Raw aluminium, smart welds, and an aero seatpost — these are just a few of the eye-catching features of the the new Specialized Allez Sprint Comp. Can the € 1,799 alu-racer do its stealth look justice in our practical tests?
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best aluminium road bike you can buy – four bikes under € 2,500 in review
With the new Allez Sprint Comp, Specialized takes an unconventional approach by moving the welds of the E5 Premium aluminum frame into unusual positions. Until now, the seams in the head tube and bottom bracket area often coincided with the maximum load points. The DSW — D’Aluisio Smartweld technology — shifts the welding seams into different areas on the frame to ensure increased stiffness and better material distribution.
The front of the frame is nicely decorated with a Specialized S-Works FACT carbon fork — the same as that of the Tarmac SL5. The Allez Sprint Comp also shares the aerodynamic S-Works Venge ViAS carbon seatpost with its bigger brother. There’s another feature that we usually only see on Specialized’s expensive carbon racers: the Rider First Engineering frame construction. Each frame size features an especially adapted down tube, head tube, bottom bracket area, and fork. Specialized wants to meet the specific needs of different riders, adapting the bike to their body size and weight: small frames should therefore not be too stiff, while large frames shouldn’t have too much compliance. (We still don’t know what tall, skinny people and short muscle-packs will do.) Like the Cannondale, the Allez relies on a Shimano 105 groupset but combines it with a set of Tektro Axis brakes. The Allez also features a DT Swiss R460 wheelset with relatively narrow 24 mm Specialized Turbo Pro tires and Specialized’s own Shallow Drop aluminium cockpit. Our size 56 test bike weighs 8.25 kg and is therefore the heaviest bike in the entire test field — but only by a whisker!
The Specialized Allez Sprint Comp in detail
Drivetrain Shimano 105
Wheelset DT Swiss R460
Brakes Shimano 105 integrated shifter, Tektro Axis caliper
Tires Specialized Turbo Pro
Weight 8.25 kg
Price € 2,500
The geometry of the Specialized Allez Sprint Comp
When accelerating, the Specialized Allez Sprint Comp feels a little odd: the super-stiff frame is eager to sprint forward, but the heavy wheels prevent it from picking up speed quickly. On climbs the bike doesn’t want to get going and struggles to keep up with its competitors. Once you’re done with the climbing, the Allez Sprint Comp starts to show its good sides. On the downhills, the Specialized unleashes its full potential and follows each steering input with clinical precision. The front end feels a little too nimble compared to the rear end, which lags behind in fast direction changes. The lowered seatstays and the oval carbon seatpost are aerodynamically optimised and make the bike marginally faster at speed. Unfortunately, this is at the expense of riding comfort and even the smallest imperfections in the tarmac will hit you straight in the derriere. The Specialized feels most comfortable at high speeds, on straight sections, and in wide corners. On silky-smooth tarmac it runs efficiently and can keep speed well on flats. The stability of the Allez inspires tons of confidence even at speeds above 50 km/h — with a pair of 100% sunglasses and a big chainring, you’ll feel just like Peter Sagan bombing it on the way to his 4th World Champ title.
This bike is one of the stiffest we’ve ever tried
The Allez’s industrial look and odd positioning of the welds might not appeal to everyone’s taste, and its nervous handling makes it an option for a more specific target group. A more harmonious blend of the matte and glossy-black components and more elegant cable routing would improve the overall look of the bike. With its unique frame and the reliable Shimano 105 groupset, the Specialized costs € 1,799 and is the ideal platform for unique custom projects.
Conclusions
The Specialized Allez Sprint Comp is a real time-machine: its innovative technologies embrace the future, while its purist, rugged character nostalgically clings to the past. It’s a perfect bike for all criterium racers who are looking for a solid alu-companion. A certain lack of light-footedness on the uphill affects its all-round credentials, but the stiff and precise frame will surely get you to the front — and at full speed!
Strengths
– Super-stiff frame
– Precise handling
– Aero-genes
– Good platform for a custom build
Weaknesses
– Tektro Axis brake calipers
– Sluggish on climbs
– Cables are too long
– Uncomfortable rear end
Uphill | Downhill | Sprint
For more info head to: specialized.com
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best aluminium road bike you can buy – four bikes under € 2,500 in review
All bikes in test: Cannondale CAAD 12 105 | Trek Émonda ALR 6 | ROSE XEON RS Ultegra Di2
This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #009
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl
