We’ve spotted a prototype version of Shimano’s new clipless road bike pedals on Jasper Phillipsen's Canyon Endurace for Paris-Roubaix 2026.
At a glance, the overall shape, size and proportions are all very similar to the existing Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals. However, a slimmer central section suggests Shimano may be chasing reduced stack height, rather than taking its road bike pedals in a radical new direction.
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So, what’s new?
The most obvious change is the switch from three stainless steel contact plates to two. These plates are used to reduce wear between the cleat and pedal body.
The prototype simplifies this layout with a plate on the either side of the pedal.
Elsewhere, the updates are very subtle.
The inboard bearing bulge on the axle looks like it could be slightly more pronounced, while the central axle section and overall depth of the pedal may be slimmer – it’s all very marginal.
The latter points are likely the most meaningful change.
There’s been a small-scale arms race among brands in recent years to reduce stack height of their pedal systems.
A lower stack height brings the rider’s foot closer to the pedal axle, which can improve stability by reducing the distance between the shoe and the point of rotation. It can also have a marginal impact on aerodynamic performance.
Assuming the pedals are slimmer – we weren’t permitted to crack out our trust vernier calipers – Shimano may be chasing similar gains here.
We’re yet to see the pedals paired with shoes but we understand Phillipsen has been racing using thew new pedals throughout this season.
At first glance, analysing photos from In Flanders Fields, his cleats look similar, if not identical to existing SPD-SL cleats, but we won’t know for sure until we’ve seen them up close.
Is this SPD-SLR?
It’s unclear if this is the leaked SPD-SLR pedal system we reported on last year.
Retailer leaks, patents and trademark filings pointed towards radically new pedal platforms, potentially including power meter pedals and even new cleat designs.
What we’ve spotted here doesn’t obviously support that.
To start, there’s no visible sign of a power meter. Unlike pedal-based systems from other brands, there are no external pods or oversized spindle sections.
This, and the fact Philipsen is running Shimano’s Dura-Ace crank-based power meter, all but confirms these are standard pedals.
The pedals also don’t carry any SPD-SLR branding, instead featuring typical Shimano prototype markings.
Based on that, this – and potentially SPD-SLR as a whole – looks more like an update to the existing platform than a wholesale replacement, at least in this form.
That doesn’t rule out the launch of a separate SPD-SLR entirely, but what we’ve seen so far suggests Shimano’s planning a gentle evolution rather than something revolutionary.
