ProTour teams T-Mobile, Liquigas, Phonak, Crédit Agricole and Saunier Duval fit Continental high-tech cycle racing tyres

The cycle racing tyres supplied by Continental to the top teams competing in the tour de France contain new compound materials. The use of the liquid crystal fibre Vectran means the racing tyres are not only more puncture-resistant, but also weigh less and offer reduced rolling resistance. This year riders like Jan Ullrich, Thor Hushovd and Floyd Landis are relying  on the hand-made tyres from Korbach in the German state of Hesse.

In the Tour de France the difference between victory and second place can be a matter of seconds, which means the racing tyres - weighing just 250 grammes - are an important part of the overall bike concept. The different compounds used give them optimum grip on wet and dry roads.

The Competition Pro family of racing tubulars used in the Tour de France are hand-made in Continental's bicycle tyre factory in Korbach, Hesse. There are three options available - the Competition Pro Limited Allround features a compound that is particularly suitable for fast riding on the flat and in the mountains. The Competition Pro Limited Rain is designed for use in wet weather, whilst the Podium Pro Limited, which weighs just 220 grammes, offers extremely low rolling resistance and is particularly suited to time trial discipline. "Choosing the right tyres for the Tour de France is by now as much of a gamble as in Formula One" comments Wolf vorm Walde, product manager at Continental. "Thanks to our new compound, the teams have high-tech cycle tyres with which they can gain the seconds needed to put them ahead or make up lost time."

Aside from tubular tyres, the teams also use our premium quality racing clinchers for certain races and training camps, such as the Grand Prix 4000 and the front and rear specific Grand Prix Attack and Force set. Top riders such as Jan Ullrich and Gilberto Simoni are using the exact same Continental products that are available at your local bike shop

For 2006, Team Liquigas from Italy has decided to use German rubber for their campaign. The team will take full advantage of the new Vectran technology inside the 2006 Competition tubular range. This layer of material underneath the tread is lighter and stronger than any previous anti-puncture materials and so the Continental supported teams already have the advantage in 2006!