Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) had at least three spare bikes available for Ronde van Vlaanderen, including this Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 - James Huang/Future Publishing
While many riders were on Look's newer KéO Blade 2 pedals, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) opted for the original version - James Huang/Future Publishing
SRAM Red 22 components and Gore Ride-On sealed derailleur cables and housing for Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 was fitted with Zipp's ultra-stiff SLSprint carbon stem and SL-70 Ergo bars, covered with two layers of Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix tape - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tacx Tao aluminum cages for Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - James Huang/Future Publishing
177.5mm-long Specialized carbon fiber crankarms for Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) uses a 155mm-wide Specialized S-Works Romin saddle - James Huang/Future Publishing
Even Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) turned to an 11-28T cassette for Ronde van Vlaanderen's nasty cobbled climbs - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) also had available two Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 machines, each with custom long-and-low geometry - James Huang/Future Publishing
Specialized's new team tires feature the company's own tread compound and pattern glued on to FMB handmade cotton tubular casings - James Huang/Future Publishing
Many racing fans will recognize this paint job - James Huang/Future Publishing
Europcar riders used several different Colnago frames at Ronde van Vlaanderen such as the company's endurance-focused CX-Zero, built with a softer ride and slightly longer head tube than usual - James Huang/Future Publishing
Riders used all sorts of homemade methods for keeping track of key sections of the parcours - James Huang/Future Publishing
This Europcar Colnago's Campagnolo Super Record EPS front derailleur is installed with a bit of friction tape to keep it from moving. In keeping with the team's French tendencies, there's also an Aivee adjustable chain catcher - just in case - James Huang/Future Publishing
Most of the Look KéO Blade 2 pedals we spotted in the peloton were stuck at awkward angles. As compared to earlier editions, these seem to have stickier bearings that don't allow the bodies to hang down for easier entry - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sorry road tubeless fans, another year passes by without any teams using the technology on race bikes at the cobbled classics - James Huang/Future Publishing
Other Europcar riders such as Antoine Duchesne (132) and Tony Hurel (135) used Colnago's C59 and M10 frames, respectively - James Huang/Future Publishing
Relatively shallow carbon tubular wheels were more or less standard issue at this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Europcar riders were also mixed on their choice of drivetrains with some opting for electronic setups from Campagnolo and others sticking to traditional mechanical groups - James Huang/Future Publishing
There's certainly no mistaking the make of these pedals - James Huang/Future Publishing
Christmas seems to come twice for FMB: once during the cobbled classics, and again come 'cross season - James Huang/Future Publishing
Double-wrapped bars provide a little bit of extra cushioning. Cobbles are unbelievably punishing on the hands - James Huang/Future Publishing
Ag2r-La Mondiale is using fi'zi:k cockpits and Bryton computers - James Huang/Future Publishing
A couple of Ag2r-La Mondiale riders were spotted at the start using fi'zi:k's long-retired Arione k:1 saddle - James Huang/Future Publishing
Ag2r-La Mondiale's new Focus Izalco Max framesets feature slimmed-down forks that look to be more comfortable than previous versions - James Huang/Future Publishing
Focus Izalco Max framesets and Fulcrum carbon wheels across the board for Ag2r-La Mondiale - James Huang/Future Publishing
While standard Schwalbe One HT tubulars are all black, these team-edition tires get tan sidewalls, along with what appears to be a hand-glued tread cap - James Huang/Future Publishing
Another set of awkwardly positioned Look KéO Blade 2 pedals - James Huang/Future Publishing
Jurgen Roelandts' (Lotto-Belisol) Ridley Fenix just before the start of Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Segmented aluminum brake housing for Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tacx Tao Carbon bottle cages apparently hold well enough to handle Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Ridley says its Fenix model offers a smoother ride and more tire clearance than its more traditional race options - James Huang/Future Publishing
A carbon-railed Selle San Marco saddle for Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Two layers of Lizard Skins DSP tape and traditional-bend handlebars are the way to go for Lotto-Belisol's Jurgen Roelandts - James Huang/Future Publishing
Campagnolo Bora Ultra Two carbon tubular wheels and 28mm-wide Continental Competition Pro Limited PTX tires for Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Unlike most chain catchers that basically just guide the chain back on to the inner ring in the event of an overshift, Campagnolo's version more closely profiles both chainrings so that the chain can never move that far to the inside - James Huang/Future Publishing
Lampre-Merida bikes were outfitted with Rotor's new power meters - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rotor is another option that offers separate left and right power measurements. Note the direct-mount Shimano brake caliper on Lampre-Merida's new Merida Reacto Evo frame, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Lampre-Merida's Merida Reacto Evo frames also use direct-mount front brake calipers. An inline quick-release is used for the rear caliper for faster wheel changes - James Huang/Future Publishing
Double-wrapped bars for Lampre-Merida rider Sacha Modolo - James Huang/Future Publishing
Elite Ciussi aluminum cages are a common sight around this time of year - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sacha Modolo's (Lampre-Merida) Merida Reacto Evo for Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
28mm-wide Continental Competition Pro Limited PT tubulars for Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) - James Huang/Future Publishing
One wouldn't typically expect to see aero road bikes at an event like Ronde van Vlaanderen but such is the changing equipment landscape at the cobbled classics - James Huang/Future Publishing
Shallow-profile Fulcrum carbon tubular wheels for Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Merida tempers the stiff ride of the Reacto Evo frame somewhat with the inclusion of its S-Flex seatpost, which is designed to give a little under impact - James Huang/Future Publishing
A fleet of fetching blue-and-green Canyons for the Movistar squad - James Huang/Future Publishing
Virtually no riders or teams opt for slick treads at Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Movistar is using Power2Max power meters this season - James Huang/Future Publishing
Canyon frames are known for having relatively long head tubes. This Movistar rider opts for a -17° stem to get a lower bar height. Note the strip of tape securing the O.Synce computer, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
25mm-wide Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubulars for this Movistar rider - James Huang/Future Publishing
Hopefully these course notes were written with waterproof ink - James Huang/Future Publishing
A fleet of yellow, blue and black Specialized S-Works machines for Tinkoff-Saxo at this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen. Riders used a mix of Tarmac, Roubaix, and Venge models - James Huang/Future Publishing
Daniele Bennati looked to be the lone Tinkoff-Saxo rider to start Ronde van Vlaanderen aboard a Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 - James Huang/Future Publishing
Daniele Bennati's (Tinkoff-Saxo) Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 is fitted with Zipp's SLSpeed carbon stem and SL-70 Ergo bars - just like Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Custom finished Prologo saddles for the Tinkoff-Saxo team, complete with grippy CPC appliques - James Huang/Future Publishing
John Degenkolb's (Giant-Shimano) Giant Defy Advanced SL just before the start of Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
27mm-wide Vittoria Pavé Evo CG tubulars for Giant-Shimano rider John Degenkolb - James Huang/Future Publishing
Aluminum Elite Ciussi bottle cages for John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) - James Huang/Future Publishing
John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) prefers traditional-bend bars and level hoods - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sprint shifters are neatly tucked away on John Degenkolb's (Giant-Shimano) Giant Defy Advanced SL. There's extra padding tucked beneath the tape up top, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
More supplemental shift buttons are positioned up top on John Degenkolb's (Giant-Shimano) Giant Defy Advanced SL. His course notes are so long that they overflow on to the headset cap and stem faceplate. A strip of tape provides a little insurance for his SRM computer, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
A PRO Turnix cut-out saddle for John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) - James Huang/Future Publishing
A length of heat-shrink tubing keeps the Shimano Di2 wire neatly tucked against the rear brake housing on John Degenkolb's (Giant-Shimano) Giant Defy Advanced SL - James Huang/Future Publishing
Giant-Shimano's Giant Defy Advanced SL machines are widely regarded for their impressively smooth ride - just the thing for attacking the cobbled climbs of Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Alexander Kristoff's (Katusha) Canyon Ultimate CF SLX - James Huang/Future Publishing
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) seems to prefer Ritchey's WCS Carbon Monocurve integrated fiber cockpit - James Huang/Future Publishing
These tiny course notes seem awfully hard to read, no? - James Huang/Future Publishing
These 'Mavic' tubulars on Alexander Kristoff's (Katusha) Canyon Ultimate CF SLX are more likely rebadged Hutchinson - James Huang/Future Publishing
Yet another set of Elite Ciussi aluminum cages. They may not be super light but they sure do hold bottles tightly - James Huang/Future Publishing
Vladimir Isaichev (Katusha) runs his saddle far forward on the rails. And yes, that's a disguised Specialized S-Works Romin - James Huang/Future Publishing
Many Shimano Di2-equipped riders took advantage of the available sprint and climbing satellite shifters - James Huang/Future Publishing
Katusha riders set off from Brugge with these nifty rear fenders from Sencillo Bikes - James Huang/Future Publishing
A fleet of Scott Foils sit atop the Orica-GreenEdge team car before the start of Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
While it looks nice to have rider names on the bikes up on the top tube, this location is much more useful for the mechanics when it comes time to haul one off of the team car - James Huang/Future Publishing
Orica-GreenEdge bikes were dressed up with orange sidewalls courtesy of Continental - James Huang/Future Publishing
Garmin-Sharp used a mix of Cervélo bikes, including the aero S3 and the lighter R3 - James Huang/Future Publishing
Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Sharp) set off from Brugge aboard a silver Cervélo R3. Sadly, he wasn't able to finish after slamming into a traffic island at full speed (and seriously injuring a spectator in the process) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Traditional-bend bars and a -17° stem slammed atop the headset cover for Garmin-Sharp rider Johan Vansummeren - James Huang/Future Publishing
Few bikes are built with such huge size differences between the chain stays and seat stays as the Cervélo R3, as ridden here by Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Sharp). And yes, the team really is finally using Garmin power meter pedals after a long, long delay - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) started Ronde van Vlaanderen on Scott's recently revamped Addict - James Huang/Future Publishing
25mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars on DT Swiss carbon wheels for Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Traditional-bend aluminum bars for Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Netapp-Endura raced this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen on Fuji's Altamira SL - James Huang/Future Publishing
FDJ riders were on a new Lapierre Xelius model. We'll have more information shortly - James Huang/Future Publishing
MTN-Qhubeka rode Trek Madone 7-Series frames but with Madone 4-Series forks since team sponsor SRAM doesn't make a direct-mount brake caliper - James Huang/Future Publishing
Cofidis riders were on Look 675 bikes for this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Still floating on cloud nine after watching this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen? Want to see more of the bikes your favorite racers used? Well then you'd better get comfy because we've got a massive gallery to share with you, including the race bikes of Tom Boonen, Alexander Kristoff, John Degenkolb, Sylvain Chavanel and more.
