(Image credit score: Future)
Paris-Roubaix at all times delivers when it comes to tech tales. Teams rock up with new tech, customized one-off parts, and all of the hacks they’ll muster to attempt to tame the cobbles. While the lads’s area appears to have coalesced on an aero-bikes-only method, save for Israel-Premier Tech, who’re utilizing gravel bikes, the ladies’s peloton is a pleasant sea of various setups.
Wandering across the pit space at first, there was every part from gravel tech, prototype tyres, 3D printed parts, and even some distinctly old style setups. As ever we have behind the scenes entry to carry you all one of the best in tech, and we have additionally acquired a gallery of the winners bike on the way in which too.
Without additional ado, and earlier than the mud of northern France has had an opportunity to totally cake itself onto Lotte Kopecky’s race-winning S-Works Tarmac (presumably to be sealed in by the Specialized advertising group without end extra), let’s get on with it.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Starting at Canyon-SRAM all appears regular. The group had been all utilizing the Canyon Ultimate, slightly than the extra aerodynamic Aeroad, however a more in-depth take a look at the wheels reveals that some riders had been utilizing Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres. These are technically a gravel tyre, however have a particularly low profile tread, and is akin to a big quantity file tread in lots of respects.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The little knobbles you may see on the shoulders right here lengthen the entire means throughout the tyre. The width was 32c throughout the board.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The bike with gravel tyres was swiftly whisked away and changed by one with Schwalbe Pro One tyres. Here there are satellite tv for pc SRAM shifter blips beneath the bars so shifting might be achieved whereas nonetheless using on the tops.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
These Pro One tyres in a 32c width plump up properly on a Zipp 303 Firecrest rim. The group nonetheless opted to go along with a hookless setup regardless of the present dialogue in regards to the system’s questions of safety.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
A 3D printed chain keeper, one among many seen within the pits, totally encloses the chain. This is safer trying than the chain keepers we normally see on the highway for riders utilizing a 1X setup.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The barely much less jazzy, however nonetheless eye-catching salmon(ish) Aeroad bikes had been on the roof simply in case.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Over at Lidl-Trek, Koen de Kort was rocking some contemporary trying Lidl trainers.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Another chain keeper, this time on Elynor Backstedt’s bike. This one is a Okay-Edge unit, and metallic slightly than printed plastic.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Elynor Backstedt, except for the chain keeper, was using a particular version Trek Domane for the race. Speaking to the group’s Support Manager, Koen de Kort, he means that quickly, like within the males’s area, most riders might be on an aero setup. For now although there was a mixture of the aero Madone and the extra comfy, endurance-oriented Domane.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
While these prototype Pirelli tyres had been marked up as 32c, they measured up (with my trusty vernier calipers) at 34.5mm thanks presumably to the broader inner width of the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 49V gravel wheels.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The Domane additionally permits for a easier use of a regular stem and spherical bars, which is usually a choice for riders at Roubaix.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
At the Arkea-B&B Hotels however the group opted for the all-round Bianchi Specialissima.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The profitable bike: Lotte Kopecky’s S-Works Tarmac SL8, full with huge tyres and a 1X drivetrain.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The customary Roval Rapide wheels had been shod with S-Works Mondo 32c tyres, setup tubeless and with added foam inserts for a further security buffer.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Another 3D printed chain keeper, this one sitting barely additional again on the chain than others.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Only the world champion will get the rainbow/oil slick chain wrapped round her 50T chainring.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Normally Kopecky makes use of the Roval Rapide aero one-piece cockpit, however for this race and this bike she’s gone for spherical bars, full with thumb-operated shifter blips. The bars, I’m informed, are Deda, however wrapped solely so no logos might be seen. I used to be additionally knowledgeable that she will get a separate Roubaix bike partially to save lots of messing together with her regular bike.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The S-Works Mondo tyre, in addition to being wider, does not have the cotton sidewalls that the Turbo Cotton does, including a bit of additional cobble safety too.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
An oil slick cassette to match the chain.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The remainder of the group had been additionally on the Tarmac versus the Roubaix, and all used the 32c Mondo.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
While Kopecky opts for shifters contained in the bars, some opted for them on the entrance, operated by the fingers slightly than thumbs.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Cofidis had a decidedly extra old style tyre technique: 30c Michelin tubular tyres glued to Corima wheels.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The groups Look bike was decked out with Look cranksets and Look pedals, unsurprisingly.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
White bar tape, particularly for Roubaix, is a particularly professional transfer, and was a rarity sadly.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Here’s a greater take a look at the tubs, with clear ’30’ markings on the cotton sidewalls.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Another completely different chain keeper, this time a Wolf Tooth mannequin on a Movistar bike. Usually these Wolf Tooth keepers are run with out the outer plate, however Roubaix requires further safety, at the very least within the Movistar camp.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Marianne Vos rode the cobbles to 4th place aboard the Cervelo Soloist, slightly than the aero S5 she usually rides.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Curiously, in contrast to the remainder of the group, she used a blended tyre technique, with a extra puncture resistant Vittoria Corsa Pro Control on the rear…
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
…and the usual Corsa Pro up entrance, each mounted to the brand new Reserve 42/49 wheelset we noticed at Opening Weekend.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Vos additionally used a Wolf Tooth chain keeper, however a considerably extra pared again one to that seen on the Movistar bikes.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Round bars had been frequent at Visma-Lease A Bike, however not completely ubiquitous.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Teams have some obligatory GoPro duties, both mounted beneath the stem or beneath the saddle.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Some FDJ-Suez bikes featured the Prologo Dimension saddle that has grippy raised rubber patches on to maintain the rider locked in place.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
This materials has been rolled out to the model’s bar tape, which we noticed on many bikes, and claims to supply higher mechanical grip (particularly when mixed with matching mitts), permitting riders to grip the bars much less tightly and due to this fact scale back fatigue.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Again, 32c tyres, right here Continental GP5000 S TR fashions, had been the order of the day.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The Orbea Orca Aero of the Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling group has a very nice paint job for my part. Simple, stylish, and properly executed with out getting too sophisticated: Chapeau.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The aero credentials of the frameset are clear to see, with barely sufficient room to suit a cigarette paper between the down tube and the 32c Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The purple seatpost is a very nice completion, and ties the entire bike collectively.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
From a purple seatpost to a purple bike, this one from the Winspace group belonging to Chinese champion Luyao Zeng.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
As properly as being a really eye catching bike, it is also important as Zeng, alongside together with her teammate Xin Tang, is the primary Chinese girls’s rider to race at Paris Roubaix.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Zeng rode with a whopping 54t aftermarket outer chainring.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
While Zeng could not have featured on the pointy finish of the race, the bike definitely caught my eye.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
My coronary heart does exit to the group although: They had been on the narrowest tyres of anybody, with 27c Challenge Stradas all spherical. Given how laborious these are to mount (in my expertise) my coronary heart additionally goes out to the mechanics…
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Some Roubaix hacks by no means die – Metal cages grip the bottles higher as you may bend them in.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
At the Roland-WTW bus there was a cluster of extraordinarily good trying Pinarello Dogmas. One will get so used to seeing these within the Ineos livery it is refreshing seeing it in one thing completely different.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The Uno-X squad had been all aboard the aero VSRu mannequin.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
At the St Michel – Mavic – Auber93 bus the group subject Cannondale SuperSix Evo bikes had been kitted out with a extra sturdy, and extra grippy model of the Michelin Power tyres. I’d additionally like for it to go on file that St Michel, a biscuit firm, is maybe my favorite sponsor of the entire peloton.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
St Michel additionally rocked metallic bottle cages, this time from Specialities TA.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The previous ‘allen key taped to the bike’ trick was markedly absent, however I did nonetheless discover one instance right here.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
More GoPro motion on the UAE Team ADQ bus. This does make me marvel what the aero penalty is viven it is mounted in such a key space.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
32c tyres had been the norm, however on these Enve wheels the 30c choice was lots plump sufficient.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
The cobbles can rattle roughly something free if it begins transferring, so a little bit of tape within the laptop mount saves your head unit flying throughout a key sector, taking your energy numbers with it.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
Tape works for some riders, whereas others at EF used sticky-backed Velcro to cease the rattle.
(Image credit score: Will Jones)
While Factor has already made the headlines for its Gravel bike, the paintwork of the Human Powered Health group bikes is worthy of displaying to the world in my eyes.
Is there something we have missed? Let us know within the feedback under, and keep tuned to Cyclingnews for all of the race outcomes, information and options from our group on the bottom all through the classics season.
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