of new time trial tech at the stage one time trial of the 2022 Tour de France.
A new monstrously-large 64-tooth full-carbon FSA chainring sits alongside a new 91mm front wheel and an updated disc wheel from Vision.
The components will be used by FSA’s five sponsored teams at this year’s Tour – EF Education-Easypost, Team Bahrain-Victorius, Team Jumbo-Visma, Team Confidis and Pro-Continental B&B Hotels p/b KTM.
Pricing and availability is to be confirmed.
Full Carbon 64t chainring
The 2022 Tour de France kicks off with a 13.2km time trial around Copenhagen. Featuring essentially no climbing, we expect speeds to be high on the opening stage.
Such high speeds call for suitably large chainrings, though this 64-tooth monster has to be one of the largest ever used at a Grand Tour time trial (chainrings roughly in the 58 to 60t range are the norm).
Though larger chainrings do, of course, offer potentially greater top-end speed, increased drivetrain efficiency is the primary draw of platter-sized chainrings.
A chain has to articulate less around a larger chainring, which can increase efficiency.
A larger chainring also allows riders to spend more time in the middle of the cassette, where the chainline is best – and thus, efficiency greatest.
Constructed from an unspecified “special composite material” that is said to be borrowed from Formula 1 technology, the chainring is claimed to weigh 219g.
The chainring is 1x-specific and dedicated to 12-speed drivetrains.
Vision Metron 91 front wheel
Team Bahrain-Victorius and EF Education-Easypost will use the new 91mm-deep Vision Metron TT front wheel at this year’s race.
Claimed to weigh 938g, the wheel features a 21mm-wide (internal) rim and is optimised to be run with 28c tyres.
The rim is laced with 21 aero spokes that are said to have been developed specifically for this wheelset. These attach to a PRS hub that rolls on ceramic bearings.
Vision claims the wheelset “can be 15.18 seconds faster than other competitors in a 40km time trial”.
Vision Metron TFW disc wheel
Vision has also updated its Metron TFW disc wheel, with the new model dropping a claimed 50g, bringing weight down to 930g. The previous-generation wheel was raced by EF Education-Easypost (or Team EF Education-Nippo as it was known then) in 2021.
The Metron TFW is tubeless-compatible and rolls on a row of six steel bearings. A tubular and clincher wheel also appears to be available. It is compatible with either rim or disc brakes and costs $4,410, according to the Vision website.
The wheel is also claimed to be finished in an ultralight paint that weighs only 4g. Furthermore, Vision claims this finish "improves aerodynamics".
Specially branded wheels will be used by EF Education-Easypost as part of its collaboration with Palace and Rapha.
