Team Columbia's Kim Kirchen came to this year's Tour de France as a genuine podium contender after finishing seventh in last year's event and capturing a difficult mountain win (he was awarded victory in stage 15 from Foix to Loudenvielle-Le Louron after Alexandre Vinokourov was disqualified).
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The UCI's minimum weight limit of 6.8kg has had a number of interesting effects on bikes used in the pro ranks ...
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Advanced Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) refers to the patented and instantly recognizable dimpled pattern found on most of our rims. ABLC smoothes airflow across the rim's surface and is tailored to every model from the 202 to the Sub9 disc. 2009 sees the third-generation of ABLC, with up to 4 times more dimples than before. Read More

Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control (VCLC) uses a vibration-absorbing material sandwiched between layers of rigid carbon laminate in the rim. When the wheel receives an impact from the road, much of the shock is absorbed by the VCLC system, delivering a 10% reduction in vibration. Read More

Multi-Material Co-Molding (M2CM)ensures that Zipp clincher rims are the world's strongest. The process permanently fuses a sub-200 gram aluminum hoop to a carbon structure with the same dimpling as our tubular rims and our patented toroidal bulge, which acts as a leaf spring to reinforce the aluminum during impacts. The spokes lace directly to the carbon body for a fully structural rim that blends the ride feel of carbon with the braking performance of aluminum. Read More

Every aspect of our 88 and 188 hubs sets a new benchmark. The standard steel bearings are the roundest in the industry. The 17mm axle is the stiffest of any road hub we've tested. The wire EDM-cut hub internals are the most precise. The SHIFT spoke hole technolgoy is the most durable. When it comes to precision and performance, there's really no comparison. Read More