We’d be lying if we were to try to convince you that “cycling watches” were a thing. However, Rolex’s little brother Tudor seems to take a special interest in the sport. Last year, after forming the Tudor Pro Cycling Team, the watchmaker came out with a team-only cycling watch in the Black Bay line. Well, now the general public can get in on the action with the release of the Pelagos FXD Chrono Cycling Edition. Let’s dive in…
Backing up a bit, we should explain some history on Tudor’s pair of fan-favorite dive watches. Though the Rolex offshoot was officially launched in 1946 to offer more affordable watches to the public, the brand got a second wind of sorts in 2012 with the launch of the Heritage Black Bay and vintage-inspired Pelagos lines. For years, the Black Bay was the real standout — that is, until Tudor debuted the Pelagos 39, which then led to the Pelagos FXD in 2021, made for Marine Nationale’s combat swimmers.
Purpose-built for more real-world diving situations, the FXD (noting the fixed lugs) dropped its water resistance from 500m to a reasonable 200m, while also removing the helium escape valve and thinning the case from 14.3mm to 12.7mm. It balanced an adventurous spirit with wearability in a way that showed Tudor’s commitment to evolving.
From the standard Pelagos FXD came the Pelagos FXD Chrono, which until today had only been made one other time — and on another brand partnership. Last summer, Tudor teamed up with Alinghi Red Bull Racing on a chronograph version of the Pelagos FXD in anticipation of the America’s Cup yacht race. It was a bit wider at 43mm (rather than 42mm), featured a bicompax register display, and swapped the titanium case for a carbon composite one. Water resistance was brought back even further to 100m.
Admittedly, the new Cycling Edition of the Pelagos FXD doesn’t have many “cycling-specific” attributes but it’s certainly lightweight thanks to the case material, and the strap is made from a single piece of black jacquard-woven technical fabric from France’s Julien Faure. Rather than the Red Bull brand colors of the previous iteration, this Cycling Edition has matte black finishing on the case and a black dial with red and white accents. Returning are the fixed bezel with the 60-minute scale, the titanium crown with guards, and a titanium caseback. It’s also powered by a Breitling-based caliber MT5813 automatic movement with 70 hours of power reserve.
The major new features of the chronograph can be found on the angled chapter ring, with a special three-level tachymeter scale. Where a typical car-focused tachymeter goes from 500 to 60 units per hour, this scale spirals outwards from 20 to 240 units per hour, since cyclists ride at lower speeds.
Case Size: 43mm
Case Material: Black carbon composite
Bezel Material: Titanium with black carbon insert
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: Automatic
Band: Black jacquard-woven technical fabric
Limited Edition?: No
Not limited in edition size, the Pelagos FXD Chrono Cycling Edition will be priced at $5,275 when it arrives in the coming weeks. Head over to Tudor’s website to learn more.
Tudor made a black Pelagos FXD Chrono for it cycling team, made with a carbon composite case and featuring a unique cycling-specific tachymeter scale on the dial.
