The Shimano power metre 'brain' unit sits between the crank arms(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
The unmarked Shimano power metre 'brain' (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ).(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Shimano power metre unit is discrete and charged magnetically(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
A close-up of the unmarked Shimano power metre central unit(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
The 'brain' unit of the new Shimano power metre(Image credit: Josh Evans / Immediate Media)
Cyclingnews has discovered that several FDJ riders at the Tour de France are using the new Shimano power meter that was presented by the Japanese brand on the eve of the race along with the new Shimano Dura Ace disc brake mechanical and Di2 electronic group set. The devices Cyclingnews spotted are a final prototype without any kind of Shimano logo on them. The final product is expected to arrive on the market later in the year.
Cyclingnews spotted four riders with a prototype model of the power meter on their Lapierre bikes as they carry out final testing in the extreme race conditions of the Tour de France. However, FDJ team leader Thibaut Pinot is not one of them. FDJ is sponsored by SRM this season and the French team does not want to risk any problems with Pinot's bike during the Tour de France.
Pinot will continue to use a SRM power meter and has been spotted using both a Garmin and SRM headunit this season.
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The Shimano power meter is built into the new Hollowtech II Dura Ace crankset that again has a chunky four-arm design. The power measuring 'brain' sits between the arms of the cranks, much like the Pioneer power meter used by the LottoNL-Jumbo team.
Another measuring device is on the left crank, with the two connected via the hollow bottom bracket.
Power output can be determined individually from each leg, as well as information on cadence, giving what Shimano says, is the "truest measure of performance, isolated from external factors such as gradient, road surface and wind".
System diagnostics and firmware uploads can be managed through a smartphone or tablet thanks to new Bluetooth-enabled versions of Shimano's E-TUBE app. The internal battery is charged via a small magnetic adaptor that can be accessed without having to remove any covers or casings.
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The device was developed from Shimano's bike fitting technology with important input from the FDJ riders and the French team's director of performance Fred Grappe.
"Ten riders in the FDJ team have been testing the Shimano power meter since August last year. We did a lot of work with the Shimano engineers. At the beginning it was a real prototype but now the system and the data is very reliable and valuable. The response to the environmental and weather conditions is also good," Grappe told Cyclingnews.
Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
