I bought a Giant Contend 1 a few months ago to try road cycling out. It's a size large. I'm 6'1" with a 33" cycling inseam. So a bit long torsoed, shorter legs. I dropped the bars and it feels comfortable. Maybe a bit stretched in the arms slightly.

I'm hooked and ride almost everyday so I want to upgrade to a carbon bike with ultegra. I'd like a stiffer bike but am concerned about the added reach and drop going to a TCR.

Would a Defy be stiffer than my Contend? Also, I feel like I'm right in between a M/L and Large. So maybe dropping to an M/L in the defy and going with a longer stem if necessary?

I'd like to start racing Crits and there's plenty in my area. So the defy doesn't make much sense minus the fact that I like the geometry.

I ride a Defy, 32" inseam. I'm on a large, but could probably have gotten the same setup on a M/L. I'm similar shape to you, short legs, long torso.

I'm not sure I'd be throwing a Defy around a crit track. It's a bit longer wheel base, smooths out bumps, etc.. but a TCR would probably be sharper turning. I'm thinking in a crit, I'd want a twitchy bike, not a cruiser.

Giant has really focused on stiffer frames lately and I don't think you'd have too many complaints about either in that regard.

My old bike was a TCR and it was perfectly comfortable even on 8 hour rides. I think you just get used to it after a few rides.

If you want to race, and you want to ride a Giant, your only two choices are TCR or Propel. You can race a Defy, but by the end of the season, you'll wish you have the more aggressive geometry.

FWIW, I raced a Defy for two seasons - great bike, but when I upgraded to a Propel, teh difference was like night and day.

There are lots of other things to consider, but essentially, if you are in an area where substantial climbs are the defining feature of many races, the TCR is the ticket. Otherwise, the Propel is a better all around bike and more aero.

Once I posted it I realized it was dumb. I rode a 58 Supersix Evo and it felt great. A little less reach and a little more stack than a TCR in a large but almost the same so yea the TCR would be fine.

I have the same height and inseam as you. I would go for M/L assuming the geometry is similar to the Contend with the 56cm virtual top tube. If you do that, then also cut the fork a little longer and put more spacers under the stem. I also like a 140mm stem so that or perhaps a bit longer should do it for you. My Ridley has a 56.5cm VTT. So its only 5mm longer and I use the 140mm stem on it. On the Supersix Evo, I'd probably get a 56cm.