The Cycle Show provided Continental with the perfect platform to give the Grand Prix TT tyre its first UK airing, two weeks after Germany’s Tony Martin rode it to World Championship time trial gold.

We’ve already covered the technical aspects of the tyre, but here it is again in short. Martin’s Specialized Shiv was fitted with a new HED Jet 6 SCT clincher front wheel and Jet Stallion clincher disc rear, both wrapped in Continental Grand Prix TT tyres.

Crucially, it was HED’s new front wheel that sealed the deal for Martin, who then needed a suitable clincher tyre to fit.

The tyre, which weighs 180g, boasts the latest evolution of the patented Black Chili compound and features a 300TPI nylon case. The production Grand Prix TT will also come with a Vectran anti-puncture breaker, although Martin saved an extra 10g by going without.

So when can you get your hands on it?

The tyre will go on sale in spring 2012, with a limited run of just 10,000 worldwide. UK price is £42.95, although don’t expect to get hundreds of miles for your money. You can almost see the tread, a slick central running strip for straight-line speed and rough shoulder strips for grip, through the casing and Continental say you can expect to get somewhere in the region of four 25-mile time trials out of a front tyre.

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www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/