Tarmac SL9: Faster than ever
The all-new S-Works Tarmac SL9 is the latest evolution of one of the most successful race bikes in pro cycling. Developed alongside some of the fastest riders in the world like Demi Vollering and Remco Evenepoel, the SL9 is built around one goal: getting from start to finish faster than ever before.
As the Official Technical Partner of Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, we had the privilege to build the SL9 team bike, ready for the Tour de France. We captured every step of the build, from a bare frameset to a fully race-ready machine. Here's an exclusive look behind the scenes.
What makes the Tarmac SL9 different from the SL8?
The Tarmac has always been designed as the ultimate all-round race bike. It has to climb efficiently, slice through the wind, sprint at full speed and remain comfortable enough for riders to perform on six-hour+ race days.
With Tarmac SL9, the definition of speed evolves. Rather than chasing
individual performance metrics, speed is deliberately defined as an outcome. Specialized developed the SL9 with the only outcome that matters in racing in mind: Time to Finish.
That philosophy extends throughout the entire bike. Specialized treats the rider and bike as one complete system, using real-world race data, rider-inclusive aerodynamic testing and performance simulations to develop a bike that performs where it matters most: on the road, not just in the wind tunnel.
The result is a bike that builds on everything riders loved about the SL8 while pushing overall race performance even further.
From frame to finish line
A WorldTour race bike isn't simply assembled. As the bike is designed to optimize Time to Finish, so is it’s assembly and the products used to build the newest weapon of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.
This starts with the right performance grease and ends with a hot waxed chain, waxed with the fastest wax in the world. At the highest level of racing that is exactly where performance and reliability are won. That is why the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe mechanics rely on Dynamic products to prepare every bike to the same uncompromising standard used throughout the WorldTour season.
Watch the complete build
The launch of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 marks another exciting chapter in WorldTour bike development.
Check out the full bike build here and read more about the process below to discover the details that transform the SL9 frameset into a race-winning machine.
Why preparation matters
Professional cycling is built on marginal gains. Those gains can be found in a perfectly lubricated drivetrain, extremely smooth running bearings, lasting protection of essential components, even in the most enduring conditions, and tubeless sealant that seals a puncture in less than half a second.
Together, they enable riders to ride faster for longer, consitently. Exactly the philosophy of the development of the SL9: optimizing for Time to Finish. Every product has a purpose. Building a race bike is about much more than fitting components together.
The fastest hot wax in the world
A perfectly prepared drivetrain is one of the biggest marginal gains available on any race bike.
Together with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, Dynamic developed and tested multiple hot wax formulations to maximize drivetrain efficiency under different race conditions. The result was an ultra-fast hot wax developed specifically for time trials, where every fraction of a watt counts.
For road stages, the team rides with a blend of Hyper and Wander Wax. Hyper delivers outright speed, while Wander Wax adds exceptional durability and contamination resistance. Combined, they provide an incredibly efficient drivetrain that remains clean, quiet and fast and that can handle changing conditions of a three-week Grand Tour.
After being cleaned with the Super Sonic and Striptease, the chain is dried with help of the AirForce Max, before getting waxed with the Waxifyer 2.
The hot wax system used by the pros
Pro-grade greases
Assembly Pro
Every threaded interface is treated with Assembly Pro to ensure smooth installation and long-lasting protection against corrosion and seizure. Its high-pressure formula keeps components protected in all weather conditions while making future maintenance easy. This is crucial for the amount of miles made on WorldTour bikes.
Bearing Pro
Smooth-running bearings are essential for minimizing friction and letting moving parts run flawlessly. Bearing Pro is applied to hubs, bottom brackets and headset bearings, providing outstanding lubrication, excellent water resistance and lasting protection, even in the toughest racing conditions. Less friction means more of the rider's power reaches the road, and it improves control over the bike.
Carbon Pro
Carbon Pro increases friction between carbon surfaces, allowing components like handlebars and seatposts to be secured safely with lower tightening torque. This reduces the risk of damage while keeping everything firmly in place, even during the explosive efforts of professional racing.
The fastest sealant in the world
The fastest bike in the world still needs to reach the finish line.
That's why reliability is just as important as outright speed. Barkeeper Pro is developed to seal punctures almost instantly, minimizing pressure loss and allowing riders to continue racing without stopping. Its advanced formula quickly seals larger punctures while remaining effective over long periods inside the tire.
Injected with Hector the Injector, and paired with Barkeeper Tubeless Valves, Barkeeper Pro is set up to deliver when it needs to. Inflate the tire with the perfect pressure using the Turblo 2 or the Turblo+ to maximize tire performance and minimize rolling resistance.
For WorldTour riders, a puncture doesn't always mean the end of the race. The ability to seal a hole in fractions of a second can be the difference between staying with the front group or losing valuable time. Barkeeper Pro is another element that contributes to the goal: the fastest possible Time to Finish.
Barkeeper Pro essentials
The details that matter
A clean, fast and race-ready bike deserves a Secret Surface ceramic coating to protect it and let it shine. Secret Surface is made to be applied quickly and easily and protects the frame and parts: enabling the team mechanics to clean the bike quicker and easier.
Clean the bike with Dirt Destroy and a microfibre cloth. After a quick wipe down with Perfect Prep, the bike is treated with Secret Surface, ready for up to 9 months of protection.
Lastly, for the brakes, clean the discs with Bio Brakefast for clean, silent and smooth braking performance.
Bike build essentials
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