Cancellara, Van Avermaet and Vanmarcke bike gallery
Cancellara, Van Avermaet and Vanmarcke bike gallery
The bikes that landed on the Ronde van Vlaanderen podium
Fabian Cancellara's (Trek Factory Racing) Trek Domane Classics just before the start of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, resplendent in his typical custom paint
Fabian Cancellara's (Trek Factory Racing) Trek Domane Classics just before the start of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, resplendent in his typical custom paint - James Huang/Future Publishing
You get exactly one guess what Fabian Cancellara's (Trek Factory Racing) nickname is - James Huang/Future Publishing
While most of the peloton resorted to rough, handwritten course notes, Trek Factory Racing provided its riders with these tidy pre-made decals - James Huang/Future Publishing
Lucky charms for Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing). One might argue that the big Swiss rider makes his own luck but there's always an element of chance during Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
An anodized aluminum SRM PowerControl 7 computer for Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) has long been a proponent of Berner's oversized derailleur pulleys, which have been proven to produce less drivetrain friction than standard setups. Note the non-replaceable derailleur hanger, too - James Huang/Future Publishing
Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) races old-school with no power meter to override his gut - James Huang/Future Publishing
25mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix handmade cotton tubulars and 50mm-deep Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 Classics wheels for Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) at Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet's (BMC) BMC SLR01 just prior to the start of this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
While most of the BMC team set off aboard BMC GF01s, team leader Greg Van Avermaet instead stuck to the racier SLR01 - James Huang/Future Publishing
Double-wrapped traditional-bend 3T bars for BMC rider Greg Van Avermaet - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet's (BMC) electrified drivetrain includes a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 group and SRM's latest power meter - James Huang/Future Publishing
25mm-wide Continental Competition Pro Limited PTX tubulars for BMC team leader Greg Van Avermaet - James Huang/Future Publishing
The rear end of Greg Van Avermaet's (BMC) BMC SLR01 doesn't include as many visual comfort features but it's actually a very cushy ride - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sep Vanmarcke's (Belkin) Bianchi Infinito CV for Ronde van Vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
The dramatically hourglass-profiled tapered head tube on Belkin's Bianchi Infinito CV frame - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) is using Pioneer's revamped power meter and an externally mounted Shimano Di2 battery - James Huang/Future Publishing
Sep Vanmarcke took full advantage of Shimano's Di2 shifter options with climbing buttons up top and a set of sprint shifters down on the drops - James Huang/Future Publishing
An extra zip tie keeps the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 safely tucked away on Sep Vanmarcke's Belkin Bianchi Infinito CV - James Huang/Future Publishing
25mm-wide Vittoria Corsa SC tubulars for Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) - James Huang/Future Publishing
Many riders like Belkin's Sep Vanmarcke opted for aluminum bars. They may be heavier and ride more harshly than carbon options but they're also more likely to survive a crash - and crashing was highly likely today - James Huang/Future Publishing
Pioneer's new power meter measures the output on each individual side - James Huang/Future Publishing
A simple chain catcher for Sep Vanmarcke's Belkin Bianchi Infinito CV - James Huang/Future Publishing
Magnets for Belkin's Pioneer power meters are neatly affixed to the chainstays - James Huang/Future Publishing
Bianchi claims its Countervail technology - as found on Sep Vanmarcke's (Belkin) Infinito CV frame - is exceptionally good at attenuating vibration - James Huang/Future Publishing
This year's Ronde van Vlaanderen finish was one of the most thrilling in recent memory, culminating in a four-up sprint between eventual winner Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) and Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma-QuickStep). Here, we present the machines of the three podium finishers: Cancellara, Avermaet and Vanmarcke. After reading the report below, make sure to check out the full image gallery at right, and visit Cyclingnews for complete information and features on the race.
Fabian Cancellara's Trek Domane Classics
The bike that Cancellera won on should be a familiar sight at this point as it's virtually the same machine he used during last year's Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. Once again, Cancellara rode across the finish line on a Trek Domane Classics – a special version of the standard Domane endurance bike built with the same bump-eating IsoSpeed 'decoupler' but with a much more aggressive long-and-low geometry that the team prefers.
Lucky charms for fabian cancellara (trek factory racing). one might argue that the big swiss rider makes his own luck but there's always an element of chance during ronde van vlaanderen: - James Huang/Future Publishing
Cancellara's bike is festooned with several lucky charms
Cancellara's bike further differs from standard consumer bikes in that it features a non-replaceable rear derailleur hanger and the Swiss rider's trademark 'Spartacus' custom paint scheme (although a replica of the latter is offered through Trek's Project One program).
Fabian cancellara (trek factory racing) has long been a proponent of berner's oversized derailleur pulleys, which have been proven to produce less drivetrain friction than standard setups. note the non-replaceable derailleur hanger, too: - James Huang/Future Publishing
The rear derailleur is augmented with a Berner carbon fiber cage and friction-reducing ultra-oversized pulleys
Even the build kit is little changed from years past, including a mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace group (with no power meter), Shimano Dura-Ace carbon pedals, friction-reducing Berner oversized rear derailleur pulleys, Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 Classics carbon tubular wheels with FMB tires, a Bontrager carbon stem, Bontrager anatomic-bend aluminum bars, and Bontrager's traditionally shaped Team Issue saddle.
Fabian cancellara (trek factory racing) races old-school with no power meter to override his gut: - James Huang/Future Publishing
Cancellara races on feel, not numbers
We weren't able to weigh Cancellara's bike before the race, but based on prior meetings, 7.50kg (16.53lb) is a safe bet.
Fabian cancellara's (trek factory racing) trek domane classics just before the start of ronde van vlaanderen, resplendent in his typical custom paint: - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet's BMC TeamMachine SLR01
While the rest of his team departed from Brugge aboard BMC's more classics-focused GranFondo GF01 model, second-place finisher Van Avermaet instead stuck to his standard SLR01, which BMC just redesigned for this season. Carrying over from the previous edition are the distinctive frame lines and surprisingly smooth ride but now with claimed weights under 800g and even better stiffness.
Greg van avermaet's (bmc) bmc slr01 just prior to the start of this year's ronde van vlaanderen: greg van avermaet's (bmc) bmc slr01 just prior to the start of this year's ronde van vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Greg Van Avermaet used his usual BMC SLR01 while most of the rest of the team went with the more endurance-focused GF01
As compared to Cancellara's Domane, Van Avermaet's SLR01 is decidedly more electrified with its Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 group and SRM power meter. Van Avermaet also went with an aluminum 3T ARX Team stem, a traditional-bend bar, and a pan-flat fi'zi:k Antares saddle. Rounding things out are a set of 50mm-deep Shimano Dura-Ace carbon tubular wheels, 25mm-wide Continental tires, Elite Sior Mio cages and Shimano Dura-Ace carbon pedals.
Double-wrapped traditional-bend 3t bars for bmc rider greg van avermaet: double-wrapped traditional-bend 3t bars for bmc rider greg van avermaet - James Huang/Future Publishing
Double-wrapped traditional-bend bars and a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 electronic group for Van Avermaet
Sep Vanmarcke's Bianchi Infinito CV
Fellow Belgian Vanmarcke started the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen on Bianchi's new Infinito CV. Bianchi builds this endurance-focused frame with layers of viscoelastic tucked in between typical carbon plies at key areas. Dubbed 'Countervail', Bianchi claims this technique is much better at squelching vibrations than carbon-only construction. Other companies have tried their hand at infusing alternative materials into carbon frames with similar aims and at least in this case, it seems to work.
Sep vanmarcke's (belkin) bianchi infinito cv for ronde van vlaanderen: sep vanmarcke's (belkin) bianchi infinito cv for ronde van vlaanderen - James Huang/Future Publishing
Bianchi's new Infinito CV is built with layers of viscoelastic materials that supposedly attenuate road vibration better than carbon-only structures
Vanmarcke's build kit is similar to that of Van Avermaet's BMC with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 electronic group, the same 50mm-deep carbon tubular wheels, and a traditional-bend bar (from FSA in this case, not 3T). The Belkin team uses the new Pioneer power meter, however, and those wheels are wrapped with 25mm-wide Vittoria Corsa SC tires.
Sep vanmarcke (belkin) is using pioneer's revamped power meter and an externally mounted shimano di2 battery : sep vanmarcke (belkin) is using pioneer's revamped power meter and an externally mounted shimano di2 battery - James Huang/Future Publishing
