Shimano adds three new shoes to S-Phyre range with view to Paris 2024 Olympics

Shimano has added three new shoe models to the S-Phyre range, covering off-road, track, and for the first time, triathlon.

The Japanese brand announced the trio of new kicks on Thursday, but it was something of a soft-launch, with precious little detail on the new features and performance benefits.

That’s likely because the shoes are coming out with a view to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. Equipment intended for use in the Olympics must go through a thorough registration procedure, needing to be commercially available and used in competition well in advance of the Games.

In addition, the International Olympic Committee’s strict marketing rules effectively prevent non-sponsor brands from badging things up as Olympic products.

"Shimano athletes will be sporting a new lineup of S-Phyre shoes in 2024 that will deliver upgraded performance features, added durability, and next-level stiffness to support riders during their most important races and fiercest competitions," reads the full extent of Shimano's press release on the new shoes.

More details will surely follow in the near future alongside the full commercial launch.

XC903

© Shimano

The new S-Phyre XC903

In any case, one set of shoes is set to break cover on Saturday, as Mathieu van der Poel makes his cyclo-cross season debut in Herentals. He’s been spotted in training wearing the new S-Phyre XC903, and it’d be a surprise not to see the world champion wearing it in competition this weekend.

Replacing the XC902, which came out in 2021, the shoes are designed for Cross-Country Mountain Bike racing as well as cyclo-cross, so Van der Poel is likely to use the same shoes should he decide to race the XC MTB event in Paris next summer. In fact, he wore them for the test event at the end of September.

The new shoe is not a radical departure from the XC902, but it introduces some design features from the upper that effectively bring it in line with the RC903 shoe that Van der Poel wears on the road – and indeed broke on his way to the road world title in August.

© Shimano

The new XC903 in the centre, compared to the old XC902 (right) and current RC903 (left)

There is a different pattern of ventilation, with more numerous, smaller perforations, whilst there’s a new retention system and lacing pattern for the lower BOA dial. This brings the retainers under the material of the upper for a sleeker, ever-so-slightly more aero design, much the same as we’ve already seen on the road shoe.

There are no obvious changes to the tread, and it’s difficult to know too much about the sole or heel cup, with Shimano giving no indication on weight, stiffness, or any other features.

“Race driven and remarkably robust, the new S-PHYRE XC903 MTB cross-country and cyclocross shoes were crafted to crush the competition,” is all we’re getting for now.

RC903 PWR

© Shimano

The Shimano RC903 PWR

The next new shoe in the S-Phyre line is what looks to be a new track shoe with a view to Paris 2024. Shimano doesn’t have a dedicated track line but its RC road line has featured a track-oriented shoe, the RC9T, and this looks to be the latest iteration of that.

Again, the announcement is vague: “Tuned for road racing and high-power efforts, Shimano’s S-PHYRE RC903PWR shoes were designed for track racers, sprinters, and time-trial specialists — where fates can be decided in fractions of a second.”

This is similar to how the RC9Ts have been marketed.

© Shimano

Top and bottom of the RC903 PWR

As with the XC shoes, the ventilation has had an overhaul, with the spaced-out perforations replaced by a tighter pattern of smaller vents that echoes the design of the road racer RC903 and the new XC903. The upper still features a combination of one BOA dial and a velcro strap towards the toes.

There does appear to be a new heel cup here, with a striped design that has already been seen on the RC903 road shoe. Both this and the old RC9T feature what Shimano describe as ‘anti-twist stabilisation’.

TR903

© Shimano

The new S-Phyre TR903 triathlon shoe

The third and final shoe is a newcomer to the range, and is a dedicated triathlon shoe. Shimano already does a couple of tri shoes, the SH-TR901 and SH-TR501, but this latest development effectively replaces the former and brings it under the S-Phyre moniker.

There is a design overhaul here, not only in terms of design but also construction. There is no external heel cup, and the sole has been reimagined, too.

On top, there’s also the introduction of a BOA dial system. Previously the tri shoe featured two velcro straps but now a BOA with three retention points controls the lower end of the shoe. The thick top strap has also been given a makeover, and now comes in fabric, rather than the same material as the upper.

© Shimano

BOA dials come to Shimano's triathlon shoes

Again, it’s hard to know exactly what Shimano had in mind with these changes.

“The new TR903 was created for the fastest transitions and most powerful accelerations in triathlon’s short-course racing, where every detail makes a difference,” says the brand.

Shimano

Shimano is a bike component manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. The company is one of the industry’s most popular manufacturers and it makes up around three-quarters of the bicycle component market by value.