Originally Posted by
Kontact
I figured, but I'm not sure to whom or why. Companies make expensive bikes because of the money, not love
You can win the TdF on an open mold bike with Rival. Everything beyond that is diminishing returns and prestige.
Hmmm. Well, a full Rival groupset is 1.2 lbs heavier than a Red groupset. Let's say Tadaj Pogacar climbs Alpe d'Huez at the same power he did in 2022, when his time was 39:12. Now let's add 1.2 lbs to his bike and keep everything else the same. He comes in 13.8 seconds slower. Now, his margin of victory in 2022 was 59 seconds. You just cut that to 45 seconds, and this is only ONE climb on ONE stage out of 21.
So, sure, MAYBE you can win the TdF with Rival, but if everyone else is using Red or Dura Ace or Super Record, you're hobbling yourself, perhaps enough that you're on the second step of the podium and watching somebody else get the yellow jersey. And that's leaving aside the question of the frame.