The rider’s ride

Liv Langma Advanced SL Disc, £9,999, liv-cycling.com

Liv is Giant’s sister brand, and the Langma is the women’s equivalent of the Giant TCR. It’s an out-andout race bike, and of the 11 models in the Langma range the top of the tree is this Advanced SL Disc, as ridden by the Worldtour-level Liv Racing Xstra team.

This is no shrinked-and-pinked version of the men’s bike – it has geometry designed for women, with a slightly higher stack and shorter reach than the men’s TCR, plus it has narrower bars and shorter cranks. Components are top drawer, including a Sram Red etap AXS groupset and Cadex 36 Disc wheels.

Made for climbing, the Langma is stiff and light – 6.65kg in size small – but also comfortable enough for long days in the saddle. It’s pricy, but also a sign that women-specific bikes are finally being taken seriously. Why should the boys always get the good stuff?