There were a number of tech innovations on display at the stage 7 time trial at the Giro d’Italia, including unreleased bikes and helmets, but one of the most eye-catching was Ineos Grenadiers’ use of a Classified Powershift hub.
Often dubbed the ‘front derailleur killer’, this rear-wheel hub can switch between two speeds that effectively mimic the ratios of a double chainring set-up, without the need for the second chainring.
It must have had some effect, as, despite Geraint Thomas suffering towards the end of the time trial, Ineos Grenadiers occupied the top three positions behind the day’s dominant winner, Tadej Pogačar.
The innovative set-up from Ineos Grenadiers effectively allowed their riders to enjoy the full range of gears of a standard 2x set-up, while also taking the aerodynamic and drivetrain efficiency benefits of a 1x set-up.
That’s why second-placed Filippo Ganna was able to use a mammoth 66-tooth single chainring on the flat, while also being able to alter the ratio for a much lower resistance for the tough climb found towards the end of the course. The climb was severe enough for some teams to switch between time trial and road bikes, while a 1x drivetrain was unthinkable for the other teams.
There has been a good deal of hype surrounding Classified’s rear hub system in recent years and, after Victor Campenaerts became the first rider to use it in a road race last year, Ineos Grenadiers’ widespread use of the tech in the Giro d’Italia represents another milestone.
Read more: 10 of the biggest game changers in cycling tech
The Powershift hub employs an in-built planetary gear system, with the locked-out mode offering a standard 1:1 ratio where the cassette rotates at the same speed as the hub shell, as is traditionally the case. However, it can switch so that it rotates faster, giving a ratio of 1:0.686, which effectively eases the gear by the same differential as using a smaller inner chainring, but without the need to shift down at the front, or indeed even fit a second chainring to the bike.
The hub is paired with a smart thru-axle, which is activated via bluetooth at the tap of a button on the bars.
Although the hub and thru-axle add some grams, there are, Classified says, net weight savings to be had from the absence of an inner chainring and front derailleur. Meanwhile, a single-chainring set-up not only offers aerodynamic advantages but can also improve drivetrain efficiency in setting the chain at a straighter angle.
There have been question marks over the efficiency of the Classified system and how it might differ between the two hub speeds, concerns that Classified has addressed in a white paper.
The other claimed benefit of the system is that shifting between the two speeds is instantaneous, and can be performed under significant load.
Read more: Classified releases white paper to prove Powershift hub efficiency
In a flat time trial, there would have been no need for the two-speed rear hub, but the climb on the Giro course required significantly easier gearing than the early flat sections. Ineos Grenadiers clearly think it was worth the added effort and investment, with the system requiring not only a dedicated cassette but also adapted wheels, in this case the hub being integrated into a disc wheel from Princeton Carbonworks.
Ineos Grenadiers’ performance engineer Dan Bigham confirmed the use of the Classified hub this weekend, with the Olympic track hopeful a restlessly innovative presence in the field of aerodynamics and equipment.
Ineos Grenadiers are well-known for their ethos of marginal gains and while this appears to be another new step in trying to push the technological boundaries, the team’s new CEO recently told GCN that the team have slipped to such an extent that they’re now on the hunt for ‘maximal gains’.
For more tech news, features and pro bikes, check out the Tech section on the GCN website, linked here.
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May 12, 2024 at 05:01PM
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Classified two-speed hub used by Ineos Grenadiers in Giro d'Italia time trial - GCN - Global Cycling Network
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