Van der Poel's new cycling shoes for MTB, CX and road

Shimano introduces its new line of S-Phyre shoes that Mathieu van de Poel, among others, will use throughout the 2024 season and that will soon be in stores. A line in which, in addition to the models for road and mountain biking, a new specific model for triathlon is introduced.

Shimano S-Phyre, maximum efficiency at your feet

Since Shimano introduced its S-Phyre shoe range in 2016, they have become an iconic model among high-performance shoes. One of the models that began to delve into the double flap structure, as opposed to the traditional one with a tongue, which saves weight by reducing the number of shoe parts and also ensures that the foot is better wrapped and held.

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The new additions to the S-Phyre shoe range consist of three RC903PWR models for road; XC903 for mountain biking, gravel and cyclocross that we could already see a few months ago on the feet of Mathieu van der Poel and, as a novelty, the TR903 for triathlon practice.

Apart from the triathlon model, which is completely new and incorporates a generous velcro on the instep to allow quick fastening during the transition and which relies on the omnipresent boa closure, the one that has been most revised is the road one in which some important changes are observed compared to the S-Phyre we knew.

The RC903PWR aim to take the stiffness of their sole to a new level, in fact, the brand promotes them as competition shoes built for sprinters. To achieve this, in addition to a stiffer sole, the heel holding piece is reinforced to ensure that the foot remains in place without unwanted turns.

As for its fixation, it continues to trust in the combination of a single Boa Li2 with a very clear metallic dial; and velcro on the lower part of the instep. Here we find the main modification, moving the Boa dial from the upper flap that is in the air when the shoe is loose, to the lower flap which, without a doubt, will make tightening and release much simpler. A dial placement that is reproduced in the triathlon model although in this one, due to the presence of velcro, it moves towards the lower part, thus dispensing with the velcro on the toes that becomes unnecessary.

For its part, the off-road XC903 model completely dispenses with velcros and, instead, two Boa Li2 are arranged. The heel holding is also reinforced, as in the other models, and this new design is completed with a review of the studding of its sole, in this case, with more spaced but more prominent studs so that the mud does not stick to it, in addition to the obligatory threads at the tip to fix metallic studs for very muddy days.