Over Two Decades of Tarmac

The Specialized Tarmac has been at the forefront of road racing since the original Tarmac E5 launched in 2003. What began as an aluminium and carbon race bike quickly evolved into a full-carbon platform, with each generation refining weight, stiffness, handling and ultimately aerodynamics. Along the way, the Tarmac has been raced at the highest level of the sport, including Grand Tours, Classics and World Championships.

The biggest change came as Specialized began combining what were traditionally separate lightweight and aerodynamic race bikes. The Tarmac SL7 effectively brought the lightweight Tarmac and aero-focused Venge philosophies together into one bike, while the SL8 pushed that concept further. In 2026, the Tarmac SL9 became the latest evolution, with a lighter and more aerodynamic design developed around real-world race performance rather than weight or drag figures alone.

More than 20 years on, the idea behind the Tarmac remains much the same: one road race bike designed to climb, sprint, descend and race exceptionally well.

Choose Your Bikes Setup

Specialized Preset Builds

The Specialized Tarmac is built for pure road performance, combining low weight, aerodynamic efficiency and razor-sharp handling. Choose from factory-built Tarmac and S-Works Tarmac models, with carefully selected component packages ready to ride.

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Custom Build

Build your ideal Custom Specialized Tarmac around the frameset, groupset, wheels, cockpit and finishing kit you want. We can help create a tailored Tarmac or S-Works Tarmac build to suit your riding, fit, performance goals and budget.

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S-Works Tarmac

The S-Works Tarmac is the flagship road race bike in the Tarmac range, combining Specialized’s highest-level carbon construction with lightweight performance, aerodynamic efficiency and precise race handling. Built with premium electronic groupsets, carbon wheels and top-tier components, the S-Works Tarmac is designed for riders looking for the very best Specialized road bike available.

Specialized Tarmac S-Level

The Specialized Tarmac S-Level delivers near-flagship Tarmac performance with a premium race-ready specification. Built around the lightweight FACT 10r carbon Tarmac SL9 frame and FACT 12r fork, S-Level models feature top-tier electronic groupsets, Roval carbon wheels and an integrated Roval cockpit. For riders looking for an exceptional Specialized Tarmac SL9 without stepping all the way up to S-Works, the Tarmac S-Level offers outstanding speed, handling and race performance.

Specialized Tarmac Expert

The Specialized Tarmac Expert delivers high-level Tarmac performance in a premium complete-bike package. Combining a lightweight carbon Tarmac frame with electronic shifting, carbon wheels and race-focused geometry, the Tarmac Expert is an excellent choice for racing, fast group rides and riders wanting a high-performance road bike without stepping all the way to S-Works.

Specialized Tarmac Comp

The Specialized Tarmac Comp combines the speed and handling of the Tarmac platform with a more accessible specification. With a lightweight carbon frame, aerodynamic design and quality drivetrain, the Tarmac Comp is a versatile performance road bike for training, racing and fast weekend riding.

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