Pro bike: Jasper Stuyven's Trek Madone Gen 8

Pro bike: Jasper Stuyven's Trek Madone Gen 8

Having been unveiled shortly before the start of the Tour, the new Madone is one of the peloton's most distinctive bikes

Photos: James Startt Words: Rupert Radley

The 111th Tour de France has been one to forget so far for Lidl-Trek. The bad news of Tao Geoghegan Hart not starting due to illness was further compounded by the abandon of Mads Pedersen ahead of stage eight following his crash on stage five’s bunch finish. 

However, Jasper Stuyven has proved himself to be in fine form, almost taking the win on stage nine's electric gravel stage aboard his new Trek Madone. With 10 seconds over the chasing bunch with just 2km to go it looked to be a done deal, and if it hadn’t been for a driving effort by EF Education’s Ben Healy he might have stayed clear. 

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Stuyven’s new Trek Madone launched just ahead of the Tour de France, making Trek the latest manufacturer (see also: Specialized) to merge its aero and lightweight platforms. The new Trek Madone cannibalises the Trek Émonda, marking the end for an iconic lightweight racing bike.

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

The eighth generation Madone’s frame tubing is distinct from the outgoing version, with Trek opting for smaller tubing over the bulky kammtail shapes used previously on both the Madone and the Émonda. The new tubing is broader and squatter which Trek says makes it as light as the outgoing Émonda but as aero as the previous generation Madone. 

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Introduced on the seventh generation Madone, the distinctive IsoFlow (read: aero hole) remains, albeit shrunken in size to reduce weight and improve performance. It has an additional benefit of improving comfort – an 80% increase in vertical compliance, according to Trek – which Stuyven would have valued across stage nine’s lumpy gravel sections. 

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Other neat features include aero bottles and bottle cages, which Trek claims save 3.7 watts when riding at 45kph. It’s technology typically seen in triathlon racing, although it’s not the first time we’ve seen riders using aero bottles at this tour, with Mark Cavendish also using them when he rode to his record-breaking 35th stage win.

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Elsewhere, the aero frame is further complemented by Bontrager’s Aeolus 62mm rims front and rear. These are shod with Pirelli’s P Zero Race TLR RS tyres set up tubeless. 

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Stuyven is using Trek’s RSL Aero one-piece handlebar and stem with its distinctive negative degree curve. When equipped with SRAM’s new Red AXS hoods it provides quite the lengthy reach.

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

There’s significant flare on the levers of the SRAM Red groupset, which will make braking easier from the drops. 

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Also visible is the new ‘Bonus Button’ which Stuyven could use to control his cycling computer or as a sprint shifter when riding in the drops.  

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

Stuyven is pushing a 54/41 chainring on the flat stages, although he is likely to reduce those ratios in the mountains. 

Jasper Stuyven Trek Madone Gen 8

The frame is made up in the eye-catching colours of Lidl-Trek, making it an easy spot in the professional peloton.

Photos: James Startt Words: Rupert Radley

READ MORE

Tadej Pogačar to Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Legendary or laughable?

Tadej Pogačar to Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Legendary or laughable?

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has teased his participation on social media, but is it legitimate possibility?

Read more
James Knox at the British Road Championships

‘Credit should go to Lefevere for working the market’ - James Knox on Soudal–Quick-Step’s evolution from the cobbles to Tour de France contenders

Now in his sixth year with the Belgian squad, the British rider discusses what has changed following the arrival and performances of Remco Evenepoel

Read more
Portrait of Lukas Nerurkar

‘An altitude camp at the age of seven’ – Lukas Nerurkar on the power of doing things differently

The British rider had a unique upbringing, spending his early childhood in Ethiopia and learning from his marathon runner father – he tells Rouleur about...

Read more
Women's UAE Tour

Women’s UAE Tour 2025: Who will win the four-stage race in the Middle East?

The third edition of the Women's WorldTour race will begin on Thursday, February, 6 2025 

Read more
Rob Stannard

Robert Stannard: Lost, fined, and fighting for redemption

The Australian rider speaks to Rouleur about his turbulent past 18 months 

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE