World cyclocross champion Marianne Vos' Giant TCX Disc - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Without a frame size small enough to facilitate Vos's low riding position, she uses this negative-rise stem - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Vos had three TCX Disc bikes and several with cantilever brakes as back up for the worlds - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Vos has fully embraced disc brakes, running Shimano's Di2 R785 hydraulic system - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Another look at that stem, which is 85mm long, and a stated -30 degrees - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The clean cantilever-free fork, and some of Dugast's finest Typhoon tubulars. Shortly after we took these, Marianne had all of her bikes swapped over to Dugast Rhinos for the race - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The clean cantilever-free fork, and some of Dugast's finest Typhoon tubulars. Shortly after we took these, Marianne had all of her bikes swapped over to Dugast Rhinos for the race - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
This version of the TCX still uses conventional quick release skewers, unlike one of the consumer models which features a front thru axle - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The Shimano CX75 disc hubs. Note the forward facing dropout - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The unused right side cable entry is filled in to keep the elements out - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The Dura-Ace crankset is fitted with Rotor's oval Q rings in Vos's favoured 38/46t combination - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Vos uses 172.5mm cranks for a little extra leverage - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Shimano's M980 pedals appear to have been disassembled and sanded smooth on some surfaces - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The effect is more pronounced on the other side - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Demonstrating the difference between the high and low points of the Q rings, this is the point where the chainring is furthest from the front mech… - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
…and here it is at its highest point. On paper, introducing more possible means of unshipping a chain for cyclocross racing seems unwise, but it clearly works - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The bottom bracket area is suitably vast, utilising the shell's full 90mm width - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The rear hub's largely conventional looks, with 28 J-bend spokes - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Neat mounting for the rear hydraulic caliper and dropout. Like her compatriot, Lars Van Der Haar, Vos uses 140mm disc rotors front and rear - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Marianne Vos and her Dad checking over one of her bikes before another practice lap ahead of today's race - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The bridgeless seatstays offer plenty of clearance and nowhere for mud to snag - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Even with 33mm Dugasts, there's ample space behind the bottom bracket shell, and the wide shell sets the chain stays well apart for excellent muck shedding - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The fork crown too has masses of room - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
We've seen these Shimano 35mm 28-hole carbon tubular rims before, but they still have no name and they're still a mystery - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The manganese-railed Fizik Arione is at least black for practicality - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
PRO's Vibe 7s bar and the 85mm 30 degree negative rise stem - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
One of Vos's other TCX disc machines, which is identical apart from having silver chain rings - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Marianne Vos inspiring some young Dutch fans - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The bike that Vos finished the world championship on - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The overnight rain made for a major drivetrain test - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Note the lack of braking track worn in to the rim, and lack of mud build up on the stays - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
At 26, Dutch cycling superstar Marianne Vos convincingly won her seventh elite women’s title at the World Cyclocross Championships in Hoogerheide, Holland, on Saturday. Before she did, we got our hands on one of the bikes she used.
Giant’s TCX Disc has become a familiar sight at the front of the men’s field under the fast-starting Lars Van Der Haar, but for the tech-savvy and technical Vos, her decision to use the disc machine was telling. The TCX Disc has already hit the consumer market, some models with a front thru axle, but Vos’s team bike retains conventional quick release skewers, and even though she runs Shimano’s electronic Dura-Ace Di2, her frame doesn’t have either convertible or specific electrical cable routing.
Another look at that stem, which is 85mm long, and a stated -30 degrees: - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The most prominent feature of Vos’s TCX is the negative-rise stem. Although she rides the smallest frame size available (50cm/S), she still wanted a lower riding position, and thus this stem was the only option. At 85mm it’s an odd size, but the –30 degree angle is even more unusual, and is one Shimano’s PRO component arm don’t currently offer. Fortunately a Giant Taiwanese manufacturer does. A 42cm PRO Vibe 7s bar, tilted back a little gives a position that is super low when riding on the drops, or low and long when on the hoods.
Shimano’s hydraulic road disc system has been widely reported, and is slowly becoming more common. Here, Vos has 140mm rotors front and rear, fitted to Shimano’s as-yet-unnamed road disc wheels, with their 35mm tubular carbon rims, and 28-hole CX75 hubs, laced two cross with black, bladed J-bend spokes.
The drivetrain is Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 with internal battery, and the addition of a pair of Rotor’s oval shaped Q-Rings, in 38/46, necessitating careful placement of the front derailleur to allow for the oval ring shapes. An 11-28 tooth cassette gives a wide range of gears, and the 172.5mm cranks are relatively lengthy for a rider of her 1.69m height, but give some extra leverage, especially useful in the mud.
…and here it is at its highest point. on paper, introducing more possible means of unshipping a chain for cyclocross racing seems unwise, but it clearly works: - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
The bike we featured had Dugast Typhoon tubulars fitted, which are excellent tyres for fast, intermediate conditions, but after the heavy overnight rain, Rhinos were the only practical option from Dugast’s offerings, and Vos had all her bikes swapped to the grippier mud tyres before embarking on her final course recces. Both tyres are 33mm wide, the maximum allowed under UCI regulations, but the TCX frame still has impressive clearance all round.
A Fizik Arione saddle is fitted on to the TCX’s specific carbon seatpost, whose subtly flattened rear prevents misalignment, but also induces a measure of flex too, being nominally sized as 27.2mm diameter. There are a number of neat finishing touches, such as the filled in right side gear cable opening in the down tube, and small plugs that are fitted flush in each of the frame’s bottle cage boss holes for practicality.
For such a small bike with carbon rims and tubulars, we expected a little less overall mass, but its 7.98kg complete with pedals, and the undoubtedly heavier disc brake setup is still very respectable, and clearly didn’t hold Vos back, since she won alone 1’07” ahead of second place. When asked following the race, her mechanic said that she only changed bike three times in the four long laps she completed, attesting to the bike’s mud shedding abilities, and the rider’s talent. With such an effective combination, it would be a brave person who’d bet against Vos continuing her reign next year too.
The bike that vos finished the world championship on: - Robin Wilmott/Future Publishing
Robin Wilmott is a freelance writer and bike tester. He began road cycling in 1988 and, with mountain bikes in their infancy, mixed experimental off-road adventures with club time trials and road races. Cyclocross soon became a winter staple and has remained Robin's favourite form of competition. Robin has always loved the technical aspect of building and maintaining bikes, and several years working in a bike shop only amplified that. Robin was a technical writer for BikeRadar for nearly a decade, and has tested hundreds of bikes and products for the site. He has also written extensively for Cycling Plus, Velonews and Cyclingnews.
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