Tarmac SL8 Expert Rival eTap AXS Specialized 2025 Satin Champagne/Black Pearl

Nothing is faster than the Tarmac SL8. The reason? The combination we've achieved between aerodynamics, lightness, and a ride quality that until recently seemed impossible.

Eight generations later and after more than two decades of development, it’s not just the fastest Tarmac ever: it’s also the fastest race bike in the world.

Competitions are not won just by aerodynamics or lightness: what matters is speed. And to achieve it, you need to create a no-compromise combination of aerodynamics, lightness, stiffness, and comfort.

Our Ride Science team has simulated races with real data and found that the Tarmac SL8 is the fastest road bike ever made on the most important routes: 16.6 seconds faster over 40 km, 128 seconds faster in Milan-San Remo, and 20 seconds faster on the legendary Tourmalet climb.

• 100% AERO: We’ve placed aerodynamic elements where they are truly needed, not just where they look good. And thus, we’ve achieved our most aerodynamic road bike. Yes, more than the Venge. With the Speed Sniffer, the new cone of the Tarmac, clean air is optimized for maximum advantage. By shifting the head tube backwards (which determines the head tube angle), the leading edge of the head tube becomes much sharper, and the shape created has much lower aerodynamic drag. Taking advantage of the new UCI rules, the Tarmac SL8 has the narrowest and most aerodynamic seatpost we’ve ever made. This way, the dirty air around the legs flows more cleanly backward. Victories taste sweet, don’t they?

• MINIMUM WEIGHT, MAXIMUM AERODYNAMICS: Thanks to the lessons learned from the Aethos, the Tarmac SL8 has been designed to meet UCI minimum requirements and deliver 100% aero construction. The team has created an incredible 685-gram frame, 15% lighter than the Tarmac SL7 and lighter than any other frame on the World Tour*. We also applied what we learned from the Aethos to prioritize the lightness of the down tube, seat tube, and rear end of the bike. The frame’s shape supports the load so efficiently that no extra layers of carbon are needed. *Unless you count the time Kasper Asgreen rode our 585-gram Aethos frame in a stage of the Tour de France.

• RIDES LIKE A ROCKET, RIDES LUXURY: With an optimized stiffness-to-weight ratio (33% better than the SL7), the Tarmac SL8 delivers legendary ride quality, aggressive responsiveness, and world championship-proven geometry that is next level. The bike is stiffer at the pedals, more precise at the handlebars, and more comfortable at the saddle, setting a new standard of comfort in race bikes. Thanks to our Rider-First Engineering, all riders, regardless of their size, can enjoy a level of ride quality and control never seen before. At the saddle, the Tarmac SL8 offers 6% more comfort: it floats over rough terrain and provides a smoothness not commonly found in the demanding world of race bikes. The Tarmac’s geometry and 32 mm tire clearance are identical to the SL7’s, ensuring easy adaptation and the ability to use larger tires when needed.

• BEYOND GENDER: We can find more differences between two male cyclists than between a man and a woman. Gender alone does not provide enough data to be the only factor when designing a bike. Therefore, making bikes just for men or women is a thing of the past. All cyclists can enjoy the benefits of the Tarmac SL8. It’s time to go Beyond Gender.

• The Tarmac SL8 Expert offers exceptional performance. It features a complete SRAM Rival eTap AXS group with a power meter, a set of C38 carbon wheels, tubeless-compatible, and an SL7 stem with a Specialized Expert Shallow Drop aluminum handlebar. All this makes it an accessible bike packed with features.