There's nothing faster than the Tarmac SL8. Why? Because of the combination we've achieved between aerodynamics, lightness, and a ride quality that seemed impossible until now.
Eight generations and over two decades of development later, it’s not just the fastest Tarmac ever; it’s also the fastest race bike in the world.
Races aren’t won by aerodynamics or lightness alone: it’s all about speed. And to achieve it, you need to create an uncompromising combination of aerodynamics, lightness, stiffness, and comfort.
Our Ride Science team simulated races with real-world data and found that the Tarmac SL8 is the fastest road bike ever made on the most important routes: 16.6 seconds faster over 40 km, 128 seconds faster in Milan-San Remo, and 20 seconds faster on the legendary Tourmalet climb.
- 100% AERO: We’ve placed aerodynamic elements where they truly matter, not just where they look good. This is how we've created our most aerodynamic road bike ever—yes, even more than the Venge. The new Speed Sniffer, the Tarmac’s nose cone, optimizes clean air for maximum advantage. By moving the head tube back (which sets the head tube angle), the leading edge of the head tube is much sharper, and the resulting shape has significantly less aerodynamic drag. Taking advantage of the new UCI rules, the Tarmac SL8 features the narrowest, most aerodynamic seatpost we've ever made, so the dirty air around the legs flows more cleanly rearward. Sweet taste of victory, right?
- MINIMAL WEIGHT, MAXIMUM AERODYNAMICS: Thanks to lessons learned from the Aethos, the Tarmac SL8 has been designed to meet UCI minimum requirements while still offering a 100% aero build. The team created an incredible 685-gram frame, 15% lighter than the Tarmac SL7 and lighter than any other World Tour frame.* We also applied what we learned from the Aethos to prioritize lightness in the down tube, seat tube, and rear end of the bike. The frame's shape supports the load so efficiently that extra carbon layers aren't needed. *Unless you count when Kasper Asgreen rode our 585-gram Aethos frame in a Tour de France stage.
- IT RIDES LIKE A ROCKET, HANDLES LIKE A DREAM: With an optimized stiffness-to-weight ratio (33% better than the SL7), the Tarmac SL8 offers legendary handling, aggressive responsiveness, and world-championship-proven geometry that’s next-level. The bike is stiffer at the pedals, more precise in the handlebars, and more comfortable in the saddle, setting a new comfort standard in race bikes. Thanks to our Rider-First Engineering, every rider, regardless of size, can experience unprecedented ride quality and control. In the saddle, the Tarmac SL8 offers 6% more comfort, floating over rough terrain and providing a smoothness that's uncommon in the demanding world of race bikes. The Tarmac geometry and 32mm tire clearance are identical to the SL7, ensuring easy adaptation and the option to use larger tires when needed.
- BEYOND GENDER: We can find more differences between two male riders than between a man and a woman. Gender alone doesn’t provide enough data to make it the sole factor in designing a bike. That’s why making bikes just for men or women is a thing of the past. Every rider can enjoy the benefits of the Tarmac SL8. It's time to go Beyond Gender.
- The S-Works Tarmac SL8 features the best components. It comes with a full Shimano Dura-Ace 9200 Di2 group with a dual-sided power meter and Roval Rapide CLX II wheelset (tubeless-ready), perfectly complementing the world’s fastest frame. All S-Works Tarmac SL8 models also feature a Roval Rapide cockpit designed to reduce weight and offer the most aerodynamic leading edge possible.