Specialized’s Tarmac SL9 Remains the Benchmark Road Bike. But It’s Biggest Rival Is the Bike It Replaces.

Specialized's Tarmac SL9 arrives ahead of the Tour de France - Bicycling Australia

Just days before the 2026 Tour de France rolls out, Specialized has unveiled the latest iteration of one of cycling’s most successful race bikes: the new S-Works Tarmac SL9. At first glance, there’s not a lot different to its predecessor the SL8, and in fact it retains the same geometry, stiffness and compliance targets as its predecessor, along with Specialized’s Rider-First engineering philosophy that tailors carbon layups to individual frame …

'The fastest road bike ever made' – and it looks just like its predecessor: The new Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL9 is here

After months of speculation, Specialized has officially dropped the covers off its flagship do-it-all S-Works Tarmac SL9 road bike, just in time for the Tour de France. The redesign hasn't been the brand's best-kept secret, with leaked images surfacing online and a blacked-out version spotted in the wild at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.Specialized is touting the new S-Works Tarmac SL9 as "the fastest road bike ever made". A bold claim indeed, e…

Specialized’s Tarmac SL9 Remains the Benchmark Road Bike. But It’s Biggest Rival Is the Bike It Replaces.

Specialized’s newest flagship race bike is faster and more refined than ever—but the already-excellent SL8 makes the case for upgrading harder than expected.

“The fastest road bike ever made”: Specialized unveils the S-Works Tarmac SL9

Specialized has finally announced the S-Works Tarmac SL9 with claims that the new model is “the fastest road bike ever made” – more aerodynamically efficient than the existing SL8, with a frame weight of 687g and complete bikes as light as 6.5kg. Specialized has only launched the S-Works Tarmac SL9 today; we assume that the ...

Specialized Tarmac SL9 Drops Just In Time For The Tour de France

After months of spy shots and speculation, it’s here. The all-new Specialized Tarmac SL9 lands just before the Grand Depart of the Tour de France. Hopefully this new rocket will give Remco the extra boost he needs to stay with the GC contenders. But are the small changes enough for the Tarmac SL9 to compete with the growing aero arsenal of World Tour super machines?  (Photos/Jordan Villella) Specialized Tarmac SL9  Specialized isn’t calling the …