Specialized S-works 7 Lace shoes

£300, specialized.com

When Specialized launched its S-works 6 shoes back in

2015, a Sub6 lace-up version was released at the same time. They proved to be as popular, if not more so, than the Boa dialequipped originals. So when Specialized revised the shoe and released the S-works 7 in 2018, it would have been logical to assume a lace-up alternative would be hot on its heels. Not so.

Specialized made fans wait for four years, and has only now released the S-works 7 Lace. But it looks like it was worth the wait. The new model uses many of the same features and technologies as the original S-works 7, such as the stiff Powerline carbon sole and Padlock heel cup, just with laces instead of Boas.

From the tone of the marketing drive, Specialized is aligning the shoes with the less competition-focussed side of its portfolio – more Aethos than Tarmac in road bike terms. Specialized says the design is still racy but the addition of laces creates extra suppleness and adaptability.

The humbler system also means the shoes are £75 less than the Boa versions (although still rather steep at £300), as well as 40g lighter per pair, weighing 458g in a size 43.