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The Spring Classics are the ultimate proving ground - not just for riders, but for equipment. Margins are tight, conditions are unpredictable, and every watt matters. That’s why we work closely with EF Pro Cycling, EF Education-Oatly, INEOS Grenadiers and Decathlon CMA CGM to focus on one of the most critical areas of performance: the drivetrain.
This year’s campaign marked the first full Classics campaign following the launch of Dark Energy Chain Wax. Built for dry and damp conditions alike, it’s designed to deliver efficiency, durability and low wear across the mixed terrain the Classics are known for - from dust-covered sectors to grit-filled cobbles.
But as ever in the Classics, conditions rarely stay consistent.
Paris-Roubaix was a clear example. Early rain left sections of the cobbles slick and unpredictable before drying conditions later in the race changed the demands completely. That meant constant decision-making behind the scenes, with teams balancing setups between wet conditions (running Ludicrous Lube) and dry conditions (running Dark Energy).
Here’s how our teams got on across the campaign:
EF Pro Cycling
EF Pro Cycling brought their signature aggression from the first race to the last. From early moves at Strade Bianche through to the cobbled Monuments, they consistently committed riders to breakaways and forced selections well before the final kilometres.
That approach puts sustained load through the drivetrain - repeated accelerations, high torque efforts and long periods off the front. Running Dark Energy across key races helped maintain efficiency deep into those efforts, particularly as races stretched beyond five hours and split repeatedly under pressure. The result was a consistent presence in the groups that shaped races, often forcing others to react rather than the other way around.
EF Education-Oatly
Across the women’s peloton, EF Education-Oatly delivered a consistent Classics campaign. A podium at Milano-Sanremo set the tone early, coming after a long day of positioning before the decisive late-race moves on the climbs into Sanremo.
That carried through Strade Bianche, where dust and gravel increase tested Dark Energy's low wear properties, and into the Ardennes where races are often decided by repeated accelerations on steep gradients.
INEOS Grenadiers
Filippo Ganna’s victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen was one of the standout moments of the cobbled campaign. After a late attack reshaped the race, Ganna timed his effort perfectly, catching the lead move inside the final kilometres and holding off the chasers all the way to the line.
Across the wider Classics, INEOS Grenadiers consistently placed riders into the key selections, particularly in Flanders and Roubaix where positioning into sectors is decisive. In races where small inefficiencies can quickly become costly over rough terrain, maintaining a clean, low-friction drivetrain across changing conditions played a big role in delivering those performances.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM produced one of the most consistent Ardennes campaigns of the spring. Their win at La Flèche Wallonne came on the steep gradients of the Mur de Huy, where Paul Seixas made his move with around 200 metres to go, creating a gap that no one could close on the final ramps.
Just days later at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Seixas was again up at the front of the race, following the decisive moves deep into the final climbs before finishing second after a sustained effort against the strongest riders in the field. Together, those rides showed an ability to respond to both explosive finales and long, selective races.
The Classics don’t give you second chances. Every sector, every climb and every acceleration adds up. That’s why drivetrain optimisation is treated as a priority. Across cobbles, climbs and constantly changing conditions, all four teams raced at the front and relied on setups that could perform under pressure.
Click here to try Dark Energy Chain Wax for yourself
With the Classics wrapped, attention now turns to the season's first Grand Tour - the Giro d’Italia, rolling out on May 9th. Form is building, preparations are underway behind the scenes, and momentum is carrying forward from a demanding spring.
Keep your eyes peeled - we’ve got something special planned with EF Pro Cycling at the Giro.
