Depending on when you're reading this, the opening team time trial through Barcelona is either a resounding triumph for Ganna and co, or the new wheel simply helped get them closer to the likes of Remco, Jonas and Pogačar.
The Dutch brand had the new wheel on Filippo Ganna's bike at the team hotel before the Grand Départ in the suburbs north of Barcelona. And though the team are likely still reeling from the unfortunate news that GC hopeful Oscar Onley has pulled out of the race, they still arrive in Catalonia with arguably one of the deepest time-trial rosters in the race. Filippo Ganna, Josh Tarling, Tobias Foss, Thymen Arensman and Kévin Vauquelin all feature on the start list for Saturday's 19.6km test from the Parc del Fòrum to Montjuïc.
Scope says the TriSpoke folds in its Algorithm Enhanced Aerodynamics (AEA) modelling alongside its Aeroscale surface texturing, with every surface tuned for a balance of aerodynamic drag, lateral stiffness and stability at speed, which, to be honest, sounds much like every other high-end wheel brand, though Scope do things a bit differently. This is their fastest front wheel on flatter terrain, which, when you see it in person, should come as no surprise.
It's reassuringly deep at 85mm and features a 23mm internal width ideal for 28mm tyres. The spokes are wide and broad, and taper up at the leading edge. Details are thin on the ground, but I suspect it creates a similar effect to the wavy rim design Zipp and others have used in the past, giving the wheel an aero profile similar to something deeper but marginally less susceptible to crosswinds, though I'm sure these would still be a handful for us mere mortals on windy days.
It isn't meant to replace everything, though. The existing Artech 8T remains in the line-up as the lightweight option, tipping the scales at a claimed 690g, and is still the preferred call for lumpier or windier stages, according to the mechanic I was chatting to. It's not available yet, and this was the first time I'd seen it in person, though Scope says it should be available to buy from May 27.
So, is it the aerodynamic cherry on the cake that got 'Top Ganna' on the top step? Who knows, but either way it's an impressive-looking wheel in an ever-growing landscape of me-too products.
