Specialized has long held prominence at the top of the sport, winning multiple Grand Tours and Monuments, as well as a sprinkling of world championship titles too.
For 2019, Specialized provides Deceuninck - Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrohe with S-Works Venge, S-Works Tarmac, S-Works Roubaix and most recently, aluminium Allez Sprint Disc framesets.
- Peter Sagan to race alloy frame and tubeless tyres
- Specialized S-Works Venge: lighter, faster and all-in on Shimano discs
Both the Venge and Roubaix are only available as disc brake models commercially — although we have seen a pro-only Roubaix in the past two Classics seasons — and while the Tarmac is also available in a rim-brake option, we expect both teams to use disc versions of the race bike more than ever in 2019.
Aside from the framesets, both teams run Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 series drivetrains as well as Roval wheels and S-Works Turbo tubular tyres.
The seatpost, stem and handlebars on the Venge are all proprietary and alongside the Shimano drivetrain components, both teams also use PRO stems on their Tarmac framesets.
Specialized saddles, Shimano pedals, Supacaz handlebar tape and K-Edge computer mounts and chain catchers are all also used by both teams leaving just the framesets' paint designs to differentiate the bikes. So, the question remains, who wears it better?
Let us know which design you prefer in the poll below.
Poll: Deceuninck-QuickStep vs. Bora-Hansgrohe S-Works Venge