Bike of the Year 2013 – Giant Defy Advanced 2

The Giant Defy Advanced 2 has won the coveted Cycling Plus Bike of the Year award for 2013, beating 39 longlisted road bikes costing between £1,500 and £2,000 (roughly US$2,350 and US$3,150). 

Rounding out the top five in the competition, in no particular order, are the Focus Cayo Evo 4.0, Storck Scenero G2, Trek Domane 4.3 and Boardman SLR/9.0.

Buy Giant Defy Advanced 2: Dales Cycles | Tredz | Westbrook Cycles | Winstanleys

“Choosing the 2013 Bike of the Year was a hard task,” said Cycling Plus editor Rob Spedding. “Every one of the 40 bikes we put through their paces would make a modern road cyclist happy, but the Giant Defy Advanced 2 has the edge. It’s just so versatile – comfortable enough to spend all day on it; light enough help you fly up hills but as satisfying a bike to fling around corners as you’ll find.”

As for the remaining longlist, the following bikes were all tested:

• Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5 105
• BMC Roadracer SL01
• Olympia Ego RS
• Sensa Giulia Supremo
• Boardman Elite Air 9.0
• Forme Axe Edge Pro
• Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0 ES
• Trek Madone 4.5
• Specialized Tarmac Sport
• Kuota Kharma Evo
• Eddy Merckx EMX-1 Peloton
• Ridley Fenix 1307A
• Bianchi Sempre Pro Veloce 
• De Rosa R848
• Wilier Triestina Izoard XP Ultegra
• Norco Tactic 3
• Avanti Quantum 2.0
• Cinelli Saetta
• Dedacciai Nerissimo Veloce
• Cannondale SuperSix 5 105
• Verenti Insight Ultegra
• Giant TCR Advanced 2
• Scott CR1 Team Carbon
• Vitus Vitesse
• Moda Molto
• Scapin EYS
• Merida Ride Carbon 95
• Felt F5
• Ribble R872 Di2
• Felt Z5
• Ghost Race Lector 7000
• Lapierre Sensium 300 CP
• Pinarello FP Uno Carbon Veloce
• Specialized Roubaix Sport Compact
• Cube Agree GTC SL

Read the full review of the Giant Defy Advanced 2, plus the 39 other bikes tested, in issue 273 of Cycling Plus, available now on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.