Tech at the Classics: ROSE Shave FF Debuts with Pro Teams and More Aero Innovations

It’s opening weekend for the spring classics, and that means there’s fresh tech to be found. Let’s kick things off with a bike brand that makes its debut in the pro peloton this year, which is the German brand ROSE. The Unibet Rose Rockets race the 2026 season on the ROSE Shave FF.

(Photo: Ties Wijntjes for Velo)

Updated February 28, 2026 12:21PM

Cobbles, rough weather, punchy climbs, and frites can mean only one thing: the classics have begun. Even with an early-season slate of sunny races to take pro cyclists out of their winter training, Omloop het Nieuwsblad is still the true opening of the cycling season. For that reason, the race has a certain suspense around it you won’t find elsewhere, even if it is not the biggest race of the season.

Like over the last few years, Omloop starts in Gent, where a big hall next to the famous velodrome ’t Kuipke turns into the epicenter of road cycling for a few hours. Most of the busses park inside the hall, which becomes a formicary for cyclists, Belgian cycling fans, and eager journalists.

The first cobbled classic is not only the first time we see many of the big hitters line up against each other, it is also the moment for many teams and bike brands to reveal some of the new tech they have been working on or testing over the winter months.

Although the opening weekend doesn’t deliver hordes of new products like it used to, it is still a great place to see tricked-out bikes and unreleased tech — reason enough to scour the grounds for cobble-specific setups, new products, and other notable tech.

ROSE Shave FF: A New Contender

For the cobbled classics, the Unibet Rose Rockets chose a 1x setup, utilizing SRAM’s Red AXS XPLR rear derailleur. ROSE presented the flagship model of their new race platform, the SHAVE FFX, developed to compete with major teams in the peloton, focusing on maximum race performance and aerodynamics. The Shave FFX is built from high-stiffness M40X carbon and equipped with top components to maximize performance. According to Rose Bikes, the Shave FFX Red AXS starts at €8,500.

Component Choices and Aero Tweaks

Although several teams adopted the 1x setup with SRAM’s Red AXS XPLR rear derailleur, differences emerged in chain catcher selection. UNO-X used a GnarWolf Braze-On Mount rev2, originally designed for mountain biking and cyclocross, while Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe opted for a ‘regular’ SRAM Red AXS rear derailleur.

Several teams focused on aerodynamic optimization, mounting transponders on the inner side of the front fork, such as Visma-Lease a Bike, despite the potential efficiency penalty in weight and aerodynamics. UAE Team Emirates-XRG employed an aerodynamic mount to shield riders’ Wahoo bike computers from the wind, and utilized a Bikone ceramic bottom bracket.

Wheels and Tires for the Cobbles

30-millimeter wide Vittoria Corsa Pros were a popular tire choice. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Soudal Quick-Step experimented with wider, unbranded 32-millimeter cotton tires from Specialized, potentially a new Turbo TLR variant. UAE Team Emirates-XRG continued to use Continental’s Archetype tires, developed for the 2023 Tour de France. Tudor Pro Cycling used Schwalbe Pro One Aerothan tires, which have been in development for several years due to production challenges.

Mathieu van der Poel and his teammates appeared to be testing a new version of Shimano’s Dura-Ace wheels, featuring a wider rim for improved aerodynamic integration with the tires.

Minor Gains and Rider Comfort

Teams also focused on minor aerodynamic gains, such as using zip ties for cable organization (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and specialized number plate mounts (Canyon Abroad CFR, Lidl-Trek). Some riders, like Karlijn Swinkels of UAE Team ADQ, preferred lighter bikes like Colnago’s V5Rs for the cobbled classics due to their lower weight and improved comfort compared to the Y1Rs.

More and more teams are turning to rider-specific nutrition, with some using stickers on the stem to help riders adhere to their nutrition plans. Race winner Demi Vollering even used a simple note sheet on her stem, writing down her notes on a piece of cotton tape.

Several riders used aerodynamic overshoes that didn’t cover the entire shoe, leaving the front open, such as Oliver Naesen and Matis Louvel.