Today, the first details of Giant’s 2017 product line emerged. The Contend is an all-new, value-priced platform topped by a disc-brake-equipped model, while Giant’s existing TCR road racing platform gets rounded out with three new disc-specific models.

The all new Contend

The Contend is very reminiscent of an existing Giant platform. The Defy seems to offer many of the same features as the Contend, to be targeted at the same rider, and sells, when similarly built, for about the same price. The biggest, most obvious differences on paper are that the Contend has internal cable routing, and one-centimeter shorter chainstays (which also shrinks the Contend's wheelbase 1cm).

I reached out to Giant’s global senior product marketing manager Andrew Juskaitis for more information.

“Given last year, if you were to look at our global product line when it came to road, I think we had almost thirty different frames in the global lineup. There were just too many frames floating around. We needed to consolidate, and one way to do that was to create the bike of the future, hitting a very considered price point with Contend. [With Contend] we cherry-picked what we felt would be the geometry for this more entry-level rider. We really did rely on Defy geometry for the lion's share of it, but we tweaked it as you can see through the numbers to be appropriate for that more entry-level road rider. [Contend] has become our core platform, and has really cut down on the SKU count when it comes to our global lineup, so that we’re able to build a bike that should work for most people at a price that’s just outstanding,” Juskaitis said.

Juskaitis confirmed “many” lower-priced Defy models will go away for 2017—including the $920 Defy 3, a two-time Editors’ Choice winner—and will be replaced by a slimmer line of Contend models. Higher-end carbon Defy models will remain in the line for 2017.

2017 Giant Contend models

The Contend SL Disc sits atop the range of this new platform. It is built with an aluminum frame—made of Giant’s premier ALUXX SL aluminum—and a carbon-legged fork with hybrid composite/alloy steerer. The frame uses some of Giant’s trademarked technologies, including the rectangular Megadrive downtube, PowerCore press-fit 86 bottom bracket, and D-Fuse seatpost, which is D-shaped to improve vibration damping and vertical compliance. Like the higher-end TCR Disc frames, the Contend SL Disc accepts flat-mount disc calipers. Unlike the TCR Disc models, the Contend SL disc has rack and fender mounts. This models uses quick-releases in the front and rear, accepts up to a 28mm-wide tire, and is offered in six sizes: extra small, small, medium, medium/large, large, extra-large.

The $1315 Contend SL 1 Disc Giant Bicycles

Giant hasn’t released official build specifications, but based on the images, the Contend SL 1 Disc model ($1,315) is built with a Shimano 105 drivetrain (with wide-range 11-32 cassette), and hydraulic disc brakes. Wheels and tires look the same as those on the TCR Advanced Disc.

A Contend SL 2 Disc ($1,025) will also be offered in the US, but no further information was available at post time.

RELATED: The Redesigned Giant Defy Road Bike Is a Racer for the Real World

Next is the Contend SL, which is essentially the rim-brake version of the Contend SL Disc. These models don’t come to the US, however.

The base-level Contend will be offered in two models, priced at $600 and $880 Giant Bicycles

The least expensive model is simply called Contend. It’s a rim-brake model like the Contend SL, but the lower-priced bike uses lower-grade alluminum, external cable routing, and a traditional 27.2mm round seatpost. However, it’s still rack- and fender-ready. Two models come to the US: the Contend 1 ($880) and the Contend 3 ($600). Build specs were not available.

Contend models will arrive at Giant dealers in July.

2017 Giant TCR Advanced Disc

The TCR Advanced SL is quite simply a brilliant bike, and one of the best race platforms of, at least, the past decade. And now this super-fast bike can be slowed down with the superior control of disc brakes. Other than the brake style and axles (and resulting accommodations), there are few changes to the frame.

The rim-brake version of the TCR Advanced is an incredible mix of lightness, stiffness, and smoothness. Hopefully, Giant has been able to build this disc variant without diluting the magical ride we love. We’re very eager to find out: our review bike is on order.

2017 TCR Advanced Disc Models

Topping the TCR Disc range is the TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc ($8,250). Like the Editors’ Choice-winning TCR Advanced SL 0 (rim brake, $8,800), the Disc variant uses Giant’s most-premium-grade carbon composites, and an integrated seat mast.

With a few exceptions, the frame design of the Disc model is largely the same as the rim version. The Disc receives thru axles (12x100 front and 12x42mm rear), the flat mount disc caliper mount standard, but is otherwise similar.

The front disc hose is externally routed: The TCR is a light-weight race platform, and Juskaitis stated they didn’t want to take the weight penalty a (he admitted) sleeker -looking, internally-routed hose required: “Punching a hole in the fork looks good, but boy-almighty does it take a lot of material. Any time you punch a hole in something, you need to reinforce the hole. We just weren’t willing to pay the weight penalty to make it super-sano like that.”

The rear hose enters the downtube near the head tube and pops out of the chainstay a few centimeters in front of the caliper mount.

Even the geometry is identical, right down to the 405mm chainstays—surprising, because most companies stretch the chainstays, or make other accommodations, to maintain the chainline with a disc hub’s 135mm rear axle spacing (rim-brake wheels use 130mm spacing). Four sizes are offered: small, medium, medium/large, and large.

The TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc is built with SRAM’s Red eTap disc group and Giant’s 30mm-deep-by-23mm-wide SLR 0 tubeless-read carbon clinchers for disc shod with 25mm Giant Gavia SLR tubeless-ready tires. Currently, the specs state that, though equipped with SRAM brakes, the disc rotors are 140mm Shimano RT99 Ice-Tech for Centerlock. Like its rim-brake-equipped brother, this model gets Giant’s full-carbon stem and handlebar.

RELATED: 2016 Editors’ Choice Winner: Giant TCR Advanced SL 0

Surprisingly, the 2017 TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc—built with a wireless electronic drivetrain and disc brakes—is $550 less expensive than the 2016 TCR Advanced SL 0 with wired-electronic drivetrain and rim brakes.

The $4700 TCR Advanced Pro 1 Disc Giant Bicycles

One step down in the hierarchy is the TCR Advanced Pro 1 Disc ($4,700). The major difference is this frame uses lower-grade carbon—heavier, and maybe not as stiff—for the frame and fork, and a non-integrated post. The other major difference is these models are offered in two more sizes: an extra-small and an extra-large.

The TCR Advanced Pro Disc is built with Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 drivetrain with Shimano’s RS785 STI levers, RS805 flat mount calipers, and 140mm RT81 Centerlock rotors. The wheels are Giant’s SLR 1 carbon clinchers for disc with 25mm Giant Gavia SLR tubeless-ready tires.

The $2450 TCR Advanced 1 Disc Giant Bicycles

Stepping down once more, we arrive at the TCR Advanced 1 Disc ($2,450). This model uses the same frame—and therefore has the same features—as the TCR Advanced Pro Disc, but with a lower-grade fork made with a “hybrid alloy/composite” steerer tube. This model is offered in six sizes, like the Advanced Pro Disc.

The TCR Advanced 1 Disc is built with Shimano’s Ultegra mechanical drivetrain, Shimano’s RS505 STI levers, flat mount calipers, and 160mm rotors. Wheels are Giant’s PR-2 disc rims laced to Giant hubs with 25mm Giant P-SL 1 tires.

There is also a Shimano 105-equipped TCR Advanced 2 Disc in Giant’s global line, but it does not come to the US.

The maximum tire size on TCR Disc models is 28mm. TCR Disc bikes will arrive at Giant dealers in July.

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