00:00 – Cycling Through France: My Tour de France Adventure & Grandma’s Lemon Cake Recipe!
03:21 – EXCLUSIVE: Unreleased 2025 Tour de France Tech – Bikes, Helmets, Wheels & More!
12:24 – Formula One Tech Boosts Tour de France Speeds: How Data Drives Victory
1. Cycling Through France: My Tour de France Adventure & Grandma’s Lemon Cake Recipe!
Join me as I relive my unforgettable experience watching the Tour de France in Amiens and discover the story behind Grandma Abson’s iconic Lemon Sandwich Cake! From the thrill of the peloton racing through historic streets to baking a delicious lemon cake inspired by Yorkshire’s Grand Départ in 2014, this video blends cycling passion, French culture, and family traditions. Learn how my childhood Yorkshire-Lille exchange sparked a lifelong love for France, and get a step-by-step guide to baking the perfect lemon buttercream cake. Whether you’re a cycling fan, a baking enthusiast, or a Francophile, this journey through scenery, sport, and sweets is for you! Don’t forget to share your own Tour de France memories or baking creations in the comments below.
2. EXCLUSIVE: Unreleased 2025 Tour de France Tech – Bikes, Helmets, Wheels & More!
Get an exclusive first look at the unreleased tech from the 2025 Tour de France.
From aero road helmets by Giro, Ekoi, and Sweet Protection, to the latest in bike innovation
with the new Cervélo R5, Merida’s updated Reacto, and revolutionary wheels from Reserve,
Enve, DT Swiss, and Specialized’s Roval. Discover the future of cycling tech in this video.
**Timestamps:**
0:00 – Introduction
1:00 – Unreleased Aero Helmets
4:30 РNew Cerv̩lo R5 & Merida Reacto
7:00 – Innovative Wheels from Top Brands
10:00 – Other Notable Releases
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3. Formula One Tech Boosts Tour de France Speeds: How Data Drives Victory
Discover how Formula One technology and data science are revolutionizing professional cycling, making the 2025 Tour de France the fastest ever. Learn about performance engineering, aerodynamics, and data-driven strategies that give teams a competitive edge without breaking the rules.
Cycling true France, my tour to France adventure and grandma’s lemon cake recipe. Can you feel passionate about a sport without ever participating? That’s my reality with the tour de France. Every summer I become completely absorbed in this legendary race, scouring TV schedules, following the cyclist across France’s stunning landscapes with an open map on my lap. My French friends tease me about never owning a proper bicycle, save for a childhood tricycle, but I defend my obsession. Say Piz. The scenery and athletic drama simply hook me. But here’s where my story takes an exhilarating turn. When my friend Franis from Alan invited me to witness a tour stage departure, I didn’t hesitate. On July 8th, we stood behind barricades along Rudel Republic and Rudu Marill watching Christian Prudon’s lead car roll by followed by the palatin at a relaxed pace depart fictive before the real racing began outside the city. What a thrill to be part of the energy. This moment echoed my 2014 experience as a tomaker when Yorkshire hosted the Grand Depart. I proudly showcase our local landscapes to 3.5 billion global viewers and even bake my grandma’s lemon sandwich cake for the team topped with edible tour decorations. Speaking of which, here’s that cherish family recipe perfected for beginners. Grandma Absson’s lemon sandwich cake asterisk structure simplified for clarity. asterisk asterisk base asterisk cream equal weights of butter, sugar, and self-raising flour approximate 175g each with three eggs, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 2 tbspoons milk. Bake split between two lins at 180° C, 350° F for 25 minutes. Asteris filling asteris with 50g butter 110 g icing sugar four tablespoons lemon curd 25 ml milk and extra zest asteris assembly asteris sandwich cooled cakes with filling dust with icing sugar and garnish with zest pro tip the cake’s moistness improves if wrapped overnight now let’s address a subtle controversy can cultural exchanges shape lifelong passions My connection to France traces back to a York Shalo student program at age 14. Hosting French teenagers and later traveling to Leo introduced me to French cuisine and my first real bicycle ride. Some argue such exchanges are mere tourism, but I credit mine for sparking my love for France and the tour. What’s your take? Do early cultural experiences truly influence our obsessions, or is that nostalgia talking? Explore more baking stories and recipes at Grandma Absson’s blog or Instagram. Links omitted for brevity. And if you’ve ever adopted a spot from the sidelines, I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments. Do we need to participate to genuinely connect? Exclusive unreleased 2025 Tour Def France tech bikes, helmets, wheels, and more. Unveiling the cuttingedge technology at the 2025 Tour to France. The tour to France is not just a pinnacle of cycling competition where athletes v for the coveted yellow jersey. It also serves as a clandestine showcase for brands to unveil the next generation of cycling technology, often unnoticed by the millions of spectators. In 2025, the competition among tech companies at the Tour Def France has reached unprecedented levels. In addition to innovative aerodynamic tires and the latest advancements in drivetrain technology, we have observed a surge of unreleased equipment ranging from helmets to bicycles and wheels that could significantly influence the gear used by professional cyclists in the coming years. Notably, a new SEO R5 has emerged quietly. Merida Reacto has undergone a striking redesign and reserve has introduced its first carbon spoke wheels which are now being utilized by the Visma lease a bike team. # # # a fresh look at the unreleased Merida Reacto. The fourth iteration of the Merida Reacto has long been a favorite among cyclists celebrated for its competitive pricing and impressive performance. However, during the tour, the Borin A victorious team has been racing on a new yet to be announced version of this bike. While Merida has remained tightly about this update, the modifications are evident. The head tube is now narrower and deeper. The fork blades have been reshaped and the introduction of flow guiding veins at the junctions of the top and down tubes indicates a significant rethinking of its aerodynamic design. Additionally, the seat tube area appears to have eliminated the forward-mounted seat post wedge. The last major update to the reactor was in 2020, and with a typical product cycle of 5 years, it is certainly time for a refresh. # # # the rise of unreleased arrow helmets at the tour. Even before the first pedal was turned in, Leo, new aerodynamic helmets began to make their presence felt throughout the tour. Brands like Gyro, Ekai, and Sweet Protection have all introduced new models for the 2025 event. Among these, the Gyro helmet stands out as particularly intriguing as it has been adopted by most of the Vizma lease a bike team. While details about the wheel set remain scarce, the helmet appears to combine elements from various models. It resembles a Specialized Sworks Evade at the front, a gyro Eclipse from the side and a PC helmet at the rear. From a side view, it seems to incorporate Gyro’s mid spherical system which features two layers of foam for enhanced protection. The most notable alteration is at the back where it adopts a cutoff comtail style design reminiscent of POC helmets. The EA and sweet protection helmets share a similar aesthetic. closely resembling the Specialized Sworks Evade with wider side vents, a tapered rear, and minimal ventilation. Overall, POC has also introduced a new model called the Caitto Light, which while similar to the original Caitle, boasts improved ventilation and a significantly lighter weight, reportedly under 200 g in size medium C standard. For more insights, we have detailed articles on both the Sweet Protection and Gyro helmets available now. While all these helmets are expected to be ready soon, we anticipate that the Gyro helmet will be the first to hit the market. # # # Vismal Abik’s new unreleased Nimble apparel. Shorty Dave recently had a chat with the shoe sponsor of Vismilly’s a bike nimble and discovered that the brand has expanded its offerings beyond footwear to include apparel for the team. Unfortunately, details about the new kits are limited at this time. However, modern features such as aerodynamic ribbing on the sleeves are visible. We expect these kits to be priced similarly to Nimble’s shoes, which are known for their premium cost, and anticipate that all team riders will be outfitted in these new designs. # # #thenew R5. The servo R5 was the last bike we anticipated would receive an update during the tour, especially with all the bus surrounding Seros’s S5. Yet, here it is making its debut. First spotted at the Dofane last month, the new Servo R5 has undergone a comprehensive weight reduction overhaul. The frame now features thinner seat stays, a redesigned fork, and a sleek integrated cockpit. The brake caliper mounts have also been modified to use direct true bolts, effectively shedding valuable grams. Sealo claims that this redesign brings the R5 down to just a few grams shy of the UCI’s 6.8 8 kg weight limit all without compromising on quality. This makes it a formidable contender for the mountainous stages in the second week, positioning it as one of the lightest race bikes in the field. Shoddy Dave managed to capture a video showcasing the new servo 5, providing further insights into this impressive bike. # # # what has already been released. One of the most notable releases is the new servo S5, the brand’s aerodynamic bike. We have been tracking this model for months and even conducted a review. While it may seem like a minor update compared to its predecessors, the new S5 is 124 g lighter than the previous version and is claimed to be 6.3 W faster. The BMC T- Machine SLR01, now in its fifth generation, has undergone a significant weight reduction, boasting a frame that is 16% lighter than its predecessor, with a total frame weight of just 700 g for a painted 54 cm bike. In our testing, one of the bikes weighed in at 6.6 kg, 14.6 6 lb without pedals, while another came in at 7.1 kg, 15.7 lb with pedals, cages, and a computer, and has introduced a new wheel set optimized for 28 mm tires, known as the SCS 4.5 Pro. Weighing in at just 1,295 g, these wheels feature a 49 mm deep rim in the front and a 55 mm rim in the back, all without the use of carbon spokes. Interestingly, they are the first end wheels to feature a hook rim profile in nearly a decade. DT Swiss has also launched a new series of Ark 1100 and400 wheels, which are reportedly faster in crosswinds than their predecessors. These wheels have a 22 mm internal rim width up from 20 mm and offer some weight savings as well. They are equipped with DT Swiss’s renown 180 exp or 240 exp hubs with the 55 mm deep up diecut wheels weighing in at 1,471 g. But that’s not all. Specialized accessory brand Roval has revamped its repeat road wheel lineup, opting for a lower profile rim to reduce weight without sacrificing aerodynamic efficiency. There are three wheel options available, two of which utilize carbon spokes, weighing as little as 1,35 g. These wheels can be seen on teams like Ray Bubar Hunts and Sodell Quickstep at this year’s tour. Additionally, teams have access to a new specialized power saddle featuring 3D printing technology. This model named the Sworks Power Ever with mirror maintains the same 240 mm width as the current power with mirror but has a wider nose by 1 cm. Specialized claims that the new material better distributes pressure across the saddle. In other news, Continental has developed a new set of archetype tires in collaboration with UAE team Emirates XRG. These tires are touted as the lightest 30 mm tires yet, shedding a significant 35 g per tire. However, in our experience, they tend to puncture more easily than many other tires we’ve tested, although they do offer impressive speed. Formula 1 tech boost to their front speeds. How data drives victory. Cycling and cutting edge motorsport aren’t as far apart as you might think. The latest tour of France races are smashing speed records not because they are pushing harder, but because Formula 1 technology and datadriven strategies are reshaping what’s possible, but here’s where it gets controversial. Can technical wizardry outshine raw athleticism? And is cycling losing its soul in the process? Welcome to a new era where human great meets next level engineering. While professional cycling was once about gut instincts and punishing training, today’s pelatin is optimized by relentless aerodynamic fine-tuning, hyperargeted workouts, and a whirlwind of computational modeling. Gone are the days of winning on few alone. Now, every detail and decimal point matters. From race car to road bike, F1’s secret weapon in the palatin. Who’s leading this revolution? Enter Dan Bigum, a widely respected performance engineer and former our record holder. Bigum swap racing for engineering excellence, bringing his experience from the Mercedes F1 team to leading engineering at Raid Bore Hans Grow. His true power lies in scrutinizing equipment choices and influencing product design with forensic precision. Take something as deceptively simple as wheel selection. In the past, it was a basic choice, shallow or deep rims. But Bigum explains is now a high stakes calculation balancing a rider’s powertoweight ratio, aerodynamics, climbing speed, and even energy cost. He puts it plainly, “You must know exactly how much you gain or lose. Maybe a wheel is 100g lighter, but slightly less aerodynamic. Only detailed modeling reveals if it’s worth it.” He compares it to baking. If you tell me you have 10 buckets of flour, I need to know the size of each before advising on water. In cycling, knowing the specifics behind every variable is crucial. You need precision to decide which wheel set truly delivers the lowest energy expenditure for a given speed and terrain. And this is where many fans missed the point. Even minute choices like the rolling resistance difference between tires can translate into meaningful time gains or losses. As Bigum points out, the physics behind rolling resistance can be equated to gradient. So choosing a tire with marginally better efficiency could be as valuable as reducing the actual slope. Rise of the data gurus where cycling embraces high-tech analytics. The obsession with fine details isn’t just wheel deep. Teams like XDS Stanner have embraced this era by hiring the likes of Alex Daet, another British time trial legend, to optimize bike setups and test technical equipment, especially for crucial race moments like time trials. Team manager Alexander Vinoir wasted no words hailing DET’s impact, underscoring how much he believes in datadriven improvement. Behind the scenes, data scientists like Morgan Sine are helping teams such as Estan rise from struggling to tri by modeling which races suit the team’s riders at different times of year. They’ve raised up the rankings, outperforming direct rivals and finding strategic opportunities to rack up points. Italian data scientist Andrea Zignoli with a doctorate in modeling sport performance works directly on analyzing power data modeling every aspect of a cyclist’s output from muscle biomechanics to how energy is transferred to the pedals and translated into speed. His work with AI powered coaching platform Athletica and the Bardini team allows for detailed simulations that predict how a tweak in equipment or pacing impacts future performance. Here’s the part most people miss. These experts often operate in the background, feeding insights to coaches who then distill and communicate what’s most useful to the riders. But Signali notes, data isn’t infallible. Models might predict a certain tire will be fastest on a stage, but if the rider doesn’t trust it, real world results will diverge. This unpredictable human element keeps the spot from becoming an entirely digital contest. Pushing the boundaries, custom aerosuits and F1 grade innovation. Aerodynamics isn’t just about the bike, it’s also clothing. Jamie Pringle, a sports scientist who consults for Vortex Sports, describes how British startup Vortekch leverages F1 style rapid prototyping. Using 3D scanning and wind tunnel data, they can produce bespoke speed suits overnight. These suits, first seen in action on Simon Yates during a gyro detto time trial, are individually tailored for each stages specific demands, factoring in wind direction, terrain, and rider physiology and the trend is accelerating. F1 veteran Rob Lewis advocates an 80 to20 approach, focus development on the 20% of equipment that delivers 80% of the performance gains. He cites how a mere seam shift in a skin suit yielded a 3% reduction in aerodynamic drag for past British teams. Lewis is pushing for a future where riders could have unique skin suits for every tour stage, optimizing to each course and weather condition. But is there a risk of taking customization too far? Imagine tour teams needing 21 suits per rider, each for a different stage. A logistical and budgetary headache sure to provoke debate among fans and teams alike. From the wind tunnel to safer rides, Formula 1’s final gift to cycling. Jean Paul Ballard who leapt from the F1 pedock to co-founding Swiss site and aerodynamic wheels brand now collaborates with top pro teams to bring authentic F1 principles to the road using wind tunnel and real world testing for maximum impact. However, adapting these methods for the uniquely messy aerodynamics of a cyclist, what engineers call a bluff body, involves a host of fresh challenges and innovations. There’s another F1 lesson for cycling safety. F1 got faster but much safer with advanced crash structures, protective suits, tough helmets, and geforce sensors, ballot notes. He argues many of these upgrades could cross over to cycling. Think helmets with built-in sensors to detect impacts, smarter protective gear, and centralized race monitoring to react to incidents instantly. Should cycling governing bodies work more closely with motorsport to boost rider safety faster for better or worse? The debate over technologies grip on cycling asterisk asterisk. Datadriven dynamics aren’t going anywhere. The dramatic success of data scientists at teams like Jumbo Visma and the use of AI coaching point to a future where every what is monitored and every decision simulated. But here’s the controversial twist. Is the beauty and unpredictability of cycling at risk? Will races become so dictated by models and algorithms that we lose the romance of the unknown? Or are we simply witnessing the next chapter in human achievement powered by science and engineering? What do you think? Does this scientific transformation make cycling richer and more fascinating or is it over complicating a beautiful sport? Do technological advances level the playing field or create an unbridgegable gap between teams? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Share