Milram's Dominik Roels is in his third year with the German squad and his second aboard a Focus Izalco. At over 6ft and weighing 75kg, he has a powerful build and is hard on his equipment, requiring rigidity and durability.
The 2010 Focus Izalco offers this, and features various developments since last year's model, which Jan, from Focus Bikes' headquarters in Cloppenburg, Germany talked us through at last month's Tour Down Under.
Most obvious is the new down tube profile – it becomes asymmetrical as it approaches the bottom bracket shell and flares towards the cranks to provide a platform better equipped to handle the loads associated with power transfer in this area.
Further stiffness is added by alloy inserts moulded inside the carbon tubing, which serve two purposes: providing smoother, rub-free guides for the internal cable routing plus the aforementioned rigidity in a key section of the frame – the junction of the top, head and down tubes.
This latest version of the Izalco also switches from standard threaded bottom bracket cups to the oversized BB30 standard, thus shedding weight and adding heel clearance while also marginally improving drivetrain stiffness. A quick survey of other bikes in the Tour Down Under peloton showed that the standard is continuing to gain hold among other teams and manufacturers as well.
Milram continue with their componentary sponsorship from the likes of SRAM, FSA, Lightweight and Speedplay. Roels opts for an alloy bar and stem thanks to his track background; the need for strength and reliability outweighing the need for low mass.
Lightweight Obermayer wheels feature on the Team Milram bikes; while the frame gives up a little in the weight stakes, the renowned German hoops contribute to a low reading on the scales of 6.96kg, perilously close to the International Cycling Union (UCI) weight limit.
One last key piece of equipment is Roels' new Garmin Edge 500 computer. The 500 foregoes the on-board mapping display of its Edge 305 and 705 predecessors in favour of a smaller and lighter package with an updated and easier-to-use interface.
Should Roels opt to train with a power meter, ANT wireless connectivity on the Edge 500 will display his wattage, too, and all of the information can be downloaded later by team managers for evaluation.
Bike:
- Frame: Focus Izalco Team
- Fork: 3T Funda Pro
- Headset: FSA Integrated
- Stem: FSA OS99 (130mm) 6°
- Handlebars: FSA Wing Pro (420mm)
- Tapes/grip: FSA
- Front brake: SRAM Red
- Rear brake: SRAM Red
- Brake levers: SRAM Red
- Front derailleur: SRAM Red
- Rear derailleur: SRAM Red
- Shift levers: SRAM Red Double Tap
- Cassette: SRAM PG-1090
- Chain: SRAM Red
- Crankset: SRAM Red (53/39, 175mm)
- Bottom bracket: SRAM Red BB30
- Pedals: Speedplay Zero stainless
- Wheels: Lightweight Obermayer
- Rims: Lightweight Obermayer
- Front hub: Lightweight Obermayer
- Rear hub: Lightweight Obermayer
- Spokes: Lightweight Carbon 20 F, 20 R
- Front tyre: Continental Competition Pro-Limited Allround tubular, 22mm
- Rear tyre: Continental Competition Pro-Limited Allround tubular, 22mm
- Saddle: Fizik Arione CX
- Seatpost: FSA K-Force Light SB.25
- Bottle cages: Tacx Tao carbon
- Computer: Garmin Edge 500
- Other: Gore Ride-On derailleur cables and housing
Critical measurements:
- Rider's height: 1.85m (6ft1in)
- Rider's weight: 75kg
- Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 790mm
- Seat tube length, c-t: 560mm
- Seat tube length, c-c: 510mm
- Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 600mm
- Saddle-to-bar drop: 275mm
- Head tube length: 150mm
- Top tube length: 540mm (effective)
- Total bicycle weight: 6.96kg