madone trek 2021

Trek launches new, lighter Madone

2021 Madone gets OCLV 800 carbon, a 450-gram saving and a T47 bottom bracket

Trek has today launched the latest new addition to its range, announcing a significant update to its Madone range, the company's best aero road bike .

For the 2021 model, Trek has given it a diet to the tune of 450 grams. It has also been given Trek's seemingly-now-go-to T47 bottom bracket standard, along with an update in colour palettes and additional Project One themes. 

Along with the launch of the new Trek Emonda last month, Trek unveiled OCLV 800, a new carbon fibre technology that had been over two years in the making. At launch, Trek claimed OCLV 800 to be 30 per cent stronger than OCLV 700.

Best road bikes Best carbon road bikes Best road bike wheels

Thanks to this increase in strength, Trek has been able to use less overall material to achieve the same shape, stiffness and durability. The result for the Emonda was an approximate 60-gram saving. For the Madone, this means a weight saving of 80 grams for the frame alone.

Coupled with the opportunity to spec the new Madone with Bontrager's new Aeolus RSL 37 wheelset and Aeolus RSL bar/stem – both of which also came alongside the Emonda launch – and a lighter weight paint scheme, Trek claims the weight savings add up to 450 grams. 

Trek is clear to point out this is an update, applying its latest technologies to the brand's aero platform, rather than an altogether new Madone. Therefore, the frame shares the exact same silhouette as the current model. This means that, from a frameset point of view at least, the 2021 Madone is aerodynamically equal. 

The other update comes at the bottom bracket. T47 isn't a new concept by any means. Originally conceived back in 2015, the technology made its way into the Trek lineup in 2019 when it was used on the Crockett. However, instead of adopting the standard as-is, Trek applied a minor change that sees the shell width increased by 1mm to allow Trek's factory tools a better purchase on the splined edges. 

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T47 has gained plaudits for its wide-ranging compatibility, ease of serviceability and the generally creak-free nature of a threaded system, so the move will be widely praised among Trek fans. With the Domane launched in July of 2019, the Emonda more recently, and now the Madone, today's announcement sees all of the top Trek road bikes now committed to T47 threaded bottom brackets. 

The 2021 Trek Madone SLR lineup

The new OCLV 800 model will, of course, be limited to Trek's range-topping Madone SLR, available in the following models:

• Madone SLR 6 Disc : £6,250.00
• Madone SLR 7 Disc : £7,500.00
• Madone SLR 7 Disc eTap : £8,200.00
• Madone SLR 9 Disc : £11,350.00
• Madone SLR 9 Disc eTap : £11,950.00
• Madone SLR Disc Frameset : £4,210.00

Find out more at TrekBikes.com

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Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton.

Josh has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews. On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years.

He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. 

These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.

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Trek Madone SLR 7 Gen 7 review - very fast and very expensive

The latest Madone may have a hole through the seat tube but we couldn't find any in its performance

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The Trek Madone is an absolute speed weapon. The deep-section tubes with the radical-looking cutout help, as does the newly designed handlebar, which is narrow and provides good wrist support for the ‘aero-hoods’ position. And then there are the 51mm deep Bontrager Aeolus Pro wheels. The handling is incredibly fast, responding to the smallest shift in weight and the tiniest tweaks of the bars, and ride quality is so impressive that it’s almost possible to overlook things like the narrow tires and ungenerous clearance - but you can’t ignore the price. If you have the budget and want a WorldTour-level race machine with exceptional handling and ride feel, this is the bike.

Super smooth ride

Light for an aero bike

Striking aesthetics

Limited adjustability

No power meter

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

• Construction

Value and conclusion

For this latest Gen 7 version of the Madone, Trek’s aero bike, the US brand removed the IsoSpeed Decoupler of the previous Gen 6 model and left, in its place, a big hole.

OK, it’s not the crude, reductionist approach it sounds like.

The old bike’s micro-adjustable suspension system at the top tube/seat tube juncture added weight and was mostly redundant since Trek discovered most riders would ‘set and forget’.

And by radically reengineering the frame Trek claims to have saved 300g, and says the new bike is almost 20 watts faster than its predecessor, which equates to 60 seconds per hour when ridden at 45kph. It looks radical, too - always a good thing for a new bike.

In our 2023 Race Bike of the Year grouptest we awarded the Madone 'best aero bike' against competition that included the Cervélo S5, the Canyon Aeroad and the Giant Propel.

However, over $9K / £10K for an Ultegra bike has to be unchartered territory - so how does it compare overall to the best road bikes ?

Trek Madone 7 Gen 7: construction

Let’s peer a bit more closely into that hole or, to give it its real name, IsoFlow. The aerodynamic explanation for it is: “It’s a way to direct some high energy flow into a low energy region of the bike.” What that means is that the seat tube area creates a disproportionate amount of drag and the hole helps to dissipate this by adding what Trek calls a “jet of fast moving air.”

It turns out that only half of the claimed watt saving comes from the IsoFlow hole. Trek has entered the integrated cockpit wars (along with Colnago, Canyon, Cervélo et al) with a completely new and very slick-looking design but it’s neither adjustable nor V-shaped: according to Trek it saves watts by changing rider position rather than via the aerodynamic properties of the cockpit itself.

A standard 42cm bar becomes 39cm at the hoods and 42cm at the drops and there’s a backsweep so that a flat-forearms aero position on the hoods becomes very aero indeed.

There are 14 different combinations available and, since the backsweep gives the bar a shorter reach, it’s important to get the right one - if you’re like those of us who rode this bike, you’ll need a longer stem. You can change this at point of purchase at no extra cost, Trek told us, or the 1 1/8in steerer is compatible with a non-integrated stem and bar (though the frame is electronic groupset only).

The same goes for the seatmast. The cutout in the seat tube leaves less room for a long seatpost and less adjustability (around 6cm minimum to maximum) so if you are long-legged but prefer a smaller frame you may need the tall version that comes with the size 56 upwards (as I ideally would have done). There are also two offsets available.

Our size 54 with a standard short mast could only manage a maximum saddle height of 74cm and the reach felt very short with the 90mm stem cockpit it comes with.

The latest geometry is called H1.5 (halfway between the old H1 race and H2 endurance). The reduced reach combined with the shorter reach of the swept-back bar works very well for that super aero hoods position, but it does feel surprisingly short. The kamm-tailed rear of the stem is much closer to your knees than you’d expect.

The new SLR bikes are all made from Trek’s 800 OCLV carbon - from the 105-equipped SLR 6 up to the flagship SLR 9 - and are impressively light, especially compared with other aero bikes such as the Cervelo S5. Trek says this is its lightest ever disc Madone.

There’s clearance for 28mm tires max, which is tight by modern standards. This model comes with Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 tubeless-ready wheels, set up with Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite 25mm tires and inner tubes - again, surprisingly narrow.

Despite the fact that the fit wasn’t optimal - I could have done with the size up - the ride quality of the Madone is absolutely incredible. That’s the first thing that strikes you, or rather doesn’t strike you.

Aero bikes used to supply a harsher ride simply because deep, bladed tubing doesn’t flex like round tubing. This was undoubtedly the reason why Trek bolted the IsoSpeed decoupler onto the Madone two iterations ago. So you might expect that with its suspension system gone, the latest bike might have gone backwards in comfort. Not a bit of it.

It feels like a coiled carbon spring - full of potential energy and floating over bad road surfaces seemingly without any effect on its speed. And this is on 25mm tires that aren’t even the best (at this price they really ought to be).

The handling is also exactly right. The shortish 90mm stem section of the cockpit could have made it a little twitchy, but thanks to the sweeping shape I found my weight sufficiently over the front wheel in the hoods position, and steering was fast but balanced on descents and tight corners.

So it passes ‘comfortable’ and ‘fast’ with flying colors (actually Deep Smoke for this one).

At 7.5kg it’s light for an aero bike - or any disc brake bike - and it leaps up hills as if it weighs even less. I was so impressed with its performance that I kept forgetting Trek also has the Emonda climbing bike. The next Emonda has its work cut out (pun intended).

Finally, stability in crosswinds. There’s one particular gateway on my test loop where any bike not designed for big yaw angles will be gusted and the Trek was indeed blown sideways slightly - but not alarmingly considering the deep wheels and frame tubes.

This bike is incredibly good but it’s also incredibly expensive. It’s a full $1,000 / £1,000 more than the equivalent outgoing Gen 6 Madone SLR 7, and you’d have to look hard to find a more expensive Ultegra Di2-equipped bike from the other mainstream brands. 

The Canyon Aeroad CFR with Dura-Ace costs $8,999 / £8,799, while the Cervelo S5 with SRAM Force AXS costs $9,000 / £9,200. The Giant Propel Advanced SL1 also with SRAM Force costs $8,000 / £8,999.

You might also reasonably expect a power meter at this price - those three bikes all come with them - but it’s just the regular Ultegra crankset here.

So the price is stratospheric but compared with the current aero bikes I’ve ridden so far including the Colnago V4RS , Canyon Aeroad SLX , Cervelo S5, Tarmac SL7 and Pinarello Dogma F, the ride quality is superior.

• Frame: 800 Series OCLV carbon
• Fork: KVF carbon, tapered steerer
• Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2
• Wheels : Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51
• Tires : Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite 25mm
• Cockpit: Madone integrated
• Seatpost : Madone aero internal
• Saddle: Bontrager Aeolus Elite
• Weight: 7.5kg
• Contact: www.trekbikes.com

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Simon Smythe is a hugely experienced cycling tech writer, who has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2003. Until recently he was our senior tech writer. In his cycling career Simon has mostly focused on time trialling with a national medal, a few open wins and his club's 30-mile record in his palmares. These days he spends most of his time testing road bikes, or on a tandem doing the school run with his younger son.

Giant filed a suit against Stages in February and four team members left the latter to join Giant

By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published 25 April 24

Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.

By Kristin Jenny Published 24 April 24

Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen

By Tom Thewlis Published 24 April 24

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Trek Madone SLR 6

• AUS $ NZD $ USD $ CAD $ GBP £ EUR €

Size / 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62

Weight / 56 - 8.26 kg / 18.21 lbs

At a glance

Where to buy.

"A Belgian outsider steals the show in Italy"

"Jasper Stuyven wins Milano-Sanremo and claims the biggest victory of his career."

Specifications

• Frame 800 Series OCLV Carbon, KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube shape, adjustable top tube IsoSpeed, invisible cable routing, 3S aero chain keeper, T47 BB, DuoTrap S compatible, flat mount disc, 142x12mm thru axle
• Fork Madone KVF full carbon, tapered carbon steerer, invisible cable routing, flat mount disc, carbon dropouts, 12x100mm thru axle
• Chain Shimano Ultegra HG701, 11-speed
• Crank Size: 47 Shimano Ultegra R8000, 52/36, 165mm length Size: 50, 52 Shimano Ultegra R8000, 52/36, 170mm length
• Front Derailleur Shimano Ultegra R8000, braze-on
• Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra R8000, short cage, 30T max cog
• Shifters Shimano Ultegra R8020, 11-speed
• Brakeset Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc, flat mount
• Handlebar Size: 47 Trek Madone adjustable aero VR-CF, OCLV Carbon, invisible cable routing, 93mm reach, 123mm drop, 38cm width Size: 50, 52 Trek Madone adjustable aero VR-CF, OCLV Carbon, invisible cable routing, 93mm reach, 123mm drop, 40cm width
• Seatpost Size: 47, 50, 52, 54, 56 Madone aero carbon internal seatmast cap, integrated light mount, 25mm offset, short length Size: 58, 60, 62 Madone aero carbon internal seatmast cap, integrated light mount, 25mm offset, tall length
• Stem Size: 47, 50, 52, 54 Trek Madone aero, invisible cable routing, 7 degree, 90mm length Size: 56, 58 Trek Madone aero, invisible cable routing, 7 degree, 100mm length

Q: Where to buy a 2021 Trek Madone SLR 6?

The 2021 Trek Madone SLR 6 may be purchased directly from Trek .

Q: How much does a 2021 Trek Madone SLR 6 weigh?

A 2021 Trek Madone SLR 6 weights 56 - 8.26 kg / 18.21 lbs.

Q: What size 2021 Trek Madone SLR 6 should I get?

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Bike of the Week | £13,050 Trek Madone SLR Project One

Incredible paint job commands £1,050 premium

Simon Bromley / Immediate Media

The Madone SLR is Trek’s top-end all-out aero bike and, back in July , it received a quiet update, moving from the much-disliked BB90 bottom bracket standard in favour of T47, adopting the brand’s highest grade OCLV 800 carbon layup and moving to disc only.

The launch was also notable for the large price-tag of the highest spec bikes, with the Madone SLR 9 Disc eTap coming in at £11,950.

We’re delighted to bring you that very model for this week’s Bike of the Week with an added twist – Trek has taken things a step further, with this particular bike sporting a Project One (Trek’s in-house customisation programme) paint job, bringing the bike to a whopping £13,050.

What is Bike of the Week?

Every week, we bring you a detailed first look at one of the latest bikes (or framesets) to arrive at BikeRadar HQ – from road to commuting, gravel to enduro, and anything in between.

This is our chance to introduce the bike and everything that makes it unique before hitting the road or trails.

Head to our Bike of the Week hub for previous editions.

That is, objectively, a great deal of money.

For that amount of cash you could actually buy three Trek Madone SL 6s – the cheapest version of the Madone and our 2020 aero road bike of the year – with £1,300 change left to upgrade the already good wheels on one of your clutch of aero wagons.

However, value is clearly not the point when you’re spending quite this much on a bike.

You are spending £13k on a bike simply because you can and nothing tastes better than those sweet, sweet gains – no matter how marginal they may be.

With that in mind, the build of the bike leaves absolutely nothing to be desired for the aspiring go-fast rider.

Built around a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset – including the matching Quarq power meter that is integrated into chainrings – the bike looks outrageously clean, with not a single cable or hose on show.

The 60mm-deep Bontrager Aeolus XXX 6 wheelset is fitted with a set of Bontrager R4 320 clinchers in a 25mm width. These are, of course, tan wall to maximise Instagram points.

Up front, the Madone uses a neat two-piece cockpit design.

The chunky stem clamps the bar vertically in a clamshell-like arrangement. This setup means there is no faceplate facing the wind, smoothing airflow.

The bar itself features an ‘extension’ that sits proud of the front of the stem – again, this is done to smooth airflow over the cockpit.

Going for this two-piece design as opposed to a one-piece cockpit means the bar or stem can be swapped or the bar rotated without giving up much in terms of aero performance.

Other than the aforementioned move to a T47 threaded bottom bracket and the adoption of OCLV 800 – which is claimed to shed 80g compared to the previous generation – the overall shape and features of the frameset remain the same.

In any case, features be damned, we know it’s that incredible paint job you're really interested in.

The deep purple-y kinda-peacock-like glittery-tastic iridescent-ish finish looks astonishingly good, shifting drastically as you view the bike from different angles. It really is quite unlike anything we’ve had at BikeRadar HQ and almost makes the £1,050 premium over the stock bike feel worth it… maybe.

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The new 2021 Trek Madone SLR is here

Trek have unveiled the latest Madone SLR, their flagship aero road bike. As expected it’s a strong aero performer, with KVF tubes, hidden cable routing and smooth integration making for a sleek, wind-cheating bike.

Trek-Segafredo team have been able to save a whopping 450g on their complete bikes, thanks to the lighter frames combined with the likes of the new Aeolus RSL integrated bar/stem and Aeolus RSL 37 wheelset. In this age of marginal gains and mature technologies that’s quite an incredible achievement, their previous bikes were hardly heavyweights!

Trek haven’t needed to cut corners to achieve this weight loss. There’s the always welcome adjustable top tube IsoSpeed decoupler to improve ride quality (complete with damping to control rebound). This provides some carefully controlled flex at the junction of seat tube and top tube, which can be adjusted to suit individual rider weight and preferences. The end result is less fatigue on rougher roads (which is most, these days, lets face it!) without any loss of performance and efficiency in power delivery.

Unsurprisingly the Madone also features Trek’s H1.5 Race fit. This geometry sits between the outright “stretched and super-low” of the H1, and their more endurance-focused H2. The end result is a great all-round position and one that we’ve found to be very easy to work with from a fit point of view, working brilliantly with a wide range of body types and flexibility.

The previous generation Madone was already one of the more versatile race-ready aero road bikes, with more attention paid to comfort than, say, the same generation Tarmac. As a result the Madone became the default choice for many riders, when looking for the perfect blend of aero, comfort and position.

But just as Specialized have improved the ride quality of their latest Tarmac, making it less extreme, Trek have likewise upped the game, using the latest tech to make this new Madone lighter without compromising on its ride quality or aero performance.

The SLR bikes come as standard with the adjustable Madone aero bar and stem, with its integrated cable routing. This is a proven performer and already a popular choice, but the hidden cables can be a bit of a faff for mechanics, and when travelling.

With this in mind Trek are also offering the new Aeolus RSL integrated bar and stem as an option on Project One Madones. This saves 160g in weight over the ‘standard’ (already light weight) Madone cockpit, without sacrificing any aero performance at all – and has more accessible cabling, still neatly and aerodynamically hidden below the bar/stem, but easier to access.

Another nice practical benefit, that has been gradually rolling out across the entire Trek road range, is a T47 threaded bottom bracket. This gives the ability to handle the multitude of modern crank standards, with oversized bearings, but without the potential for creaks that was the achilles heel of press-fit BBs. It’s a win/win, with no down side, and one we’re very pleased to see.

The new Madone SLR9 Disc eTap comes in at €13,130 with the SLR6 Disc at a slightly more accessible €6,870. The SLR Disc frameset costs €4,620.

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Aero and more - the 2021 Madone SLR

Filter by category:, it's aero. but aero isn't everything....

Trek have unveiled the latest Madone SLR, their flagship Aero Road bike. As expected it's a strong aero performer, with KVF tubes, hidden cable routing and smooth integration making for a sleek, wind-cheating bike.

But in recent years we've seen a welcome change from the early days of wind-tunnel testing, where manufacturers chased ultimate aero performance at the expense of everything else. Now there's an understanding that ride quality, position and weight all play a part in the overall equation, and new carbon materials, computer modelling and manufacturing techniques mean that a race-ready bike can maintain its focus without compromising on ride quality.

The new Madone SLR is built with Trek's latest OCLV 800 carbon, first seen on the recent new Émonda . Trek's strongest and lightest carbon, it makes for a frame that's 80g lighter than the previous generation.

The WorldTour Trek Segafredo team have been able to save a whopping 450g on their complete bikes, thanks to the lighter frames combined with the likes of the new Aeolus RSL integrated bar/stem and Aeolus RSL 37 wheelset . In this age of marginal gains and mature technologies that's quite an incredible achievement, their previous bikes were hardly heavyweights!

Trek haven't needed to cut corners to achieve this weight loss. There's the always welcome adjustable top tube IsoSpeed decoupler to improve ride quality (complete with damping to control rebound). This provides some carefully controlled flex at the junction of seat tube and top tube, which can be adjusted to suit individual rider weight and preferences. The end result is less fatigue on rougher roads (which is most, these days, lets face it!) without any loss of performance and efficiency in power delivery.

Unsurprisingly the Madone also features Trek's H1.5 Race fit. This geometry sits between the outright "stretched and super-low" of the H1, and their more endurance-focused H2. The end result is a great all-round position and one that we've found to be very easy to work with from a fit point of view, working brilliantly with a wide range of body types and flexibility.

The previous generation Madone was already one of the more versatile race-ready aero road bikes, with more attention paid to comfort than, say, the same generation Tarmac. As a result the Madone became the default choice for many riders, when looking for the perfect blend of aero, comfort and position.

But just as Specialized have improved the ride quality of their latest Tarmac, making it less extreme, Trek have likewise upped the game, using the latest tech to make this new Madone lighter without compromising on its ride quality or aero performance.

It's a very attractive package, and a fitting continuation of the venerable Madone name. Lets take a closer look:

As we've come to expect, the Madone makes extensive use of KVF "Kammtail Virtual Foil" tube shapes throughout the frame. These profiles (imagine a teardrop shape with the pointy end cut off) provide all the aero benefits of an airfoil shape, but use less material (keeping weight low) and offer much less surface area to catch cross winds, aiding stability.

The SLR bikes come as standard with the adjustable Madone aero bar and stem, with its integrated cable routing. This is a proven performer and already a popular choice, but the hidden cables can be a bit of a faff for mechanics, and when travelling.

With this in mind Trek are also offering the new Aeolus RSL integrated bar and stem as an option on Project One Madones. This saves 160g in weight over the 'standard' (already light weight) Madone cockpit, without sacrificing any aero performance at all - and has more accessible cabling, still neatly and aerodynamically hidden below the bar/stem, but easier to access.

Another nice practical benefit, that has been gradually rolling out across the entire Trek road range, is a T47 threaded bottom bracket. This gives the ability to handle the multitude of modern crank standards, with oversized bearings, but without the potential for creaks that was the achilles heel of press-fit BBs. It's a win/win, with no down side, and one we're very pleased to see.

Project One

One of Trek's most exciting tools is their Project One custom programme, enabling you to spec your own unique build (including the likes of those Aeolus bar/stem and the new 1325g Aeolus RSL 37 wheelset) - and of course to choose from a gorgeous range of custom paint schemes.

We've already seen some stunning new paint options previewed as part of the recent Émonda launch, now Trek have expanded the range further. These really deserve their own blog, so check out our full overview of the new Artist Series here and the latest updates to the ICON series here .

Bespoke Builds

Project One isn't the only option for custom spec, and of course we can take a frameset and build it to create your own unique dream bike. The Madone SLR is available as a frameset only, in Carbon Smoke/Crimson, and will also be available as frame only via Project One if you want to go to town on the colours.

Whether you opt for an off-the-peg configuration, the stock frameset or a Project One frame we will of course ensure the perfect fit.

The new Madone SLR is in our Bike Builder now , allowing you to create your ideal build online and interactive.

The SLR Range

Alongside the frameset and the almost unlimited Project One custom options, there are five "off the peg" Madone SLR builds available (and of course we ensure the perfect fit, even on a stock build).

Madone SLR 6 - £6250 Ultegra mechanical / Aeolus Pro 5 carbon wheels

Madone SLR 7 - £7500 / £8050 ​Ultegra Di2 / Aeolus Pro 5 carbon wheels

Madone SLR 7 eTap - £8200 Force eTap AXS with integrated power meter / Aeolus Pro 5 carbon wheels

Madone SLR 9 - £11,350 Dura-Ace Di2 / Bontrager Aeolus XXX 6 carbon wheels

Madone SLR 9 eTap - £11,950 RED eTap AXS with integrated power meter / Aeolus Pro 5 carbon wheels

Madone SLR Frameset - £4200

The new Madone SLR looks set to be another success for Trek, and forms a part of a well-rounded range of road race bikes.

If weight is your primary concern the new Émonda may be your weapon of choice (forgoing the IsoSpeed damping and some of the aero performance of the Madone). For endurance riders the Domane will continue to be the top choice, with IsoSpeed both front and rear.

But for sheer race-day performance, and a bike that can be used equally for crits, Tri events and training, the Madone makes a compelling case. To discuss your own build, fit options and more, simply get in touch .

Trek Émonda SL6 Pro Ridden and Reviewed

Trek's new Émonda brings aero advantages to their lightweight bike range. Barry has been testing the SL 6 Pro, shaping up to be one of the best value, most capable bikes of...

Ultralight and Aero - the new Trek Émonda

Trek have unveiled their new generation Émonda, bringing all the climb-focused light weight you'd expect (sub-700g for the SLR frame) together with new aero benefits. We've...

New Project One ICON paint schemes

Trek's Project One programme offers a world of custom colour options. They've marked the launch of the new Émonda with some very special editions in their ICON series.

Russia establishes special site to fabricate fuel for China’s CFR-600

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A special production site to fabricate fuel for China’s CFR-600 fast reactor under construction has been established at Russia’s Mashinostroitelny Zavod (MSZ - Machine-Building Plant) in Elektrostal (Moscow region), part of Rosatom’s TVEL Fuel Company. 

As part of the project, MSZ had upgraded existing facilities fo the production of fuel for fast reactors, TVEL said on 3 March. Unique equipment has been created and installed, and dummy CFR-600 fuel assemblies have already been manufactured for testing.

The new production site was set up to service an export contract between TVEL and the Chinese company CNLY (part of China National Nuclear Corporation - CNNC) for the supply of uranium fuel for CFR-600 reactors. Construction of the first CFR-600 unit started in Xiapu County, in China's Fujian province in late 2017 followed by the second unit in December 2020. The contract is for the start-up fuel load, as well as refuelling for the first seven years. The start of deliveries is scheduled for 2023.

“The Russian nuclear industry has a unique 40 years of experience in operating fast reactors, as well as in the production of fuel for such facilities,” said TVEL President Natalya Nikipelova. “The Fuel Division of Rosatom is fulfilling its obligations within the framework of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the development of fast reactor technologies. These are unique projects when foreign design fuel is produced in Russia. Since 2010, the first Chinese fast neutron reactor CEFR has been operating on fuel manufactured at the Machine-Building Plant, and for the supply of CFR-600 fuel, a team of specialists from MSZ and TVEL has successfully completed a complex high-tech project to modernise production,” she explained.

A special feature of the new section is its versatility: this equipment will be used to produce fuel intended for both the Chinese CFR-600 and CEFR reactors and the Russian BN-600 reactor of the Beloyarsk NPP. In the near future, the production of standard products for the BN-600 will begin.

The contract for the supply of fuel for the CFR-600 was signed in December 2018 as part of a governmental agreement between Russia and China on cooperation in the construction and operation of a demonstration fast neutron reactor in China. This is part of a wider comprehensive programme of cooperation in the nuclear energy sector over the coming decades. This includes serial construction of the latest Russian NPP power units with generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors at two sites in China (Tianwan and Xudabao NPPs). A package of intergovernmental documents and framework contracts for these projects was signed in 2018 during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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• Madone SL 6 - 2021, 58cm

• Rider Notes

2021 Trek Madone SL 7 eTap

A carbon frame aero bike with high-end components and hydraulic disc brakes.

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A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Madone SL 7 eTap

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• 5'11", size 56cm, Fits small
• 5'7", size 52cm, Just right

Dec 2022 · Sam Challis

The new Madone is leaner, meaner and wickedly quick

Very fast ride feel

Smart componentry design

Light weight

Narrow bars take some getting used to

Vulnerable in gusty conditions

Read Review

Jun 2022 · Matt Hansen

The frame features striking new tube shapes and radical rear triangle

Jun 2022 · James Huang

The seventh-generation Madone is lighter, faster, still kind of comfy, and has always-available DRS.

Mar 2022 · Ben Delaney

The Greek god of the winds invoked at three points on the sprinter's bike.

Nov 2021 · James Huang

Unusually good ride quality and the handling is brilliant, but it’s hard not to notice the heft when you point it uphill.

Superb aerodynamics, comfy ride, excellent handling, accommodating cockpit design, threaded bottom bracket.

So-so front-end ride, so heavy.

Trek announced a few updates to its world-class race machine, the Madone SL is swapping to a more widely appreciated BB47 bottom bracket

Mar 2020 · Warren Rossiter

Trek with the unique design of the Madone and its IsoSpeed back-end means it doesn’t have to drop the stays for comfort or minimise the size of the stays for flex because IsoSpeed isolates the seat tube from the stays and top tube.. .

Awesome ride

Racy handling

A bit weighty

Dec 2019 · Symon Lewis

Cycling Weekly has shown that the Trek Madone is one of the fastest aero bikes available today, but has the update with discs made it even better? I certainly think so

Ride quality

Performance

Last updated October 5 Not listed for 927 days