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From: Zen Cycle <funkmaster@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Hoe Aero does it really need to be?
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:15:13 -0400
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Factor Bicycles revealed a new Aero bike prototype at Stage 1 of the 
Critérium du Dauphiné this past sunday.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/how-did-they-keep-this-a-secret-insane-new-factor-prototype-blows-minds-at-the-dauphine/

In addition to yet more aero shaping of the frame components, it uses a 
Hope-style fork with extremely wide-set legs, which have been 
successfully used on track bikes for several years now. The theory is 
that the fork legs help shape the air around the rider's legs, as well 
as allowing more of the front wheel to hit clean air.

How did it work?

It was ridden by Jake Stewart of Israel-Premier Tech to a 5th place on 
the stage, which for all intents and purposes was a win for the field 
sprint as a break of 5 was away in the last kilometer.

As a point of great note, that break was stellar, containing Tadej 
Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel and 
Santiago Buitrago. (f you don't know four of those names, you've been 
living under a rock - in cycling terms anyway)

The break formed on a small hill 5 K from the finish but never got more 
than 15 seconds on the field. Buitrago lost contact as the leaders wound 
up their sprint and got swarmed by the field with the final being 
Pogačar, Vingegaard, van der Poel,and Evenepoel.

But chasing hard at the front of the field and finishing close enough to 
get same time was Jake Stewart on the new bike. If it was fast enough to 
catch the likes of Pogačar and company in the final K of a 190 road 
race, I'm pretty sure Factor is calling that a win.
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