When one of the pro peloton’s most title-laden aero road bikes gets a major rework for model year 2019 it’s clearly worth more than just a cursory glance. So what’s the score with the new Specialized S-Works Venge MY2019 and just how do the team over in the US perceive the topic of disc brakes?
Staying true to the #aeroiseverything attitude, Specialized have just launched the third iteration of the Venge for MY2019. The latest model promises elevated aerodynamic credentials, increased agility and added versatility. Having previously tested the most successful aero bike in history – the Specialized Venge ViAS – we were excited to get our hands on its successor.
Specialized Venge 2019 – Aerodynamics
While aero bikes usually emerge from wind tunnels as sleek drag-defying designs, Specialized went for an even more high-tech approach, being the first brand to utilize software that strategically determines the measurements and positions of tube profiles depending on the relationship of aerodynamics, stiffness and weight. The tube sections are then collected in Specialized’s FreeFoil library before being positioned methodically on the frame. According to their aerodynamicist Chris Yu, there are certain UCI-inflicted limitations on the frame but nothing overly significant. Given the trade-offs between aerodynamics, stiffness and weight, tube profiles are somewhat limited anyway. In Specialized’s opinion, their in-house bike developers have exceeded themselves, creating a bike that’s currently unrivalled in terms of its aerodynamics, low weight, stiffness and ability to cut through the air.
While the tube profiles on the Venge 2019 look reminiscent of an airfoil that’s been cut off at the back, Specialized say that’s not the case and the design is a direct result of countless computer simulations and wind tunnel tests.
The S-Works Tarmac SL6 lent the inspiration for the Venge’s revised rear triangle. While the Tarmac was the blueprint for early prototype stages of the Venge`s rear triangle, the design was reworked and optimised for the Venge. However, there are certain visible cues that hint at the shared design heritage.
Specialized Venge 2019 – Weight
The frameset of the new S-Works Venge 2019 (frame, fork, bars, stem, seatpost, derailleur hanger, bearings) is 460 grams lighter than the current S-Works Venge ViAS. The size 56 frame weighs in at 960 g, which also makes it lighter than the brand’s first disc brake Tarmac SL5 frame at 1020 g. Coming ready-to-ride, the S-Works Venge 2019 in a size 56 and kitted with Dura-Ace Di2 components is 7.1 kg in total.
| Venge ViAS | Venge 2019 | Weight saved in grams | Weight reduction (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fork | 410 g | 385 g | 25 g | 6% |
| Bars/Stem | 547 g | 440 g | 107 g | 20 % |
| Seatpost | 200 g | 175 g | 25 g | 13 % |
| Parts | 219 g | 156 g | 63 g | 29 % |
Specialized Venge 2019 – Geometry
Despite different measurements for its stack and reach, you should have a similar race-led position on the S-Works Venge 2019 as you do on the S-Works Tarmac SL6, achieved through the new Venge’s 18 mm minimum spacer height in the headset cup. The Tarmac SL6, on the other hand, works with a 10 mm higher headset and a longer stem to get the same position. The Venge 2019’s seatpost comes in two lengths (300 mm or 390 mm) and two off-sets (0 mm or 20 mm). The Di2 junction box has been smartly housed in the seatpost.
Adjustment options apply to the stem as well, with the choice between +/- 6° for an 80 mm to 140 mm stem, or +/- 12° for 110 mm to 140 mm. When designing the new stem, the brand honed in on the benchmark stiffness of the Zipp SL Sprint, which is compatible with most of the current bars on the market.
The S-Works Aerofly bars will be available in four different lengths from 380 mm to 440 mm. With a tidy solution of how to end the bar tape, your bar tape can be looking like it’s box fresh every day. Tire clearance isn’t bad either, with clearance on the Venge 2019 for up to 32 mm wide tires. If that seem excessive, just stick with the 26 mm Specialized Turbo Cotton models that come as standard. These tires proved themselves as stellar performers in our 2018 group test of race bikes.
| Size | 49 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 455 mm | 480 mm | 495 mm | 518 mm | 537 mm | 567 mm |
| Top tube | 508 mm | 531 mm | 540 mm | 562 mm | 577 mm | 595 mm |
| Head tube | 104 mm | 115 mm | 133 mm | 153 mm | 180 mm | 200 mm |
| Head angle | 71,75° | 72,5° | 73° | 73,5° | 73,5° | 74° |
| Seat angle | 75,5° | 74° | 74° | 73,5° | 73,5° | 73° |
| Wheelbase | 972 mm | 975 mm | 978 mm | 991 mm | 1005 mm | 1012 mm |
| Reach | 378 mm | 383 mm | 387 mm | 398 mm | 405 mm | 411 mm |
| Stack | 504 mm | 517 mm | 534 mm | 555 mm | 581 mm | 602 mm |
Specialized Venge 2019 – Technical Details
Ever the stallion: according to Chris Yu, certain fractions of the brand decried at the launch of the S-Works Tarmac SL6 that they would no longer be producing any more rim brake-equipped bikes, which explains why the S-Works Venge 2019 is only available with disc brakes. Specialized have adopted Shimano’s flat-mount system for the disc brakes and the standard set-up will be a 160 mm rotor up front and 140 mm at the back. However, for those that prefer continuity across the bike, there’s also the option of two 140 mm rotors.
The thoroughbred racing genes of the Venge 2019 are pretty apparent in its tenacity when it comes to drivetrains: only electronic will do, such as Shimano Di2, SRAM eTap or Campagnolo EPS. Could the days of Specialized toying with cables now be behind us?
The Roval CLX 64 Disc wheels have a 142×12 mm thru-axle on the rear and a 100×12 mm front axle. Weighing just 67 g per pair, these axles retain a low weight while still looking sharp.
In a similar set-up to the S-Works Tarmac SL6, there’s a CeramicSpeed bottom bracket coming in the Specialized OSBB/BB30 standard. The Dura-Ace R9150 cranks found on the earlier model are substituted by Specialized’s own S-Works Power Cranks with torque meters on both sides that are compatible with standard GPS devices. A Shimano direct-mount hanger can be included in deliveries when requested, which improves shifting performance thanks to its increased rigidity.
Specialized Venge 2019 – Test
Once the Venge 2019 gets rolling, you can only imagine the feats of speed it’ll be capable of when under the capable guise of pros like Sagan. Not just the lightest of its kind at 1,615 g, the Roval CLX 64 Disc wheelset is ultra precise and rigid, so that when teamed with the Venge’s super stiff bottom bracket we reckon it is the most rapid road machine that we’ve tested this year. Moreover, the Specialized Venge is in a class of its own when it comes to inspiring confidence.
Even during the most forceful, all-out sprint for the line, the Venge holds its line yet stills feels capable of more. It’s the sort of predictability that’s best compared to driving a race car. Those times when driving at 120 km/h in such a capable car feels like a pedestrian-friendly speed limit when the car is otherwise capable of 300 km/h. This sense of sureness in the equipment means that you can push quicker speeds on the descents, which isn’t just an asset for making time on the bunch in a breakaway but also a confidence boost for less experienced riders. The Venge is clearly at its most content when riding at high speeds, and the 2019 model brings an elevated dose of agility and responsiveness that translates into a finesse of sculpting a line around hairpins and unanticipated turns – in stark contrast to many aero bikes that merely excel in a straight line.
It isn’t just the strength of the frame that cements such trust in the bike; the Specialized Turbo Cotton tires prove a stellar choice for real-world riding. The Roval wheelset have a 21 mm rim width and the tires sit satisfyingly wide with more of a U-shape than an O-shape. It’s great when cornering with extra grip. The tires perform superbly on diverse road surfaces and in the wet–showing a knack for both complementing and enhancing the braking performance of the Shimano Dura-Ace disc brakes.
Things usually get a little dicey on wet roads, but these latest Shimano disc brakes deliver finesse that makes their performance a cut above the unpredictability of rim brakes on carbon rims. We didn’t even sense any flex in the fork in superlative road and weather conditions while braking intensely. The pairing of the Venge’s thru-axle and carbon fork is clearly a strong platform for aggressive riding or as insurance on the hunt for downhill Strava segments.
On climbs the aero bike tag of the Venge 2019 is easily overlooked, as its low weight contributes to its great ride – the only tell-tale sign that you’ll need racing legs for this race bike comes at certain gradients when you recall its 52/36 by 11-28t cassette. It is details like this that testify to its race breeding, which is pretty clear from a distance anyway!
Touching on the topic of comfort, the Venge 2019 is probably best kept in a league that’s battling for relative comfort against other aerodynamically optimised race bikes likes the SCOTT Foil, the Canyon Aeroad Disc and the 3T Strada. Comfort here is less about recreational hours and more about how to best hold the most efficient and aerodynamic position. Compared to the bikes named above, the Venge 2019 wiped the board. A certain dose of compliance in the carbon seat post and cockpit translates into a well-considered balance of shock absorption and rigidity. The design of the bars has been revised with an extra wide top section – undoubtedly designed for aerodynamic efficacy – but ironically also very adapt at allowing your arms to stay in place, even in the wet.
Specialized Venge 2019 – Conclusion
Bringing no weaknesses into 2019, this latest iteration of the Venge is a lightning-quick bike that climbs with an aptitude that’s out of character for an aero bike and descends with the efficiency to inspire any rider to let off the brakes. The Venge displays the sort of all-rounder traits that one just doesn’t associate with a typical aero bike. And while its aero credentials clearly exceed those of the Tarmac SL6, we reckon there may well be other terrain where the Venge can outperform the Tarmac.
For more info head to: specialized.com
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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf, Valentin Rapp
