Icons of cycling: Litespeed Vortex

Simon Smythe reflects on the Lynskey family’s bold bike brand that brought competitive titanium frames to the pro peloton

(Image credit: Graham Watson)

In 2002 Litespeed bikes finally appeared in the professional peloton with the Tennessee company’s own name on the down tube.

But Robbie McEwen’s green jersey win in the Tour de France and his 17 stage wins that year on his Litespeed Vortex would turn out to be titanium’s swansong in pro cycling, as well as its apogee.

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Simon Smythe

Simon Smythe is a hugely experienced cycling tech writer, who has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2003. Until recently he was our senior tech writer. In his cycling career Simon has mostly focused on time trialling with a national medal, a few open wins and his club's 30-mile record in his palmares. These days he spends most of his time testing road bikes, or on a tandem doing the school run with his younger son.