An unsurprising surprise.
Given the pedigree, we were unsurprised at the success of the new Giant TCR when it was released in its new guise. What we weren't expecting was just how in-demand the TCR was going to be.
The 2018 TCR Advanced SL 0 is likely to cement its reputation as a phenomenal all-round race bike, with a seriously impressive spec - including dual sided Quarq Power Crank - that many others will struggle to match at the same price and more. It is laden with the latest technology and will provide the racer everything they could want from wireless transmission to built in power to tubeless carbon wheels.
Back in 1997, Giant introduced a bike to the racing world that fundamentally changed the industry. That bike was the Mike Burrows designed TCR.
It was unusual in that it featured a sloping top tube as well as smaller front and rear triangles. After initial resistance from the UCI (the frame was banned) the improved stiffness, lower weight and more responsive handling of the Compact Road geometry, Giant's TCR was much imitated and it remains the bedrock of all modern sloping and compact frame geometries. The TCR has remained in the range ever since and is the mainstay of their race range.
For the 2016 season, to celebrate 20 years of the TCR (it was designed in 1995/6) Giant had the desire to re-design the TCR platform to be equally as impactful as it's forbear. In just one season, it has proved to be.
The completely re-engineered TCR features a new resin and construction process. As well as using Torayca's top end T800 raw carbon fibre as the building block of the SL platform for exceptional stiffness and low weight; Giant have this year used a new resin which employs Carbon Nano Tube technology. CNT is a polymer that is blended with Giant's resin and which act to strengthen the layers of composite for incredible strength - 14% more to be precise. This season Giant have also employed Continuous Fibre technology. This method of frame construction utilises longer runs of carbon fibre allowing for greater strength and less material to yield significantly lower (up to 100g) frame weights without compromising on strength and stiffness. Further advances in the frame construction include a Fusion Molding process used to join the toptube to the seat tube; by hand-weaving the area together and re-molding at a higher temperature, the junction becomes far stronger and lighter. Not only are the Giant TCR SL frames real performance pieces, they are also all hand-made, demonstrating the incredible value inherent within when you consider their price and that of the competition.
As a result of these new processes the TCR Advanced SL has lost a serious amount of weight without sacrificing it's incredible stiffness. From a visual perspective the change is immediately evident when compared with the 2015 model - a far sleeker, slimmer and elegant frame is the result. As ever its precise handling is its hallmark and the TCR Advanced SL is a beautifully sure-footed and reactive bike to ride, delivering the rider confidently into the corners and launching them out the other side without a sniff of instability. It is equally adept on the inclines and when out of the saddle sprinting.
The Giant TCR Advanced SL - like all SL's - utilises an ISP or Integrated Seat Post which not only adds to the aesthetic but which increases overall frame stiffness and aerodynamics while remaining comfortable through clever carbon lay-up
Giant have expanded and revised their range of wheels that they manufacture in conjunction with their long-term partner and all-round wheel-smiths, DT Swiss. The wheels are manufactured in-house from only the highest grades of aluminium and carbon fibre. Giant design the wheel system from rim to lacing pattern and DT supply the Hub internals like the Star Ratchet freehub system, and spokes. The 35mm SLR 0 carbon wheels found on the TCR Advanced SL 0 are the top of the pile offering at this depth and offer further weight reductions over the SLR 1. They aren't just another 'hop on the carbon band-wagon' either. Giant have developed a proprietary lacing they call Dynamic Balance Lacing, whereby there is not only different tension between drive and non-drive spokes but also between the 'Pushing' and 'Pulling' spokes on the Drive side itself. Giant claim that this Dynamic system allows for better transmission of the drive forces for greater balance, power transfer and longevity. Like all of the SLR wheels in the range, the 35mm deep SLR 0 are tubeless ready.
The 2018 TCR Advanced SL 0 is available in 2 versions; the understated black, Dura Ace Di2 equipped version and this, 'RED' edition : fully loaded with SRAM's new eTap wireless transmission. Not only does this offer effortless shifting, it also tidies the aesthetic of the bike while significantly lowering the weight when compared to other builds. This makes an already scant frame even lighter to give incredible reactivity and climbing prowess. Giant's lightweight tubeless SLR 0 wheel-system handles rolling duties and deftly transfers all your input into the road. The 35mm deep carbon rims are the ideal blend of stiffness, low weight and aerodynamics, offering genuine performance advantages; they come shod with Giant's own Gavia Tubeless tyres. Finishing kit is in the form of Giant's Contact SLR carbon handlebar and stem and new Contact SLR Forward saddle suitable for riders in a typical race position. To take things that bit further, Giant have also included a Sram Red Quarq dual sided Power Meter into the bargain so you can keep a close eye on your performance during a race or stay on top of your training with accurate metrics.
For serious racers, the TCR Advanced SL offers a perfect balance of stiffness, light weight and smooth compliance. The new Advanced SL grade T800 composite frame is lighter, but it still retains its pedal stomping stiffness. The OverDrive 2 steerer system distinguishes the Advanced Pro from the Advanced range below it. It features an oversized tapered headtube housing an 11/4" upper bearing and 11/2" lower for incredible front end stiffness. Coupled with the MegaDrive downtube, this stiffness translates into precise, direct handling and control.
This legendary road machine asserts itself as the ultimate all-round race bike. The all-new TCR Advanced SL is the lightest road frameset ever produced by Giant and it boasts the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of any road bike on the market. The new Variant integrated seatpost design delivers an improved ride quality and the frame retains TCR’s proven Compact Road Design. No wonder it’s the choice of Team Giant-Alpecin all-rounders for the longest, hardest days with big climbs and fast descents.