Euskaltel-Euskadi is riding the angular Orbea Ordu for time trials in this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
Vacansoleil-DCM's Ridley Dean time trial machines are definitely among the most unusual shape in this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
In contrast to his custom painted Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3s, Alberto Contador's S-Works Shiv wears standard Saxo Bank-Sungard team-issue livery.(Image credit: James Huang)
In contrast to his custom painted Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL3s, Alberto Contador's S-Works Shiv wears standard Saxo Bank-Sungard team-issue livery.(Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv was fitted with a Zipp 808 front wheel prior to Stage 2's team time trial.(Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv features this center-pull front brake. The original design hid the brake inside a giant nosecone but it was outlawed by the UCI.(Image credit: James Huang)
A small zip-tie helps hold the derailleur housings together on this Saur-Sojasun Time RXR.(Image credit: James Huang)
The integrated seatmast head on this Saur-Sojasun Time RXR looks like it's fresh out of the CNC mill.(Image credit: James Huang)
Saur-Sojasun is using Time's striking RXR for time trials in this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
Some Saur-Sojasun riders have opted for Rotor's elliptical Q-Rings on their Time RXR time trial bikes.(Image credit: James Huang)
TRP provides its magnesium-armed R970SL brakes for Saur-Sojasun Time RXR time trial bikes.(Image credit: James Huang)
This Saur-Sojasun Time RXR is fitted with a Look Ergostem to help achieve the desired position.(Image credit: James Huang)
Several RadioShack Trek Speed Concepts are equipped with Bontrager's new time trial-specific saddle.(Image credit: James Huang)
Chris Horner's (RadioShack) Trek Speed Concept sits at the head of the line before Stage 2's team time trial. Sadly, Horner won't get to use it again for the individual time trial on Saturday.(Image credit: James Huang)
Trek Speed Concepts are being used by both RadioShack and Leopard-Trek at this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Bontrager integrated aero bar on RadioShack's Trek Speed Concept presents a relatively clean profile to the wind.(Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv is built with his customary anodized aluminum housing. Note the bits of electrical tape covering up any exposed holes.(Image credit: James Huang)
Safety tabs are filed off on Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv. (Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) SRAM brake lever bears the scars of a crash.(Image credit: James Huang)
A SRAM Red rear derailleur moves a KMC chain across the SRAM OG-1090 cassette on Vacansoleil-DCM's Ridley Dean time trial bikes.(Image credit: James Huang)
Does the shape of the pedal body really make that much difference in terms of drag? Look would say yes, as seen in the KéO Blade Aero pedal of Vacansoleil-DCM's time trial bikes.(Image credit: James Huang)
Vacansoleil-DCM is using Ridley's striking Dean time trial bikes.(Image credit: James Huang)
See those slots in the fork blades? Ridley says the unique shape actively pulls air away from the spinning spokes for less drag.(Image credit: James Huang)
Ridley mounts the scissor-type Tektro brake on the back of the fork crown on its Dean time trial bike in an effort to reduce drag.(Image credit: James Huang)
Rotor's elliptical Q-Rings seem more popular on time trial bikes than road ones, as seen on this Vacansoleil-DCM Ridley Dean.(Image credit: James Huang)
The extensions on Vacansoleil-DCM's Deda aero bars pass right through the base bar on the team's Ridley Deans.(Image credit: James Huang)
You can't say that Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) mechanic, Faustino Munoz, doesn't sweat the details.(Image credit: James Huang)
Even more electrical tape is applied here to smooth out the exposed ridges and gaps on Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv - might want to push that down a bit harder, though…(Image credit: James Huang)
More bits of electrical tape cover up the exposed bolt head on Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv seatpost.(Image credit: James Huang)
The raised ridges on Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Prologo Nago Evo TTR saddle are designed to help keep him in place - something he's notably struggled to do in previous years. (Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) gets matching blue anodized aluminum housing and pedal bodies.(Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv is fitted with Speedplay Zero Nanogram pedals.(Image credit: James Huang)
Team mechanic Faustino Munoz had to cut the upper bridge on Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) in order to get the armrests close enough.(Image credit: James Huang)
Look, ma, no cables! The Trek Speed Concept of team RadioShack sports an ultra-clean front end with virtually no extra hardware hanging out in the wind.(Image credit: James Huang)
The seatpost clamp on Omega Pharma-Lotto's Canyon Speedmax CF time trial machines are neatly integrated into the rest of the frame shape.(Image credit: James Huang)
Katusha's time trial bikes are fitted with Vision integrated aero bars.(Image credit: James Huang)
A handy window machined into the top stem cover on HTC-Highroad's Specialized S-Works Shiv allows easy access to the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 control box.(Image credit: James Huang)
The opening between the top of the steerer and the top cover of the stem provides just enough room for the wire to pass directly into the frame on HTC-Highroad's Specialized S-Works Shiv.(Image credit: James Huang)
HTC-Highroad is using these Specialized S-Works Shiv aero bikes for time trials at this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
HTC-Highroad's Shimano Dura-Ace Di2-equipped time trial bikes have their batteries mounted underneath the saddle.(Image credit: James Huang)
HTC-Highroad's Specialized S-Works Shivs are equipped with PRO Missile Evo bars.(Image credit: James Huang)
Leopard-Trek team mechanics built custom wheels for Frank Schleck using a Bontrager front hub and Zipp dimpled carbon tubular rims. Note how the skewer fits perfectly behind the Trek Speed Concept fork blade.(Image credit: James Huang)
Frank Schleck's (Leopard-Trek) Trek Speed Concept was fitted with this handbuilt front wheel prior to Stage 2's team time trial, using a Zipp 808 rim and Bontrager carbon hub.(Image credit: James Huang)
Europcar's Colnago Flight time trial machines are unfortunately looking a little dated in comparison with many of the other cutting-edge rigs currently being used by the rest of the peloton.(Image credit: James Huang)
Campagnolo's Bora Ultra Two deep-section carbon tubular wheel is fitted to the front end of this Europcar Colnago Flight.(Image credit: James Huang)
Many Campagnolo-sponsored riders are still using the old time trial shifters, as seen on this Europcar Colnago Flight.(Image credit: James Huang)
Alberto Contador's (Saxo Bank-Sungard) Specialized S-Works Shiv apparently went straight into storage after winning the Giro d'Italia. This is how we found it just a day before the start of this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
While some riders opt for more padding on their time trial bikes, Andrey Grivko (Astana) goes the opposite route with this wholly unpadded carbon fiber Selle Italia SLR(Image credit: James Huang)
Vision's new Metron 90 carbon tubular front wheels are fitted to Katusha's time trial bikes.(Image credit: James Huang)
Katusha carries on with the old - but still very good - Izalco Chrono frameset designed by aero guru Andy Walser.(Image credit: James Huang)
Katusha's Walser-designed Focus Izalco features knife-like trailing edges.(Image credit: James Huang)
Look's smooth-bodied KéO Blade Aero time trial pedals are fitted to Omega Pharma-Lotto's Canyon Speedmax CFs. Mechanics have even applied a swatch of tape to cover up the front opening.(Image credit: James Huang)
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) uses a Berner pulley cage on his Canyon Speedmax CF.(Image credit: James Huang)
Canyon developed this special stem and bar setup for riders that needed a slightly lower position.(Image credit: James Huang)
It's a good thing that Canyon had to develop a special variant of its Speedmax CF front end for former Omega Pharma-Lotto captain Cadel Evans since Sebastian Lang needs it, too.(Image credit: James Huang)
Philippe Gilbert's (Omega Pharma-Lotto) Campagnolo bar-con shifters are augmented with friction tape on both sides of the levers.(Image credit: James Huang)
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) uses a clipped Selle Italia Flite TT Team Edition saddle on his time trial machine.(Image credit: James Huang)
Just like on the road, Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) has two custom painted time trial bikes for this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) was treated to this slightly customized Canyon Speedmax CF when he was in yellow after Stage 1.(Image credit: James Huang)
Philippe Gilbert's (Omega Pharma-Lotto) Canyon Speedmax is fitted with these unmarked cranks but hidden beneath the black paint are a set of Vision carbon fiber arms.(Image credit: James Huang)
Omega Pharma-Lotto star Philippe Gilbert is using these Ritchey time trial bars on his Canyon Speedmax CF.(Image credit: James Huang)
Liquigas-Cannondale team time trial bikes use Mavic's new clip-on fairing that fills the space in between the rim and tire.(Image credit: James Huang)
Cannondale mounts the rear brake in a conventional location on the current Slice but the new model will feature integrated brakes that are much more cleanly tucked away.(Image credit: James Huang)
Liquigas-Cannondale's Cannondale Slice is definitely getting long in the tooth but Cannondale has a new design that might be used on Saturday.(Image credit: James Huang)
Ivan Basso's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Vison aerobars are fitted with a third brake lever so he can adust his speed without breaking his tuck.(Image credit: James Huang)
Astana is using these starkly finished Specialized S-Works Shivs in this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Tour de France's final time trial was a pivotal moment in this year's race with Cadel Evans (BMC) finishing second and in the process overturning Andy Schleck's 57-seconds advantage to win his first Tour.
The riders covered 42.5km on rolling terrain around the city of Grenoble on machines that have been purpose-built for optimum wind-cheating and efficiency. Check out our massive image gallery to see some of the cutting-edge aero bikes that vied for supremacy.
