Sprinters Sam Bennett (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) and Jay McCarthy (Bora–Hansgrohe) will be among a number of riders from Specialized’s sponsored teams to ride a special edition version of the aluminium Allez Sprint Disc frameset at the Schwalbe Classic criterium on 19 January.
This is the second year in a row that Specialized has kitted sponsored riders out with its alloy race bike for the season-opening criterium in Adelaide. Last year, Peter Sagan raced on the same bike in a different colourway.
This year’s bike forms part of a new collection inspired by the Australian Budgie – with its bright blue, green and yellow colour – to coincide with the start of the Tour Down Under, the opening race of the UCI World Tour.
- Tour Down Under 2020 TV guide | Full schedule for live TV, streaming and highlights
- 2020 WorldTour team bikes guide
For the 2020 race, the bikes are kitted out with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9170, PRO components and Roval CLX 50 wheels, which appear to be shod with Specialized Turbo tubular tyres.
In the days leading up to the 2019 race, Sagan was spotted training on Specialized’s then unannounced Turbo RapidAir tubeless tyres. On race day, however, he had reverted to his tried-and-tested tubular tyres and wheels.
Given Deceuninck–Quick-Step riders have already raced on Specialized tubeless tyres at the 2019 Tour de France, we had wondered if 2020 would be the year the professional peloton, and Specialized sponsored teams in particular, began to wholeheartedly embrace road tubeless technology. As far as this showing is concerned though, it seems not.
The Down Under Collection
The new collection of kit and accessories, and the special edition Allez Sprint Disc frameset, are available to purchase from Specialized. It says the kit will make its first appearance on 16 January with the Specialized Women’s Racing team at the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under.
The range includes the S-Works 7 shoe, the Prevail and Evade II helmets, a UV resistant cap and Race Tall socks, all with Australian Budgie-inspired designs and colourways.
- Deflect UV Cycling Cap: £25 / €24.90 / $30 / AU$40
- S-Works Evade II Helmet with ANGI & MIPS: £230 / €299 / $275 / Not available in Australia
- S-Works Prevail: Not available in the UK / €279 / $275 / AU$425
- S-Works 7 Road shoe: £340 / €379.90 / $400 / AU$550
- Allez Sprint Disc Frameset LTD: £1,349 / €1,249 / $1,500 / AU$1,800
- Race Tall socks: Not available in the UK / €12.90 / $18 / AU$25
The brand also says, due to the recent bushfires across the country, it is donating 100,000 US dollars to the Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation (WIRES) to support wildlife relief efforts.
