Cycling shoes of the pros – 21 Days of Tour Tech

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=693%2C900 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-271812 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383" width="295" height="383" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Three of these shoes aren't available to the public. We're not sure about the fourth" title="1405358055386-10joaaj7z20xj-ce7b16b" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Three of these shoes aren’t available to the public. We’re not sure about the fourth Ben Delaney / Future Publishing

While you will never see a rider at the Tour de France on a different brand of bicycle from his teammates, shoes are a different matter. Since fit is such an individualized matter, and comfort at the foot-to-pedal junction is essential, teams will occasionally let riders wear something besides what the team sponsor provides.

The other critical touchpoint of course is the saddle; we have shown a few examples of riders on Selle Italia-sponsored teams using Specialized, or Specialized-sponsored riders using Fizik. With shoes and saddles there isn’t a universal solution; it’s all about what fits each rider best.

Here, we take a look at some of the unique and interesting shoes on the feet of the Tour de France peloton.

In addition to non-sponsor correct shoes or special-graphic editions, we also spotted at least three models that are not yet available. Bontrager’s lace-up shoe, believed to be called the Classique, made an appearance, as did what looks to be the successor to Shimano’s R320 shoe. Perhaps to be called the R321, the Shimano shoe features two Velcro straps and a ratcheting strap with the opposite orientation to that of the R320. True to Shimano’s form, the company declined to comment on the shoe. “Shimano is constantly working to improve its product,” said Shimano spokesman Nick Legan. “Shimano athletes often test prototypes in competition as a part of the development process.”

Most of the Trek Factory Racing riders on using Bontrager’s new XXX shoe. But at least one rider is on what looks to be a new version of the XXX LE shoe, a three-Velcro-strap model. As with Shimano, Bontrager declined to divulge any details.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=1600,900&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=1456,819&background=white 1456w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=1112,625&background=white 1112w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,180&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1600" height="900" class="wp-image-271888 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="These are likely prototypes for a next-edition Bontrager XXX LE shoe" title="1405358290492-tfqyl37ge3z-4c9c72d" data-source-name="Ben Delaney / Future Publishing"> These are likely prototypes for a next-edition bontrager xxx le shoe: these are likely prototypes for a next-edition bontrager xxx le shoe Ben Delaney / Future Publishing Next-edition Bontrager XXX LE shoes?

“We race to win. We race to learn. New product comes out of that,” said Bontrager marketing spokesman Sam Foos. “These shoes are not final, and we have no timeline to publish as of yet.”

Trek’s Frank Scheck is racing in some oddly modified Bontrager shoes, which Foos declined to explain, beyond saying that “it is a long story”.

Finally, Sierra custom carbon shoes popped up on a couple of AG2R-La Mondiale riders. Frenchman Jean-Stephan Sierra began making rollerblade boots back in 1994, and later moved into cycling footwear. His custom rollerblade boots sell for €750, and the cycling shoes go for €510.

Click through the gallery above for a closer look at these special shoes.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=1600,900&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=1456,819&background=white 1456w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=1112,625&background=white 1112w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,180&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1600" height="900" class="wp-image-271903 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="Sylvain Chavanel of IAM Cycling rides blank Specialized S-Works shoes" title="1405358290523-csy29nmkjmbf-49651b3" data-source-name="Ben Delaney / Future Publishing"> Sylvain chavanel of iam cycling rides blank specialized s-works shoes: sylvain chavanel of iam cycling rides blank specialized s-works shoes Ben Delaney / Future Publishing Sylvain Chavanel’s blank Specialized S-Works shoes