Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) switched from the BMC SLR01 he used at Ronde van Vlaanderen to the more cobbles-focused GF01 model for Paris-Roubaix - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) was hoping to move one step up the podium at Paris-Roubaix from his finish at Ronde van Vlaanderen but an ill-timed crash took him out of contention - James Huang/Future Publishing
The uniquely shaped rear end on Greg Van Avermaet's (BMC) BMC GF01 provides some give on hard impacts but is still remarkably efficient in terms of power transfer - James Huang/Future Publishing
BMC claims the GF01 fork's abrupt changes in blade depth and the kink near the tips allow for more flex on bumps than a more conventional design - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) uses a 130mm-long 3T ARX II Team stem, a 3T Rotundo Team carbon bar, two layers of fi'zi:k tape, an SRM PowerControl 7 computer, and both the sprinting and climbing satellite shifters on his Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9000 setup. While certain elements of the BMC GF01 suggest softness, there's nothing fluffy about the enormous down tube or the huge tapered head tube - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) runs a very traditional setup up front with classic-bend bars that are barely turned upwards and lever blade tips inline with the lower edge of the drops - James Huang/Future Publishing
The 172.5mm-long SRM/Dura-Ace crankarms are fitted with 53/46T chainrings for Paris-Roubaix's flat parcours - James Huang/Future Publishing
The exit point for the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 wire is so close to the rear derailleur that there's no need for an additional zip tie to secure it in place. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) ran a relatively tight 11-25T cassette on Sunday and put the power down through a set of carbon-bodied Dura-Ace pedals - James Huang/Future Publishing
The handmade 27mm-wide tubular tires BMC used at Paris-Roubaix clearly aren't made by team sponsor Continental - James Huang/Future Publishing
Given the tread design and 'made in Thailand' lettering, we're guessing these are Challenge Paris-Roubaix treads but it's unclear if Challenge supplied the cotton casings, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
The 130mm-long 3T ARX II Team stem is slammed atop the headset cover - James Huang/Future Publishing
BMC team mechanic Ian Sherburne tells us that the Elite Sior Mio cages actually hold bottles quite well over the pavé - James Huang/Future Publishing
BMC makes several different post lengths for the GF01's integrated chain catcher but apparently Paris-Roubaix-specific 53/46T setups still fall a little too far outside the norm. This one looks a little low - James Huang/Future Publishing
Nosed ferrules preserve the coating on Shimano's new Dura-Ace brake cables - James Huang/Future Publishing
The bulbous down tube makes use of nearly the entire 86mm-wide press-fit bottom bracket shell. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) used 53/46T chainrings for Paris-Roubaix - James Huang/Future Publishing
The chain stays on the BMC GF01 are huge - James Huang/Future Publishing
Small pieces of grip tape add a little extra security to the bottle cages - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tidy wire routing on Shimano's latest Dura-Ace Di2 front derailleur - James Huang/Future Publishing
More flex comes from the generous amount of 27.2mm-diameter seatpost sticking out of the frame. Aluminum number plate holders are secured to the back of the seatpost with industrial-strength double-sided foam tape - James Huang/Future Publishing
BMC claims that this pronounced kink acts as a sort of pivot when the rear end hits a bump - James Huang/Future Publishing
BMC supplies the team with special headset top caps that are little more forgiving of varying steerer tube lengths than usual - James Huang/Future Publishing
The addition of sports director Allan Pieper to BMC has given the team newfound focus this season. The more finely honed single-leader strategy during races has already paid dividends in the early season but according to team mechanic Ian Sherburne, the sharp Aussie has also instilled a more methodical approach to equipment testing, as evidenced on the bike of Greg Van Avermaet.
Pieper clued BikeRadar in on two pieces of equipment insight gleaned during off-season testing. For one, Shimano's 50mm-deep Dura-Ace carbon wheels actually absorb more road imperfections than its 35mm option – and in most wind conditions, they're appreciably faster, too. Secondly, while average endurance-type riders might prize the softer ride that the stock BMC CompliancePost carbon seatpost provides, the unforgivingly harsh Paris-Roubaix cobbles prompted the team to instead add 50g of material to better deal with the big hits.
More flex comes from the generous amount of 27.2mm-diameter seatpost sticking out of the frame. aluminum number plate holders are secured to the back of the seatpost with industrial-strength double-sided foam tape: more flex comes from the generous amount of 27.2mm-diameter seatpost sticking out of the frame. aluminum number plate holders are secured to the back of the seatpost with industrial-strength double-sided foam tape - James Huang/Future Publishing
Speaking of which, Van Avermaet's BMC GranFondo GF01 frameset also mimics that more performance-driven ride characteristic. Unlike many bikes of its ilk, the GF01 doesn't deliver the creamy ride that some might expect – and in fact, its massive lower half can sometimes feel surprisingly stout. That said, its flex pattern is tuned more for faster and more intense bumps in the road – just as would have been the case last Sunday.
The uniquely shaped rear end on greg van avermaet's (bmc) bmc gf01 provides some give on hard impacts but is still remarkably efficient in terms of power transfer: the uniquely shaped rear end on greg van avermaet's (bmc) bmc gf01 provides some give on hard impacts but is still remarkably efficient in terms of power transfer - James Huang/Future Publishing
Pieper says that the GF01's modified geometry relative to the team's standard SLR01 model also makes it a smarter choice for Paris-Roubaix. The longer wheelbase and slightly relaxed front end makes for a more stable platform that can better handle the bumps. According to Pieper, it's also more forgiving toward the end of the race when the totally shelled riders might find a typical race bike a little too twitchy.
Greg van avermaet (bmc) uses a 130mm-long 3t arx ii team stem, a 3t rotundo team carbon bar, two layers of fi'zi:k tape, an srm powercontrol 7 computer, and both the sprinting and climbing satellite shifters on his shimano dura-ace di2 9000 setup. while certain elements of the bmc gf01 suggest softness, there's nothing fluffy about the enormous down tube or the huge tapered head tube: greg van avermaet (bmc) uses a 130mm-long 3t arx ii team stem, a 3t rotundo team carbon bar, two layers of fi'zi:k tape, an srm powercontrol 7 computer, and both the sprinting and climbing satellite shifters on his shimano dura-ace di2 9000 setup. while certain elements of the bmc gf01 suggest softness, there's nothing fluffy about the enormous down tube or the huge tapered head tube - James Huang/Future Publishing
More importantly, there's room in the GF01 for the huge 27mm-wide handmade cotton tubular tires used by Van Avermaet and his teammates, with fine file treads that wrap nearly all the way down the sidewalls. While BMC is sponsored by Continental, the ones used at Paris-Roubaix clearly didn't come out of Germany. We can't identify for certain the manufacturer – and of course, the team wouldn't talk about it – but given the tread pattern and the 'Made in Thailand' lettering molded into the rubber, Challenge seems like a reasonably safe bet.
The handmade 27mm-wide tubular tires bmc used at paris-roubaix clearly aren't made by team sponsor continental: the handmade 27mm-wide tubular tires bmc used at paris-roubaix clearly aren't made by team sponsor continental - James Huang/Future Publishing
The rest of Van Avermaet's setup closely followed that of many other top Paris-Roubaix contenders, including the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 electronic group with a full complement of satellite shifter buttons and big gears tailor-made for the flat course. Other component highlights include an SRM power meter, a 3T forged aluminum stem and single-wrapped traditional-bend carbon bar, a fi'zi:k Antares with carbon rails, Elite Sior Mio cages, and Dura-Ace carbon-bodied SPD-SL pedals.
The exit point for the shimano dura-ace di2 wire is so close to the rear derailleur that there's no need for an additional zip tie to secure it in place. greg van avermaet (bmc) ran a relatively tight 11-25t cassette on sunday and put the power down through a set of carbon-bodied dura-ace pedals: the exit point for the shimano dura-ace di2 wire is so close to the rear derailleur that there's no need for an additional zip tie to secure it in place. greg van avermaet (bmc) ran a relatively tight 11-25t cassette on sunday and put the power down through a set of carbon-bodied dura-ace pedals - James Huang/Future Publishing
Total weight with the SRM PowerControl 7 computer head (but no water bottles) is 7.54kg (16.62lb).
Greg van avermaet (bmc) switched from the bmc slr01 he used at ronde van vlaanderen to the more cobbles-focused gf01 model for paris-roubaix: greg van avermaet (bmc) switched from the bmc slr01 he used at ronde van vlaanderen to the more cobbles-focused gf01 model for paris-roubaix - James Huang/Future Publishing
Complete bike specifications
Frame: BMC GranFondo GF01, 54cm
Fork: BMC ComplianceFork
Headset: Integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in tapered
Stem: 3T ARX II Team, 130mm x -6°
Handlebar: 3T Rotundo Team, 44cm (c-c)
Tape: fi'zi:k, double wrapped
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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