At the end of May, a Dutchman made history by taking victory at the Giro d’Italia, and he did so using equipment any of us can own. Tom Dumoulin’s Giant TCR Advanced Pro SL is the top end model of Giant’s flagship compact road bike range. The first TCR revolutionised road bike design with its compact profile and it has since earned a reputation as the ultimate all-round race bike. It is the lightest frameset Giant has ever produced and boasts the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio of any road bike on the market. Tom Dumoulin used its low weight to his advantage on the long Italian climbs and benefited from supreme control on the descents.
The Giant TCR range is extensive, with options to suit every budget. Here are just a few of them:
Giant TCR Advanced 3
For a carbon fibre bike that nudges only a little over the £1000 mark, the TCR Advanced 3 is a great way to get the most for your money. The frameset is of the same mould as the top-of-the-line model but with an alloy ‘hybrid’ steerer, so the race-ready stiffness and lightweight chassis is easily enough to make this bike worth the money. A full Shimano Tiagra groupset wraps the frame and it rolls on a Giant S-R2 alloy wheelset.
Giant TCR Advanced 2
This model is one level up from the Advanced 3 and based around exactly the same frame, albeit wrapped in a different paintjob. The groupset is this time upgraded to full Shimano 105 compact and the wheels are Giant’s alloy PR2. For the aspiring racer or enthusiastic mountain goat, the pedal-stomping stiffness and high-quality components of this bike are ideal.
Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc
You get a lot of bang for your buck with this bike. The Advanced 1 Disc is the first in the TCR range to be equipped with disc brakes and it is also equipped with a full Shimano Ultegra compact groupset. For under £2000 this model combines lightweight performance with ultra-fast stiffness and competitive componentry.
Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1
The Advanced Pro models are very similar to their less expensive brethren, but benefit from a full-composite steerer which improves the stiffness and lightweight characteristics of the frame. A full Shimano Ultegra groupset offers crisp and efficient shifting and the carbon Giant SLR1 WheelSystem rounds out a race-ready machine.
Giant TCR Advanced Pro Disc
In the TCR Advanced Pro Disc you get uncompromised efficiency meets uncompromising control. This bike demands to be powered up the climbs and pushed to the limit on the descents. Its mouth-watering specification includes a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, hydraulic disc brakes and a Giant SLR1 Disc WheelSystem. Its race-tuned ride quality, efficiency and compliance mean this bike will be hard to beat.
There are many more TCR models in a range which is stacked to the rafters with awe-inspiring machines. If you want to get yourself a piece of the Giro-winning pedigree raced to such great success by Tom Dumoulin, it’s easier than you could possibly have imagined.
Photo - Guido P. Rubino
