Team DSM confirmed that the Scope Atmoz automatic inflation tire system is in the team's plans, but despite the initial goal of having it in time for Paris-Roubaix in 2022 and the subsequent Tour de France, no There is no timeline or deadline.

A partnership with Dutch wheel manufacturer Scope was announced in April 2022, with the brand's innovative Atmoz system officially approved for use in UCI-sanctioned races.

The price is a whopping €3,000. The company developed this technology with Team DSM to allow riders to adjust tire pressure while riding. The rider can adjust the tire pressure using a button on the handlebar and adjust the tire pressure according to the current terrain. There is a pressurized air reservoir in the hub, and a mechanical valve adjusts the air pressure to and from the tubeless tire on the rim.

Team DSM initially insisted that riders use the technology in the then-scheduled Paris-Roubaix, but quickly made a U-turn and made the cobbled fifth stage of the 2022 Tour de France the next target of their maiden voyage. That target was not met, and the team showed up to the stage with a standard setup consisting of Shimano Dura-Ace wheels.

Despite the setback, Team DSM remained committed to the idea and continued to develop a practical system.

Team DSM coach Phil West told Cycling News at the start of Omloop Het Niusbrod. 'We intend to keep this project going.'

While it is clear that the bike used during the opening weekend was only "our standard setup" and that the system is not yet race-ready, and will not be seen publicly until the team is 100% confident that West and his Team DSM colleagues remain excited about the possibilities. "Once all the parts are working and everything is in place, I think it will definitely be something we'll want to use. Being able to use it last year would have been a huge advantage, but any time you're trying to bring new equipment into this field, you want to be confident that you've given it enough of a chance to try it out and make it work."

Scope claims that its system is worth a 20-30 watt improvement in rolling resistance. This means that more of the rider's energy is converted into forward motion, and in an era of "marginal gains" where riders are chasing one or two, 20-30 watts is significant.

Rolling resistance is defined as "the force with which a body resists motion as it rolls over a road surface." In this case, the "body" is the tire, and the resistance is provided by friction and road surface irregularities. In general, the lower the tire pressure, the more easily the tire deforms over road surface irregularities, but it must be balanced with friction.

Therefore, the optimum tire pressure depends on the road surface, with higher pressure on smooth surfaces and lower pressure on rough surfaces resulting in a faster ride. In cobblestone races, where the road surface frequently changes between smooth and rough cobblestones, riders are often forced to find that optimal balance. Being able to adjust air pressure on the fly would, in theory, allow riders to have the best of both worlds, leading Team DSM to pursue classic specialists like John Dekenkolb.

When it will debut, however, is unknown on two fronts. First, the product must be brought to a finished, functional state that can withstand the stresses of a cobblestone race of more than 200 kilometers. West did not reveal how far along that process is, but he believes that just as important is giving the riders a chance to familiarize themselves with the product. Because of the cognitive demands of racing, it needs to come naturally.

"It's not something riders have to think about all the time; it's about having the opportunity to use it, understand it, and master it."

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