NealH wrote:
Specialized spend much time arming Cavendish with a new bike when he is leaving the team. The Tarmac has always been a little better handling than the Venge so people like Sagan and Contadore will stay on the Tarmac. They are not typically on the front of the pack through most of the road type races. Lets wait and see what the field looks like next year and who all is still riding the old Venge. Specialized already rules the podium right now.
This is just incorrect.
Both Sagan and Cavendish have Venge VIAS bikes built up for them. It's not a matter of equipping them, they just refuse to use them. Likewise, both of these guys are on the front when it matters and if the bike were as good as the hype, it would give them an advantage over the old Venge as well as Tarmac.
So it comes down to either handling, brakes, comfort or something big enough to offset any aero advantage it has. So if you had a Venge VIAS and Tarmac and ended up riding the Tarmac 98% of the time, would you consider the $6,000 - $12,000 money well spent on the VIAS?