French entrepreneur Jean-Louis Talo said that he is "helping Chris Froome win the Tour de France," according to Alex Duff of BLOOMBERG. Froome is using a "boxy-shaped aluminum chain-ring on his bicycle which Talo invented" and says produces 5% more power than the round Shimano Inc. disc most riders are using. Froome had the ring fitted on his bike "even though the Sky team that employs him is sponsored by Shimano." Talo said that Osaka, Japan-based Shimano, which "dominates the bike-parts market, is putting pressure on Sky and the six other Tour de France teams it sponsors for riders not to use his design." Richie Porte is "among several Sky riders who have switched back to Shimano" since '12. Talo: "Froome is the only one who can resist the pressure from the sponsors." Cannondale-Garmin CEO Jonathan Vaughters, whose team is not sponsored by Shimano, said in an e-mail it has tested Talo's design and it is "effective for some riders, less for others." He said that his riders are "free to use it if they want." Trek team spokesperson Tim Vanderjeugd, whose team is backed by Shimano, said that there is "no demonstrable evidence that the Frenchman's product is better." Vanderjeugd: "Froome isn't winning because of those chain-rings." When Froome won in '13, sales at Talo's Nice, France-based Biosquat
S.a.r.l. rose 42% to $386,950, according to published financial filings at France's company registry. Talo said that orders "flooded
in, especially from China and the U.K." (BLOOMBERG, 7/20).
