CLEAN SWEEP FOR SHIMANO AT TOUR DE FRANCE

Riders using Shimano components claim all major jerseys – yellow, green, polka-dot and white - and all 21 stage wins.

In an unprecedented achievement, each stage of 2017’s Tour de France, as well as in the main overall classifications, were won by riders racing with Shimano components.

From the opening individual team time trial, won by Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas using Shimano’s Dura Ace R9150 time trial components, to the final sprint stage in Paris, won by LottoNL-Jumbo’s Dylan Groenewegen, each rider’s bike was decked out in Shimano Dura-Ace components.

Team Sky’s Chris Froome claimed the overall general classification (GC) title on Dura-Ace shifting components, brakes, wheels and pedals, plus PRO Stealth integrated handlebar-stem combination and PRO bar tape, putting in a masterclass display to defend the yellow jersey for 14 of the Tour’s 21 stages, achieving his fourth GC victory in five years.

Meanwhile Team Sunweb’s Michael Matthews and Warren Barguil, and Simon Yates of Orica-Scott won the Sprint, Mountain and Young Rider classifications, claiming green, polka-dot and white jerseys respectively, using Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 series components with the groupset’s versatile range of gear combinations to provide a supreme level of shifting performance for all situations encountered during the world’s most famous bike race.

One of the most prolific riders on the flat this year was Quickstep Floor’s Marcel Kittel who achieved five victories including the first on Shimano’s Dura-Ace R9170 hydraulic disc brakes.

Marcel Kittel, Quick-Step Floors: “Disc brakes are a great step forward in the technology developments that we have ahead of us. Especially in the wet, it helps riders brake better.”

Meanwhile in the mountains Barguil wrapped up the mountain points competition using Shimano’s FC-9100-P power meter. Warren Barguil, Team Sunweb: “My first impressions of the Shimano power meter are very good. The data is consistent, it’s very easy to use and there’s almost no extra weight. Magnifique!”

The final stage of this year’s Tour was won by Dutchman Groenewegen who not only uses Shimano Dura-Ace on his team issue Bianchi, but also races with Shimano’s S-PHYRE RC9 footwear, S-PHYRE custom race clothing and Shimano R-series eyewear.

From the 22 teams competing this year, eight were sponsored directly by Shimano – Francaise Des Jeux, Trek-Segafredo, LottoNL-Jumbo, Team Sunweb, Orica-Scott, BMC, Bora-Hansgrohe and Team Sky – between them accounting for 11 stage wins, including the six decisive mountainous days between stages 13-18.

Shimano Europe’s Sports Marketing manager Rudy Bouwmeester: “We’re incredibly proud to work with the best teams and riders in the world. To form close working partnerships with such a high calibre of teams and riders is a major part of our product development strategy. Early in 2017 we supplied the World Tour teams with Dura-Ace R9150 and it’s stunning to see all the races and classifications our partners have won since. From the monuments at the Spring classics to overall victories in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Images can be downloaded at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/txgw30czbvxnbr4/AACpv9J7_2saYc_Ea4wRMIdma?dl=0