With the Tour de France knocking on our door, what better time to talk about all the out-of-this-world gear the pros will be riding? If you’ve been paying attention, you know it’s down to three hopefuls: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuckStep). Vingegaard and Evenepoel are all looking for any advantage after Tadej Pogačar’s performance at the Critérium du Dauphiné, and Remco Evenepoel’s new shoes could be just that.

Photos: Jordan Villella/Bikerumor.com

Fast Track To S-Works Torch Remco

When Remco Evenepoel came knocking on Specialized’s door in October 2023, he wanted a tool—something purpose-built to help him dance up the high mountains of the Tour de France.

Photo: Specialized

His ask? A shoe that was light, efficient, and minimalist. As it turns out, Specialized was already halfway there.

Led by Equipment Manager Nick Gosseen and Footwear Development Manager Ashley Sult, the Specialized team had been deeply involved in developing a pared-down climbing shoe with big performance ambitions. Remco’s request kicked things into high gear.

In just eight months, three prototypes, and countless feedback loops later, the final result was strapped to his feet for the 2024 Tour: the S-Works Torch Remco, weighing just 148.2g (size 41, per shoe), and could be the lightest road shoe in the pro peloton.

Photo: Specialized

Less Is Fast: Engineering Minimalism

The Torch Remco is all about deliberate design. Specialized started by stripping back the upper—gone are the unnecessary overlays; you can see the sunlight in our photos go right through the material. In their place: a single layer of mesh and TPU that saves 40 grams right out of the gate. A single BOA Li2 dial pairs with a wide midfoot strap for secure closure and an additional 11g drop.

Down below, Specialized reimagined what an efficient carbon sole could be. Backed by six years of research on stiffness and real-world sprint data, the Specialized Human Performance Team trimmed the carbon plate, reinforcing only the critical zones with injected nylon. Although the sole looks strikingly similar to the Ares 2 that we reviewed earlier this year, it’s 14g lighter, with no compromise on stiffness or power transfer.

Even the heel counter underwent a weight reduction redesign, featuring a lower profile and lighter weight. The heel area of the shoe is highly malleable, a feature I’ve yet to experience in road shoes. Yet when the shoe is on, and cranked into place, it’s locked and loaded.

167g for a size 42.5 shoe

The final tally? 65g lighter than the standard S-Works Torch.

Smart Stiffness: Just Enough, Nowhere Extra

“Most cycling shoes are stiffer than they need to be,” says Todd Carver, Human Performance Manager at Specialized. “You’re just carrying dead weight.” I couldn’t agree more, and man, do they get uncomfortable the longer you’re in them. So, Specialized focused on where that stiffness is needed. They enlisted the help of 2,000-watt sprinters and national crit champions, and the team zeroed in on a stiffness threshold that delivers top-tier efficiency without excess material.

The refined sole uses only as much carbon as necessary—just enough for Remco, and more than enough for the rest of us. To put it plainly, unless your sprint numbers start with a two and end with three zeros, this shoe is plenty stiff.

Fit and Feel: Minimalist Build, Maximum Connection

Lightweight doesn’t have to mean Spartan. From heel to toe, every part of the Torch Remco is built for harmony, not just pressure relief. The wider BOA strap at the midfoot eliminates hot spots while still providing a secure fit. A low-profile heel cup supports and stabilizes without excess material. A simple forefoot strap (a little Spartan inspiration) keeps the rider’s toes engaged without constricting them.

Body Geometry Input

Much of this performance magic can be attributed to Specialized’s Body Geometry fit system. Design Director Rob Cook breaks it down: “We didn’t sacrifice a single bit of comfort or efficiency to hit the weight target.” Utilizing all the Specialized buzzwords, such as the Varus Wedge, Metatarsal Button, and Longitudinal Arch Support, the Torch Remco minimizes numbness, hot feet, and knee pain while maximizing power transfer.

S-Works Torch Remco — Pricing, Weights & Sizing

• Price: $700
• Weight: 148.2g (Size 41, half pair)
• Sizes Available: 39, 39.5, 40, 40.5, 41, 41.5, 42, 42.5, 43, 43.5, 44, 44.5, 45, 45.5, 46

First Impressions – S-Works Torch Remco

We’ve had very (very) limited time with the S-Works Torch Remco—basically two rides. But it’s enough to give a very honest first impression. First off, the shoe looks great, and like something you’d actually wanna ride in; the orange pop of color on the triangle “buckle” and interior of the top strap is classy and somewhat brings the shoe to life.

The main body of the shoe is a masterclass in minimalist design. It looks and feels light, airy, and almost like one of those swimming shoes you get at the beach. The material is a mix of extremely thin and perforated TPU, with a robust, thicker fabric wrapping around the heel that fades into the midsole.

No Tounge

The tongue, or lack thereof, is a sock-like material, similar to the Ares, but with more elastic and mechanical stretch. The interior of the shoe is bare bones, simply the reverse of the top fabric, with some buffering at abrasion points to maintain comfort. The only reinforcement and addition to the exterior fabric is the heel.

The heel isn’t stiff or rigid like the last Torche; it’s like a running shoe. There is no internal support structure and minimal cushioning and padding. All of the structure and shape come from the pattern and the rigidity of the thicker outer material.

The insole is a bummer. Yeah, we know “most people replace the insole on their cycling shoes first thing,” but I think a $700 shoe should, at the very least, come with a gift card or something for some Body Geometry insoles. The ones that arrive with the shoes are a nice color, but that’s about it. They are extremely rigid, with a slightly abrasive outer material. I’m guessing this kept the weight down on final samples, but I’d bet money Remco isn’t using this insole on race day.

New Style Sole

The actual sole is designed to follow the styling of the newest Shimano, Fizik, and Q36.5 shoes. Phasing out a full carbon weave sole for something that brings in more color and less blah. The front of the sole resembles a plastic cover, providing protection and a slight structural element to keep the toe box neat and tidy.

How do they fit? It’s like a very thin glove, and it’s the best fit for Specialized tongueless shoes. They are easy to get on and off, and the shoe is secured to your feet from there. The BOA and the triangle strap are used to dial in the fit and support. Something they do well, especially the top BOA. The material has just enough natural give to feel comfortable while pedaling and moving without returning to a default position that would be uncomfortable.

On the bike, they feel like you’re wearing nothing at all (queue the Ned Flanders in a ski suit meme). They feel excellent and will be great for summer, but I would be hard-pressed to rock these in a Pittsburgh winter. However, I mostly ride the trainer in the winter because – well, I’m soft now (and have kids that require me to be at home more).

On the Bike Impressions

As far as pedaling input goes, these shoes have a lot going on, and it’s hard to isolate that from the other sensations at the moment. It doesn’t feel like you’re losing anything with this shoe except for weight. It will take some getting used to, for sure, but it’s comfortable and doesn’t require a break-in period.

I plan to race and train this summer in these, and I will report back with a full review. However, as of right now, they are great and feel like a shoe that is on the cutting edge of current technology.

How about that price, though? $700 is outrageous, but these are Remco’s shoes and might only be a limited edition after this (speculation). The price is not exactly what I would have expected, especially after Specialized’s newest shoe was already expensive (a step out of the $400-$450 comfort zone) for the brand. But if we’re thinking of shoes that let the floodgates open, I blame Nmble.

Specialized.com

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