Mixed reviews on Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s tech advantage ahead of Paris-Roubaix: "Of course, you can also eliminate the competition this way”
Cycling
When it comes to marginal gains, few teams embrace
innovation as relentlessly as Team Visma | Lease a Bike. For a race as brutal
and unpredictable as Paris-Roubaix, the Dutch squad are once again turning to
cutting-edge technology in the pursuit of performance, this time, with tyre
pressure.
At the heart of their strategy is the GRAVAA system, a
device that allows riders to adjust tyre pressure during the race. On terrain
as unforgiving as the cobbles of northern France, the ability to adapt in real
time could be a crucial advantage.
Former classics star Sep Vanmarcke was given the chance to
test the GRAVAA system for Het Nieuwsblad and shared his thoughts on its
potential impact, and the trade-offs.
"What if you get a flat tire and have to change
wheels?" is his first thought.
"Of course, you can also eliminate the competition this way: whop, zero
bar! Flat tire."
Vanmarcke was impressed by how swiftly the system could
reduce pressure.
"It's impressive how quickly we get to the lower tire
pressure," the former classics specialist remarks. He says the tire
pressure is low but a little too low. "Very comfortable on the
cobblestones, but you do increase the chance of getting a flat tire."
He believes that the technology could give Team Visma |
Lease a Bike a tactical edge, particularly on the cobbled sections where
comfort and control are everything.
"The fact that you can lower the tire pressure for the
cobblestones with the simple push of a button and that it happens so fast
undeniably gives you an advantage in the race. Other riders will have to find a
balance between comfortably riding the cobblestones and not suffering too much
disadvantage on the asphalt due to their low tire pressure."
This flexibility could be a game-changer for Wout van Aert,
allowing him to fine-tune pressure based on the terrain.
"Van Aert can choose the ideal tire pressure for the
cobblestones and the ideal tire pressure for the asphalt. Just imagine that he
has to sprint against Mathieu van der Poel on the track: Van Aert will be able
to do that with the ideal tire pressure, while Van der Poel will have to sprint
with flatter tires."
However, the system isn’t perfect. Adjusting the pressure
upwards takes time, and that could prove a tactical vulnerability.
"It still takes quite a long time to add those two
bars," Vanmarcke notes. Ultimately, the tire takes well over a minute to
reach the right pressure. "If I were a competitor, I would attack Van Aert
just after the cobblestone section because his tires would be even flatter than
yours. But the fact that Van Aert then rides with slightly less tire pressure
for a moment does not mean he will be unable to follow that attack."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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