Did a new front wheel & tyre combo win the worlds for Ganna?
When you're Filippo Ganna you get wheels and tyres that don't even exist.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Ganna had a Princeton Carbonworks disc rear wheel, but more interestingly what appears to be a new deeper front wheel from Princeton. All three of Ganna’s bikes for the worlds had the same new wheel. The rim is deeper than the current offerings from Princeton, but is almost certainly a Princeton offering. Note the tubeless valve and the tan walls on the Conti GP 5000 branded tyre. The tread is certainly GP5000. Did someone want to make the tan walls black but ran out of marker?
Filippo Ganna successfully defended the time trial world championships over the weekend. Ganna winning a time trial is hardly extraordinary, however, we did spot some exciting equipment choices on his Pinarello Bolide TT.
Ganna and the Ineos Grenadiers regularly opt for Princeton Carbonworks wheels for time trials. While the front wheel Ganna opted for in the worlds TT certainly appears to be a Princeton, it is also deeper than anything we have previously seen from Princeton. With its wavy rim shape, the unbranded wheel is clearly a Princeton offering, and the move to offer a deeper profile is on-trend for time trialling with many riders now opting for front wheels right on the UCI limit of 100mm.
While this new wheel doesn’t quite hit that 100mm, if Princeton’s other wheels are anything to go by, it will likely come with claims of further improved aerodynamics while retaining stability. That extra depth and any potential aero benefits could very well have made a significant difference on the incredibly fast time trial course at this year’s world championships where Ganna took the win by just six seconds.
Judging by the brakes and valve on Ganna’s wheel, the new rim will have rim brake and tubeless tyre compatibility, only time will tell if Princeton will offer tubular and disc brake options.
That tubeless valve also raises some questions about Ganna’s tyre selection. At first glance, it appears to be a Continental GP 5000, no surprises there, the GP 5000 is known to be a fast and reliable tyre. However, the tan sidewalls and that tubeless valve is a surprising combination as Continental does not currently offer a tan sidewall tubeless GP 5000. That valve and some permanent marker handiwork on the tyre suggests Continental is about to introduce that very combination. Watch this space!