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Hands-on with the new Giant Propel Advanced SL

Hands-on with the new Giant Propel Advanced SL

When Tony Martin unveiled the new Giant Propel Advanced SL to the world just two weeks ago we were left with as many questions as answers. Is it lighter? Is it still as aero? Is it even a Propel?

Thankfully today we can partly answer some of those questions and definitively confirm it is a Propel, as we got hands-on with the new Propel ahead of the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

While under strict instructions (and a very watchful eye) not to ride, weigh, or measure anything, we still have plenty more details to share.

Michael Matthews’ Propel Advanced SL for the 2022 Tour de France with Team BikeExchange-Jayco. Giant, Cadex, and team staff were all very tight lipped on exact details on the new bike and we weren’t allowed to measure anything. However, some did hint the new bike will be at or close to 7 kg as it sits here, and it certainly felt around that number in my hands.
It’s definitely a Propel.
Now that’s a much neater stem setup than the previous/current Propel solution.
The stem is a Contact Aero SLR and it looks both light and aero.
We briefly spotted these bikes at the presentation last night and noticed this neat internal cable routing solution that will allow for easy stem swaps without messing with hoses or wiring.
The new cockpit as Matthews will see it for the next three weeks.
The tops feature an aero profile in a size small enough to wrap your fingers around.
The drops looks fairly standard also, all good things so far.
Tyre clearance looks a little tight with tyres we suspect would measure in around 28 mm had the staff member turned their back for just a second.
The head tube is very much an aero bike.
The head tube isn’t very deep, but has a truncated profile.
A look from behind at that truncated head tube.
Aero profile down tube – Check!
What’s this here, a very fitted looking bottle cage.
The cage and down tube combine with a bottle to make what appears to be a cleaner surface for air flowing over the frame, as seen here at the team presentation last night.
The frame should take any bottle cage but this one is a perfect match for that down tube and presumably provides some small aero gains.
With a horizontal top tube, this could never have been a TCR.
Giant sticks with an integrated seat post, but significantly shrinks the seat tube as compared to the current Propel.
The seatstays are also redesigned and look much slimmer, presumably dropping some weight.
The shallower seat tube and dropped (but not flared) seatstays are somewhat off-trend compared to other new bikes making their Tour debut this week.
The chainstays are unusually shallow, too.
Looks like Giant will retain the RideSense speed and cadence sensor compatibility.

Cadex Ultra 50 Disc

Cadex is also at the party with a new wheelset for Team BikeExchange Jayco. Here’s what we have spotted.

Matthews’ bike is also equipped with new Cadex wheels, which appeared on the UCI-approved wheelset list as the “Cadex Ultra 50 Disc”. This is the first time we have seen a 50 mm rim from Cadex, and it fills that gap between the brand’s lightweight climbing wheels and the deep 65 mm dedicated aero wheels.
They look both fast and light with deep aero profiled carbon spokes. We suspect the final wheels will not have four CADEX logos. The white logo is a sticker and actually partially covers what appears to be the true decals.
The black logo beneath says “50 Hookless”
This gold logo on another bike outside the team truck says “Cadex Ultra”.
Tubeless, 50 mm, carbon spokes: sounds fast.
Looks like new hubs from Cadex with the word “Ceramic” on the inside.
A closer look at the prototype tyre Cadex is telling us nothing about.
Seems there will also be a tubular version.
However, this tubeless labelled wheel was fitted with tubular tyres. Wrong logo, right wheel?
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