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Though France’s Sam Laidlow didn’t have the long-course season he’d have liked in 2024 (18th place at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships and a DNF at his only other iron-distance race that year), that doesn’t mean the “reigning champ” in Nice isn’t a dangerous contender.
Already in 2025, Laidlow has shown good form by winning Ironman Leeds and Challenge Roth, but he’s also shown a level of restraint and patience after some early season challenges have kept his racing schedule light. All this means is that the Hawaii Ironman bike course record holder (2024) is a bit of an unknown, but focused, entity.
So it makes sense the swim/bike specialist would have an understated Canyon Speedmax CFR upon his return to the Nice bike course in the Maritime Alps – where Laidlow made his mark back in 2023. Laidlow told us that not only does his bike look stripped down, but the latest version of his ride is incredibly almost four pounds lighter than previously – which he says could save him up to three minutes on the Nice course at the same power!
Like many pros, Laidlow is using a 1x system and a Sram Red eTap AXS 12-speed groupset.
Laidlow has a single 58T Digirit chainring with a 165mm Cybrei crank, a CeramicSpeed coated chain, and Favero Assioma pedals.
Like a few other pros running a 1x system, Laidlow isn’t leaving anything to chance by employing a small chain guide due to the large chainring, a short chainstay, and the rough French roads.
Here we take a look at Laidlow’s Swiss Side Hadron Disc rear wheel and the wide 10-36t cassette he’ll use on race day.
Up front, Laidlow is using an 85mm Swiss Side Hadron 3; both wheels will have 28mm Continental GP 5000 TT TR tires, run at a very low 65 psi.
Rather than a fully-covered rear derailleur, Laidlow has chosen an open-sided CeramicSpeed oversized pulley.
Laidlow is using the same prototype Canyon CFR cockpit as Germany’s Patrick Lange, with a double-stacked between-the-arms hydration system (in addition to the in-frame hydration bladder).
Here we take another view of the underside of Laidlow’s prototype cockpit – built to shield his upper body from the wind and increase aerodynamics.
Stacked on top of each other, Laidlow will virtually perch himself above his between-the-arms hydration setup – seen here with bottle-retention loops.
Also like Lange, Laidlow is not using skateboard grip tape (like many others), but a pistol-style grip.
As we’ve seen in the past, Laidlow’s Speedmax CFR features Laidlow’s “swallow” logo.
One of the most unique details on Laidlow’s setup is his Prologo Predator 01 TT saddle that costs a whopping $1,500.
Mounted behind/into his saddle, Laidlow has a custom rear hydration attachment with Xlab Gorilla XT cages.
