Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) is on a rather extreme custom Synapse Hi-Mod for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, built with the length of a 58cm frame but the height of a 51cm one
Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) is on a rather extreme custom Synapse Hi-Mod for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, built with the length of a 58cm frame but the height of a 51cm one - James Huang/Future Publishing
Cannondale's Synapse Hi-Mod chassis is generally lauded for its impressive comfort and excellent efficiency but as with most consumer bikes in that category, the front end is quite high. Peter Sagan's custom version takes care of that, however, with a head tube that's 42mm shorter than a standard 58cm frame - James Huang/Future Publishing
The SAVE stays are wildly shaped to provide some give on bumpy surfaces. Our experience suggests they actually work, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Flattened sections on the stays supposedly act as engineered flex points to provide a sort of micro-suspension - James Huang/Future Publishing
Helping matters further is the unusually small 25.4mm-diameter FSA SL-K carbon seatpost. There's a lot of post sticking out of the frame, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Another look at the wildly shaped chain stays on Peter Sagan's (Cannondale Pro Cycling) custom Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod - James Huang/Future Publishing
The internally routed rear derailleur cable exits right at the dropout. You can barely see a bit of exposed cable above the quick-release nut - James Huang/Future Publishing
Like many pro riders, Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) prefers traditional-bend handlebars. Sagan is also following the recent trend of narrower bars with these measuring 42cm center-to-center - James Huang/Future Publishing
Peter Sagan is using an SRM power meter crank based on Cannondale Hollowgram Si SL hollow aluminum crankarms - James Huang/Future Publishing
The uniquely split seat tube supposedly allows for more fore-aft flex while still retaining better drivetrain rigidity than with a single flattened tube - James Huang/Future Publishing
Cobbles wreak havoc on most lightweight bottle cages so Peter Sagan's (Cannondale Pro Cycling) Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod is fitted with tough Elite Ciussi aluminum ones instead - James Huang/Future Publishing
The tight bend on the rear brake line is ameliorated somewhat by a short segment of Nokon housing, which is especially flexible - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sagan's bike was fitted with Vision Metron 40 carbon wheels when we caught up with it on Friday before Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
SRAM Red brake calipers are equipped with carbon-specific pads. Note the carbon fiber number plate holder, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) is most definitely not riding a standard 61cm frame in any sense - James Huang/Future Publishing
The seatpost is fixed in place with an internal wedge system - James Huang/Future Publishing
According to Cannondale global road marketing manager Jonathan Geran, the team puts strips of electrical tape around the levers any time the bikes will see time atop the team car so as to keep debris and water out of the shifter internals. The tab up top makes it easy to rip the tape off when necessary - James Huang/Future Publishing
The magnet for the SRM power meter is glued directly to the bottom bracket shell - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod fork uses similar shaping to the stays, plus the legs have a more pronounced rake to provide more flex over bumps. Rearward-reaching dropouts maintain proper geometry, though - James Huang/Future Publishing
The seat tube isn't cut out like that for aerodynamics. Rather, it makes for a flexier tube and also provides gobs of clearance - James Huang/Future Publishing
So how important is Peter Sagan to Cannondale Pro Cycling? Team sponsor Cannondale hasn't just cut a custom mold for his everyday SuperSix EVO road racer; Sagan also gets a fully custom Synapse Hi-Mod for the cobbled classics, built with a particularly long-and-low geometry to suit his aggressive riding position.
Just as with his SuperSix, Sagan's Synapse Hi-Mod effectively melds two frame geometries into one: the cockpit length (or reach) is borrowed from a standard 58cm size but the frame's height (or stack) is taken from a far smaller 51cm model. This yields a front end that's a whopping 62mm lower than usual and certainly nothing like the '61cm' label stuck to the down tube.
Peter sagan (cannondale pro cycling) is most definitely not riding a standard 61cm frame in any sense: peter sagan (cannondale pro cycling) is most definitely not riding a standard 61cm frame in any sense - James Huang/Future Publishing
It says it's a size 61 but Sagan's Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod is custom geometry
Unlike some of his competitors that might opt for their sponsors' classics machines in much smaller-than-usual sizes – and thus forcing the use of radically proportioned stems – Sagan gets to use a standard 120mm length. More importantly, his position is virtually identical to his usual SuperSix EVO so there's no adjustment required for such critical races.
Luckily for Cannondale, part of the cost of that custom mold can be amortized across multiple riders. As it turns out, that's also lucky for Sagan as a late mechanical in the E3 Harelbeke forced him to swap bikes with teammate Alan Marangoni, who rides the identical frame geometry.
Peter sagan (cannondale pro cycling) is on a rather extreme custom synapse hi-mod for ronde van vlaanderen and paris-roubaix, built with the length of a 58cm frame but the height of a 51cm one: peter sagan (cannondale pro cycling) is on a rather extreme custom synapse hi-mod for ronde van vlaanderen and paris-roubaix, built with the length of a 58cm frame but the height of a 51cm one - James Huang/Future Publishing
Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) is on a rather extreme custom Synapse Hi-Mod for Ronde van Vlaanderen
If it's so much trouble, one might wonder why Sagan doesn't just ride his standard SuperSix EVO instead. Cannondale's latest Synapse Hi-Mod incorporates a number of unique features that soften the ride relative to its flagship road racing model, such as radically shaped 'SAVE PLUS' stays, more forward-swept fork blades, and a smaller 25.4mm-diameter seatpost – all of which are designed to give slightly under impact to help improve rider comfort and provide a bit more tire traction.
The save stays are wildly shaped so as to provide some give on bumpy surfaces. our experience suggests they actually work, too: the save stays are wildly shaped so as to provide some give on bumpy surfaces. our experience suggests they actually work, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Cannondale's Synapse Hi-Mod chassis is generally lauded for its impressive comfort and excellent efficiency
The Synapse Hi-Mod also incorporates extra clearance for the high-volume tires necessary to survive the brutal Belgian cobbles plus a slightly more relaxed geometry for extra stability.
The uniquely split seat tube supposedly allows for more fore-aft flex while still retaining better drivetrain rigidity than with a single flattened tube: the uniquely split seat tube supposedly allows for more fore-aft flex while still retaining better drivetrain rigidity than with a single flattened tube - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sagan's green machine is fitted with an SRM crank and SRAM Red components
Speaking of tires, Sagan's tubulars are clearly labeled with 'Kenda SC' hot stamps – but they're unlike anything Kenda currently offers and are more likely handmade tires from another brand that have been rebadged. Otherwise, the rest of the build is quite straightforward, including a SRAM Red 22 group, SRM/Cannondale power meter cranks, FSA cockpit components, a fi'zi:k Aliante saddle with k:ium rails and a plastic shell, Speedplay Zero Stainless pedals, and Vision Metron 40 carbon tubular wheels.
Sagan's bike was fitted with vision metron 40 carbon wheels when we caught up with it on friday before ronde van vlaanderen: sagan's bike was fitted with vision metron 40 carbon wheels when we caught up with it on friday before ronde van vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sagan's bike was fitted with Vision Metron 40 carbon wheels
Finishing things off are a pair of aluminum Elite Ciussi bottle cages, fi'zi:k bar tape, and an SRM PowerControl 7 computer.
Total weight as pictured is 7.45kg (16.42lb).
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod, custom "58 x 51cm" geometry
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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