IN BRIEF
Specialized launches the Tarmac SL9 on 30 June, four days before the Tour de France Grand Départ in Barcelona. The FACT 12r frame weighs 687 grams — 2 grams more than the SL8 — but the bike claims a further 4 watts of savings at 45 km/h thanks to a complete aerodynamic overhaul. The complete S-Works version weighs from 6.5 kg and still costs €13,999. Several team replicas (Soudal Quick-Step, SD Worx-Protime, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, FDJ) are available immediately.
| Frame | FACT 12r carbon, Flow State Design |
| Frame weight | 687 g |
| Complete bike weight | from 6.5 kg |
| Groupsets available | SRAM Red AXS or Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 |
| Wheels | Roval Rapide CLX III carbon |
| Tyres | Specialized Cotton TLR 700×30c |
| Tyre clearance | 32 mm max |
| Seatstays | 410 mm (all sizes) |
| Sizes | 44 to 61 cm (7 options) |
| S-Works complete bike price | 13 999 € |
| Frameset price | 5 799 € |
Specialized chose 30 June to unveil the Tarmac SL9, four days before the Tour de France Grand Départ in Barcelona. The timing is no accident: riders from the Soudal Quick-Step, SD Worx-Protime, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and FDJ teams will line up for the Grande Boucle on replicas of their machines from Saturday 4 July. The bike is the result of two years of development centred on aerodynamics rather than on mass.
A Tarmac SL9 2 grams heavier, 4 watts faster
At 687 grams, the S-Works FACT 12r frame weighs 2 grams more than the outgoing SL8. That may seem counter-intuitive for a bike sold on performance. Specialized made a deliberate choice: to concentrate its effort on aerodynamics. At sprint speeds and on mountain time trials, watts count for more than grams. The SL9 therefore saves 4 watts at 45 km/h compared with its predecessor, according to the brand’s own measurements.
Specialized translates that gain into real time: 14 seconds clawed back over the final 80 kilometres of a stage comparable to the closing stage of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes. The “Flow State Design” construction method places carbon only where the frame takes the loads, cutting the number of plies without sacrificing stiffness. Specialized claims the frame withstands more than 100,000 cycles at 2,377 watts.
Speed Sniffer, Win Fin, Offset Steerer: three names for three watts gained
Most of the aerodynamic gain comes from three changes. The “Speed Sniffer” head tube is 4 mm narrower than on the SL8, cutting frontal area by 10%. The “Win Fin” is an extension of the seat tube that fills the gap between the frame and the rear tyre: another 0.5 watts, according to Specialized. The third innovation, the Offset Steerer, routes both brake cables on the same side of the handlebar — the drive side — for a cleaner exit that avoids turbulence on the non-drive side.
The Tarmac SL9 at the Tour: team replicas available today
Four team replica liveries are available immediately as a frameset: Soudal Quick-Step (blue and white), SD Worx-Protime (red and yellow), Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe (white and blue) and FDJ (red and white). For riders who are not trying to get below the UCI limit of 6.8 kg, the SL9 starts at 6.5 kg as a complete bike, and sits comfortably within the race rules. Seven size options between 44 and 61 cm, with seatstays a constant 410 mm whatever the size, cover most body shapes.
€13,999 for both S-Works versions
Whether you choose the SRAM Red AXS or the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, the bill is the same: €13,999. The frameset is available separately at €5,799. The 32 mm maximum clearance allows wide tyres — the stock fitment is Specialized Cotton TLR 700×30c. Full details of the available builds are on Specialized’s official website.
