Isaac del Toro sealed overall victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes with a dominant performance on the final stage, overturning a 49-second deficit to race leader Luke Tuckwell on the decisive climb to Plateau de Solaison. While the Mexican secured both the stage win and the yellow jersey, Mattia...

Remco Evenepoel's reported training numbers have generated considerable discussion ahead of the Tour de France, with claims that the Belgian reached an FTP of 425 watts during a recent altitude camp. While the figures underline the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leaders exceptional physical condition,...

Shimano has expanded its Deore mountain bike range with new M7200 and M6200 mechanical components, bringing tougher derailleurs, revised shifters and updated brakes to its dependable workhorse groupset family. The components come almost exactly a year after Shimano rolled out its latest Deore Di2 wireless drivetrain. They borrow styling and technology cues from Shimano's higher-end mountain bike groupsets and are pitched as upgrades for riders who value durability, simple servicing and lower running costs. This new generation leans into Deores reputation as the sensible riders choice its not flashy or especially light, but it is dependable and tough while giving the groupset a sharper, more premium feel. A tougher rear mech for rougher riding The Deore M7200 rear derailleur gets Shimanos new Shadow ES design, with a slimmer shape intended to shrug off trail impacts. Shimano At the heart of Shimanos Deore update is a new family of rear derailleurs, led by the RD-M7200 and the RD-M7230. These derailleurs use Shimanos Shadow ES design. Rather than using the same rider-adjustable clutch layout as the older Shadow+ clutch derailleur design, Shadow ES relies on a low-profile dual-spring design to increase chain tension and improve chain wrap. Shimano says Shadow ES increases spring force by 70 per cent, while the slimmer, wedge-shaped body is designed to sit out of harms way and glance off trail impacts more easily. Shimano adds that the derailleurs have a wide, well-braced linkage, solid pulley construction and a slim stabiliser layout inspired by its latest Di2 mountain bike drivetrains. The RD-M7200 is designed for 12-speed Hyperglide+ drivetrains with a 10-51t cassette, while the RD-M7230 is aimed at riders who want the added durability and smooth shift feel of Shimanos 11-speed Linkglide system with a 10-50t cassette. There is still a cheaper RD-M6200 12-speed derailleur in the range, but that uses Shimanos existing Shadow+ clutch design rather than the newer Shadow ES layout. It is compatible with 10-51t Hyperglide+ cassettes. That creates a clearer hierarchy within Deore itself. Riders wanting the toughest and most refined mechanical setup get the M7200 or M7230 rear mechs, while those after a more affordable option can still choose the simpler M6200 derailleur. New wide-range Deore cassettes The new Deore CS-M7200 cassette uses steel sprockets with an alloy 51t largest sprocket to save weight. Shimano Shimano has also introduced two new 12-speed Deore cassettes. The CS-M7200 uses steel sprockets with an alloy sprocket to save weight, while the CS-M6200 prioritises durability and value with steel sprockets and an alloy carrier. Both use Micro Spline freehub bodies and offer a 10-51t range, giving riders the same broad spread as Shimanos higher-tier 12-speed mountain bike groupsets. A solid crankset with steel where it counts The updated Deore crankset uses a two-piece design, 24mm steel axle and direct-mount steel chainring. Shimano The updated FC-M6200 crankset uses a two-piece construction with a 24mm steel axle, 176mm Q-factor and direct-mount steel chainrings in 30t and 32t sizes. Shimanos Dynamic Chain Engagement tooth profile is used to improve chain retention on rough terrain. Shorter shifts and cleaner ergonomics The new Deore M6200 shifter gets revised ergonomics, with a shorter lever stroke and crisper shift feel. Shimano Shimano has also revised the Deore shifters. Shimano says the new lever has a shorter stroke and crisper feel, with a paddle shape designed to follow a more natural path for the riders thumb. There are three shifter options. The SL-M6200 is the standard 12-speed Hyperglide+ shifter and allows up to three shifts with the main lever. The SL-M6210 is designed for high-torque use on electric mountain bikes and limits shifts to one at a time to help protect the cassette. The SL-M6230 is built for 11-speed Linkglide drivetrains and allows up to two shifts with the main lever. All three shifters use Shimanos Rapidfire Plus and 2-Way Release designs, and are available in I-Spec EV and clamp-band versions. The single-shift eMTB option is a neat detail. With heavier bikes, more motor torque and riders often shifting under serious load, Shimano is clearly trying to protect the drivetrain from the sort of abuse that can chew through parts quickly. Deore brakes get trickle-down tech The new Deore brake system can be paired with either two-piston or four-piston calipers, depending on riding style. Shimano The new BL-M6200 brake lever can be paired with either the four-piston BR-M6220 caliper for trail and enduro use, or the lighter two-piston BR-M6200 caliper for cross-country and lighter trail bikes. Shimano says the brakes benefit from trickle-down development from XTR and Deore XT, including revised internal seals and a new low-viscosity mineral oil designed to maintain a more consistent feel across a wider temperature range. The BL-M6200 brake lever uses Shimanos Servo Wave design and architecture from its more expensive models. Shimano The BL-M6200 lever uses Shimanos Servo Wave cam profile, which is designed to bring the pads into contact quickly before delivering a controlled ramp-up in braking power. The hose also runs parallel to the bar for a cleaner cockpit layout, and the lever is I-Spec EV and bar clamp compatible. Mechanical simplicity still has a place The Deore FC-M6200 crankset uses a direct-mount steel chainring with Shimanos Dynamic Chain Engagement tooth profile. Shimano The wider point is that Shimano now has two very different visions of Deore. On one side sits Deore Di2, with wireless electronic shifting, impact recovery and app-based adjustment. On the other is this new mechanical Deore family, which keeps cables, conventional shifters and mechanical simplicity, but adds tougher derailleur construction, improved ergonomics and more polished braking. That feels like a sensible move. Wireless drivetrains might grab the headlines, but there are still plenty of riders who would rather spend less, avoid batteries, and keep a drivetrain they can adjust with a barrel adjuster and basic tools.

Lotto Intermarchs Liam Slock wont forget his first professional win in a hurry. And neither will the internet

Isaac del Toro keeps smashing barriers and stacking up reasons to be seen as one of world cyclings standout talents. His victory at the Tour Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes served as another step up in an already illustrious career, and the Mexican rider is a full-on contender for the podium at the upcoming T...

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Interesting tech, but range is limited and they're hard to hear at speed