With all of the speak of security focussed on the brand new entry chicane to the Arenberg Forest Israel-Premier Tech appear to be taking a brand new method by opting to make use of the Factor Ostro Gravel over the bike sponsor’s aero bike, the Ostro Vam, first noticed this 12 months on the Tour Down Under.
On a recon of the Arenberg Forest, all riders had been aboard gravel bikes, although the group automobiles did have black variations of the Ostro VAM street bike on the roof.
With all of it however confirmed that Specialized sponsored groups (Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal QuickStep, AG Insurance Soudal and SD Worx-Protime) can be aboard the Tarmac this 12 months fairly than the Roubaix, according to our Roubaix tech preview, it’s attention-grabbing to see one other group go in a very totally different path.
The Factor Ostro on the time of launch was touted as essentially the most aero gravel bike in the marketplace, with extraordinarily deep tube shapes and UCI compliant for street racing. Its aero optimisation relies round a 34mm tyre, although the group have knowledgeable us that they are going to be utilizing 32c tyres, although these look extra chunky within the photos probably as a result of wider inner width of the Black Inc. wheels.
The riders check out the brand new entry to the Arenberg Forest aboard Factor Ostro Gravel bikes (Image credit score: Will Jones)
In a press release from the group’s Equipment Manager, Gary Blem, it transpires it is a results of again to again testing of each bikes:
“We did various testing on the cobbles after Opening Weekend with Tom Van Asbroeck and Riley Sheehan, evaluating the brand new OSTRO VAM with the OSTRO Gravel and the overwhelming consensus was that the OSTRO Gravel can be the only option for Paris – Roubaix. The Ostro Gravel has an extended wheelbase so it tracks slower which is ideal for a race like Paris – Roubaix because it offers the riders extra time to react, and the elevated tire clearance permits us to run 32mm tires.”
In stark distinction to the method of Specialized groups, Israel-Premier Tech clearly are of the opinion that consolation equals pace, although the aero advantages of the Ostro Gravel maybe make this a extra easy alternative than for some groups:
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The OSTRO Gravel is a motorcycle constructed for consolation and direct suggestions from our riders was that they might go for consolation over aerodynamics. Fortunately, given it’s an extremely aero gravel bike, there isn’t any compromise on aerodynamics and having simply accomplished our recon trip, we’re assured that is the perfect Factor bike for our group this Sunday.
The extra clearance of the Ostro Gravel permits the group to run 32c Continental tyres (Image credit score: Israel – Premier Tech)
While Israel-Premier Tech is dedicated to the gravel setup, the opposite Factor-sponsored group, Human Powered Health, have confirmed that they don’t seem to be. Over the chaotic cobbles combined with clean(ish) tarmac, it will be curious to see which technique wins out, and whether or not woman luck has extra of a bearing on issues than any tyre setups.
