FWIW, I do most of my training and all my racing on a Roubaix Expert. It is a racing bike that is just slightly more "relaxed" than a Tarmac. I think the three bikes you mention are "tweeners" for those like me who didn't want the full blown racing bike or those who wanted to move to something more agressive than a touring bike, their original vintage bike or hybred. If your buddy is the kind of guy who wants to take his cycling up a couple notches or catch his youth again, then these bikes could be a good choice. They are all basically the same as they were designed for the same market. If he has never ridden a bike with his hands at or below the saddle then it might not be a good choice for a first road style bike.