On the 4th of March the peloton in Italy will take on the Trofeo Laigueglia. After France and Spain have had incredibly extensive domestic racing; the competition in their historical neighbour begins in the Ligurian one-day race. The expected start and finish time is at 11:00 and 16:05CET. The Ital...

Weve seen spy pictures, and a team car loaded with a new Specialized Cotton TLR tire, but only speculation and rumors surfaced until today. The new tire in question is the Specialized Cotton TLR, and its all about going fast, but is that enough for the classics and the savage conditions that accompany them?What is it? Specialized Cotton TLRThe new Specialized Cotton TLR takes the brands long-running cotton race tire concept and re-engineers it for todays hookless rims (save your comments till the end), higher speeds, and wider tire norms. At its core is a 320 TPI poly-cotton corespun casing paired with Specializeds dual-compound Gripton T2/T5 race-only rubber. This rubber is the same as that found on the Specialized Rapid Air tires (reviewed here). But the real question isnt whether its fast its whether its tough enough for the Classics.Reimagined Classic Cotton Specializeds cotton story isnt new. Back in 2012, the brands original cotton clincher helped deliver a World Championship win, proving clinchers could outperform (or equal) tubulars at the highest level. I was a fan, the ride felt similar to a tubular, didnt require glue, and rolled faster than most a pretty big win. The Cotton TLR builds on that foundation but modernizes the construction. Instead of a purely traditional cotton casing, it uses a hybrid poly-cotton structure: a polyester core for strength and elasticity wrapped in cotton fibers for suppleness and road conformity. The result is a casing designed to deform easily over rough surfaces (a bonus for the cobbled classics) and maintain contact patch consistency while smoothing vibration.The tread uses a dual compound layout:Gripton T2 center for lower rolling resistanceGripton T5 shoulders for confident corneringIts cotton, but not nostalgic cotton, like the kind you need to Aqua-Seal. This is cotton built with modern rubber chemistry and tighter production tolerances. But Im still wondering how abrasion-resistant these tires are. Our samples are very thin and lightweight. Tubeless > Tubular? Where earlier cotton race tires leaned heavily on traditional construction methods (basically an open tubular), the Cotton TLR is engineered specifically for tubeless systems. Specialized emphasizes tighter bead tolerances, improved bonding strength, and enhanced burst resistance. These play a critical role when riders are pushing lower pressures at race intensity and speed.Weights and WidthsWeights are competitive:70028 280g70030 290g (279g* Actual)70032 320gWidths are narrow. Our sample 30mm tire measures 27.80mm on a Specialized Roval Rapide CLX III with a interal rim width of 21mm and an external of 35mm. Well see how much this stretches out over time. Were guessing this will be the choice for the Specialized teams rolling the Cotton TLR Race tires for Paris-Nice this weekend.Can It Handle the Classics?Specialized isnt a company that just rolls the dice and sees if things will work out. Were guessing that these tires spent more than a few days in the forest and over the cobbles. That said, race day is a totally different beast. Youre off the racing line sometimes, youre pushing through the exertion, and a flat could be the end of your day. Which is why I would have imagined seeing more of a Mondo-style casing option, butI guess those who favor that style tire will just ride the S-Works Turbo or Mondo.A 320 TPI poly-cotton casing that conforms easily to uneven surfaces could be an advantage. Wider sizes paired with lower pressures may allow riders to float over pav sectors rather than fight them. This comfort and suppleness is exactly why tubular tires like Dugast and FMB dominated the classics for years, some even re-badged at Specialized. No matter how you package it, reduced vibration means less rider fatigue and in races that stretch past 250 kilometers, that matters. The Unknown Variable Is DurabilityThe Cotton TLR is positioned as a race-focused tire for riders prioritizing speed and feel. Its not marketed as a puncture-proof endurance tire designed for massive mileage totals. The Classics demand resistance to flint cuts, sidewall abrasions, and repeated high-impact hits (and cracked rims). Specialized claims bead security and stronger bonding, suggesting the tire is more robust than traditional boutique cotton offerings. But cobbled monuments are unforgiving. They expose weaknesses quickly, and well be watching to see how the story unfolds.Our tires just arrived in time to get photos and weights, but they look great. Were excited to push them through the local pave. Were also excited about the classics and expect to see them in full display this weekend at Paris-Nice. Price: $110For more information, check out Specialized.comThe post Specialized Cotton TLR Gets Fast But Is It Ready for the Cobbles? appeared first on Bikerumor.

Colnago launches two limited edition black race bikes bikes so dark you can barely make them out in the pictures

Alex Carera and others say the use of a power data passport will create only problems, though the International Testing Agency has sought to assuage these concerns, suggesting the voluntary trial could become mandatory protocol over time

Wout van Aerts return to racing ended not in a sprint for victory, but in frustration and suspicion after a puncture inside the final 10 kilometres of Le Samyn brought his comeback to an abrupt halt. There were shards of glass on the road, Van Aert said afterwards in comments collected by HLN. S...

Celebrating 15 years of business, Bedrock Sandals just released the new Evo C Cairn Pro sandals, fresh webbing colors, and Mountain Clogs in Cascade Green. Find details on everything here...The post Bedrock Releases Cairn Evo C Pro Sandals and Cascade Green Mountain Clogs appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

For a while now, the Sanctum has been one of the most popular sunglasses in Tifosis lineup. While they are a solid offering for cycling, the Sanctum easily crosses over to other sports or casual wear. They can be found on the trails just as easily as they are on the golf course.Currently, Tifosi offers two versions of its popular sunglasses: the Sanctum and Sanctum XL. The Sanctum is a full-frame, one-piece lens sunglasses offered in a variety of frame colors and lens options. The Sanctum XL matches the original, just in a larger version.But now there is a third option: the Sanctum SL. These are the same popular Sanctum sunglasses, just in a slimmer, half-rim offering.And, damn, theyre pretty affordable!Tifosi Sanctum SL DetailsLike the other Sanctum sunglasses, the new Sanctum SL glasses do not have interchangeable lenses. However, with a starting price of $39.95, one could easily buy two pairslow and high light levelsand still save money over some competitors.Tifosi dropped about 4g off the frames weight with the new Sanctum SL compared to the Sanctum XL. However, they are somehow a gram heavier than the regular Sanctums. Regardless, you likely wont notice 4 grams, let alone one.Like the other Sanctum sunglasses, the Sanctum SLs feature hydrophilic nose pads and Glide arm technology. This keeps them in place and comfortable for the long hauls. The frames are a half-rim design with a medium-to-large fit and offered in seven colors.While there are seven frame options, Tifosi has eight lens options, ranging from full sun to low-light. They also have one polarized and seven non-polarized lens offerings, with a $20 difference between the two. Currently, Tifosi doesnt offer the Sanctum SLs with its Fototec lenses, as it does with some of its other cycling sunglasses. But perhaps that will change in the future.That said, the lenses are polycarbonate and offer 100% UVA/UVB protection. Plus, the lack of higher-tech lens offerings likely helps keep the Sanctum SLs price lower. Tifosi priced the polarized lens Sanctum SLs at $59.95 and the non-polarized lenses at $39.95.tifosioptics.comThe post Tifosi Adds a New Design to One of Its Most Popular Sunglass Lineups appeared first on Bikerumor.

Specialized has launched its new Cotton TLR race tyre, which is said to be the new favourite of its sponsored pro riders. The brand says in testing, six initial pairs were made available to Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team riders, and claims they refused to return them, such was the positive feedback. Of course, these riders would only have been comparing the tyres to what was previously available S-Works Turbo tubeless tyres and the brands Cotton Folding Racing Only tyre, which requires a tube to run. That said, the tyres have been raced in plain sight since the 2025 Tour de France, and most recently at 2026s Opening Weekend races, indicating the claim is more than simply marketing bluster. Read more: Best road bike tyres in 2026 12 of our favourite clincher and tubeless tyres 'Polycotton' casing The casing is made of cotton, along with polyester reinforcement. Specialized The Cotton TLR tyre features a 320TPI (threads-per-inch) polycotton casing, layered over with Specializeds established Gripton T2 and T5 compounds. Specialized says the use of polyester as the core of the casing, with cotton fibres functioning as a wrap, delivers the tear resistance and strength needed, while the cotton material offers the desired ride feel and flexibility. This material approach differs from Vittoria, for example, which uses aramid fibres in conjunction with cotton in its Corsa Pro TLR line tyres. In theory, polyester is more elastic than aramid (albeit aramid is used commonly to improve puncture protection), which Specialized suggests helps the Cotton TLR tyres deliver peak suppleness and smoothness on a given road. Remco Evenepoel is said to have described the tyre as "perfect". Specialized Specialized also says its Gripton T2 and T5 compounds produce the grip racers need in changing conditions the low-rolling resistance T2 compound applied at the smooth centre strip, and the grippier T5 compound on the textured shoulders. Its worth noting that despite references to the Cotton TLR being faster than previous-generation cotton-cased tyres, Specialized doesnt offer any data to back up the claim. Interestingly, this top-tier tyre appears to have dropped the S-Works branding. Specialized The Specialized Mondo TLR tyre (among others) uses a similar compound distribution, and is among our most highly rated all-season tyres. It has also been raced at the highest level. That said, the Cotton TLR tyre is designed purely for racing and enthusiast use, with Specialized stating its not suitable for all-season riders seeking high durability or those expecting puncture-proof endurance. The Cotton TLR tyre is compatible with hookless rims (despite sibling components brand Rovals latest high-performance wheels featuring a hooked design), and is available in 700x28, 30 and 32c sizes, weighing from a claimed 280g, and priced at 85 / $109.99 / 99.

Unless you get paid to ride bikes for a living, performance endurance is the category that makes most sense. Caledonia wants to be high on your list of options.

Some small tweaks to Cervlo's all-road offering amount to a very slightly more feathery ride, the option to fit wider tyres and greater usability, particularly if you're a home mechanic