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50 years ago,
we started a revolution

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WE’VE MADE DREAMS COME TRUE.
AND WE’VE WON. OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

In 1973, we introduced a groupset that would change the world of road racing.
Little did we know that 50 years on, DURA-ACE would still be bringing revolutionary technology to the mountain massifs of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. And bringing home yellow, pink and red jerseys – and Olympic gold.

1973
1973

1973

Shimano introduces the first DURA-ACE at IFMA in Cologne, West Germany. Made of duralumin – a durable but light aluminum alloy used in aircrafts – the aerodynamic groupset takes off. Its name is coined from duralumin (so-called for its durability) plus ‘ace’.
1976
1976

1976

DURA-ACE 10 is released. The 10-pitch drivetrain changes the chain pitch from the industry standard of 12.7mm to 10mm, reducing the size of the front chainwheel and sprockets – and thereby weight. Australian cyclist John Nicholson rides the DURA-ACE 10 to victory at the sprint section of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
1978
1978

1978

The DURA-ACE EX 7200 series features a freehub, 11T top gear and advanced shifting performance. Drawing from race experience, it’s developed with the idea that ‘a bicycle is not a collection of parts, but a collection of mutually functioning components’.
1980
1980

1980

Aerodynamics comes to racing. The DURA-ACE AX 7300 series reduces air resistance – a never-ending challenge for competitors – and weight. To maximize the effects of aerodynamic design, Shimano builds a large-scale wind tunnel in their Japanese laboratory.
1984
1984

1984

The DURA-ACE 7400 series brings functionality for winning races and focuses on improving its basic performance. And the Shimano Index System (SIS) is born – enabling quick, precise and reliable shifting. It’s a veritable milestone in shifting history.
1988
1988

1988

The First Grand Tour Victory for DURA-ACE: Andy Hampsten (Seven-Eleven Team) wins the Giro d'Italia.
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1990
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1990

The Dual Control Lever arrives, incorporating braking and shifting into one lever. This allows riders to shift while keeping both hands on the handlebar – significantly changing the road racing scene.
1993
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1993

The 8-speed DURA-ACE 7410 goes on the market.
1996
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1996

Shimano releases the ‘stress free’ DURA-ACE 7700 series achieving both high rigidity and approximately 500g weight reduction in the entire groupset. How? By introducing the world to its innovative HOLLOWTECH crankset featuring hollow crank arms. Shimano designs the group to eliminate the slightest rattling of each component, incorporating a 9-speed HG cassette sprocket.
1997
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1997

Shimano partners with the Union Cycliste International (UCI). Founded in 1900 in Paris, the UCI is the worldwide governing body for cycling. Promoting and nurturing everyday cycling is at core of its strategy and the UCI works hard to ensure elite cycling inspires many more people to use bikes in their everyday lives.
1998
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1998

Shimano releases a special 25th anniversary DURA-ACE model.
1999
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1999

The first Tour de France victory with DURA-ACE 7700.
2001
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2001

Shimano partners with Unipublic to provide neutral race support teams and riders in Spanish road cycling races.
2004
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2004

Shimano aims to convert the rider’s power into driving force with the release of the DURA-ACE 7800 series. More ergonomic Dual Control Levers improve control and grip. The HOLLOWTECH II crankset reduces weight and increases rigidity. And it features a rear 10-speed drivetrain system.
2007
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2007

Spanish rider Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) wins the Tour de France with DURA-ACE 7800.
2008
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2008

Shimano introduces HOLLOWGLIDE with the DURA-ACE 7900 series, a hollow outer chainring construction which cuts down on weight but retains strength.
2009
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2009

The release of the DURA-ACE 7900 series sees improved rigidity and reducedweight. Plus it comes with a version featuring new technology – Digital Integrated Intelligence (Di2) – an electric shifting system much loved by racers.
2012
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2012

The DURA-ACE 9000 series is released. Every component is fully re-engineered. Highlights include a robust four-arm crankset and the new SLR-EV brake system. Plus it goes 11-speed.
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2013
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2013

Shimano releases a Di2 version of the 9000 series – DURA-ACE 9070. The new E-TUBE system connects Di2 with a computer, enabling riders to customize their shifts.
2016
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2016

With DURA-ACE R9100 and R9150 – both released in 2016 – SHIMANO ups performance. Disc brakes help achieve faster racing speeds and better control. The black graduated design is inspired by Japanese ink wash painting and expresses the flow of power. And riders can choose between mechanical or electronic (Di2) shifting and rim or disc brakes. Plus Shimano’s first power meter is introduced with the DURA-ACE R9100-P.
2017
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2017

For the first time in history, all stages and jerseys at the Tour de France are won by teams using DURA-ACE.
2018
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2018

Shimano joins forces with RCS Sport to provide neutral support in Giro d’Italia and other world-class cycling events organized by the Italian sport and media company.
2021
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2021

Shimano, founded in 1921, celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2021
2021 image

2021

DURA-ACE R9200 goes 12-speed and wireless. It’s Shimano’s fastest and most inspired drivetrain. It introduces road racers to HYPERGLIDE+ which revolutionizes shifting performance.
2021
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2021

Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) strikes a deal with Shimano to take over neutral support at the Tour de France and other events organized by ASO.
2021
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2021

First appearance of Shimano Neutral Support in the Tour de France supporting all riders in the peloton.
2022
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2022

An extraordinary year for Shimano. Riders using the new 12-speed wireless DURA-ACE win all three Grand Tours – plus a world championship! Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) wins the Tour de France. Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe) wins the Giro d’Italia. And Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) wins the Vuelta a España plus UCI ROAD World Championships.
2023
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and beyond

Professional racing group DURA-ACE remains the pinnacle of Shimano’s system engineering. Each anticipated release incorporates the latest digital technologies and Shimano’s ‘Science of Speed’ innovations. That is why it is coveted by the world’s top road racing cyclists, including the reigning world champion Mathieu van der Poel.
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A POWERFUL VICTORY, POWERED BY ENGINEERING

The Mighty Rainbows for MVDP

A POWERFUL VICTORY, POWERED BY ENGINEERING

The Mighty Rainbows for MVDP
In a class of his own, Mathieu van der Poel won the rainbow jersey at the UCI World Championships 2023 in Glasgow. It was a monumental achievement with its fair share of heroics and beauty, and MVDP shined as brightly as his beautiful DURA-ACE R9200 groupset.
Congratulations to Mathieu, the team at Alpecin-Deceuninck and the Dutch national team on this well-deserved victory.
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A GROUPSET THAT CHANGED THE WORLD OF RACING AND IS STILL CHANGING IT

A GROUPSET THAT CHANGED THE WORLD OF RACING AND IS STILL CHANGING IT

50 years of firsts - and 50 years of fast.
DURA-ACE continues to lead the field when it comes to road racing components. We look back at half a century of history and highlights of the world's fastest road group.
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11.540
VICTORIES ON DURA-ACE SINCE 1973
2345
STAGES WON
Europe Europe
22
YEARS WITH UNIPUBLIC
26
YEARS WITH UCI
3
YEARS WITH ASO
5
YEARS WITH RCS SPORT
11
TOUR DE FRANCE VICTORIES
16
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
44
GRAND TOURS
Victories
11540
Stages Won
2345
Unipublic
22
UCI
26
ASO
3
RCS SPORT
5
TOUR DE FRANCE
11
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
16
GRAND TOURS
44
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Arigato

Thank you all for an amazing journey