First SRAM asked consumers to make the leap – now it’s hoping a ProTour team will, too.

VeloNews has learned that SRAM and Saunier Duval-Prodir are in the midst of talks that could make the Spanish-based team the first ProTour squad to roll out on the American company’s new Force road group.

According to Saunier Duval-Prodir director Joxean Fernández, his team is in “conversation” with SRAM and its current gruppo provider, Campagnolo.

“We have tried SRAM and there was no problem,” said Fernández. “What we want to avoid is having problems throughout the season. It’s a new product, so we want to be sure that things go well. We made a test and things went well, but we haven’t tried it yet in competition. Twenty days in the Tour de France will be another thing, but yes, we are talking and negotiating.”

If the deal goes through, it would be a major breakthrough for SRAM, bringing them inside the circle heretofore ruled by Campagnolo and Shimano.

Features of Force include svelte shifters, newly designed carbon cranks and a carbon-infused rear derailleur. The complete group's listed weight is 2138 grams. For context, a Campagnolo Record group weighs 2039 grams and Shimano's Dura-Ace group weighs 2181 grams.

The Force carbon shifters are listed at 307 grams for the pair, in relation to 420 grams for Dura-Ace and 324 grams for Record. The Force shifters employ SRAM's DoubleTap technology, unveiled at last year’s Interbike trade show, in which one inboard lever operates in one direction for both up and downshifts.

The shifters also allow for clean brake- and shifter-cable placement under the handlebar tape. In addition, SRAM has designed a new actuation ratio specifically for the road, called Exact Actuation.

Two UCI-registered continental pro teams, Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada team and the Orbea continental, have been fully equipped with the Force components in competition since this past April’s Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California.

Martin Gilbert (Kodakgallery.com-Sierra Nevada) rode the components to their first professional win at the Raleigh Twilight criterium on May 26. Less than two weeks later Jackson Stewart (KGSN) took the biggest win of his career at the June 4 Lancaster Classic; he was also riding Force components. In Europe, the Orbea continental team got off to a slower start, taking its first European win at the last stage of the June 24 Circuito Monta.

— Matt Pacocha contributed to this report