Share the post "The V-Izu TCM-2: The eccentricity and performance of Japanese cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympics"
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Japan is making waves with a piece of equipment that defies track cycling conventions: the V-Izu TCM-2. With a price tag approaching €130,000, this bike stands out with its innovative left-side drivetrain, a rare feature that makes it a true piece of high technology.
By Jean-François Tatard – Photo: Shutaro Mochizuki/DR
Designed by Toray, a Japanese carbon specialist, the V-Izu TCM-2 was unveiled at the Japan Track Cup in Tokyo in May. Before its Olympic debut, it had already been tested at the UCI World Championships in Glasgow the previous summer. This bike doesn’t just shine for its price: its wide front fork and aerodynamic design are eye-catching elements that maximize performance.
The option of placing the drivetrain on the left side is uncommon, though not entirely new. In 2016, the United States also experimented with a similar configuration with a Felt pursuit bike, aiming to improve aerodynamics in velodrome turns.
The V-Izu TCM-2 far exceeds the prices of other competition bikes. The British team’s Hope x Lotus model costs €64,000, while Australia’s Factor bike is €55,000. To put this into perspective, the French team’s Look bike retails for €12,000.
Why is the price so high at over €130,000? To be UCI-approved, the bike must be commercially available. Thus, to protect what Toray considers a decisive advantage, the Japanese have set the price at an excessively high level, making it practically inaccessible.
In their first Olympic competition, the Japanese men’s pursuit team used the V-Izu TCM-2 to achieve a time of 3:53.489. Benoît Bétoux, technical director of the Japanese high-performance center, praised the bike’s qualities, particularly its stability and impressive speed. Koichi Nakano, representing the Japan Cycling Federation, noted that the bike, although heavy at low speeds, reveals its full potential in high-level events.
The design of the V-Izu TCM-2 has also sparked controversy, particularly due to its similarities with the forks of the British Hope x Lotus bike. Stephen Park, head of performance at British Cycling, raised the possibility of legal action, although nothing has been undertaken to date.
Share the post "The V-Izu TCM-2: The eccentricity and performance of Japanese cycling at the Paris 2024 Olympics"
