The new Factor O2 VAM is already rolling on the Tour de France

During this Tour de France 2023, Israel-PremierTech rider Simon Clarke is fine-tuning the new Factor O2 VAM, Factor's most climbing machine that returns to the limelight after a few seasons overshadowed by its catalog companion, the aerodynamic Ostro VAN that the Israeli team riders have been riding on a regular basis.

Turn of evolution for Factor O2 VAM

Factor returns to put its focus on the bike that, in its day, served as his letter of introduction in society. A very light machine to which now comes its evolution, as it could not be otherwise and following current trends, receiving certain aerodynamic endowments while maintaining above all a tremendously stylized tube structure with which to achieve the lowest possible weight.

Simon Clarke is being the cyclist in charge of testing this bike before its official launch, a machine in which, the first thing that catches the attention is the configuration of the seatpost in which an external mast is used that reminds us tremendously to the design that for many years have been using the Trek Émonda, although in this case with a D shape to seek the best aerodynamic penetration.

It is curious that its wheel arches barely accommodate 28mm tyres, in a quest for a super-compact rear triangle that favors the bike's climbing capabilities. An ease of climbing that is also determined by the less than 7 kg that the scales showed when checking the weight of the Australian rider's bike.

Also spectacular are the very restrained sections of its different tubes, especially the top tube in its junction area with the seat tube, which is reduced to the minimum expression and flattened horizontally, more than anything else, to have a minimum surface area to connect with the down tube. For their part, the seat stays are anchored in the middle of the seat tube as corresponds to any bike that wants to obtain aerodynamic gains in a design that is more than contrasted.

To accompany this bike and to avoid the weight to soar, it is equipped with Black Inc wheels with a profile of only 28 mm in the case of the front and 33 mm in the rear. Following the current trend, they have a widened groove optimized to fit 28 mm tyres like the Continental GP5000 S used by Simon Clarke.

In any case, as announced by the brand on its website, the official launch of this bike will take place next Monday 10th, coinciding with the first rest day of the Tour de France, and we will be able to know many more details about its development and evolution.

Factor O2 VAM

• Weight: 6.925
• Frame: O2 VAM
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2. FSA Power2max 54/40 crankset, 11-34 casette
• Wheels: Black Inc 28//33
• Tyres: Continental GP5000 S 700x28c
• Cockpit: Black Inc aero bar
• Saddle: Selle Italia