Mark Cavendish is back on a Specialized S-Works Venge this season, and the aero road bike has already helped him achieve wins at the Dubai Tour, Clásica de Almeria and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 2015. Check out his ride in our exclusive video below.
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Video: Mark Cavendish's Specialized S-Works Venge
As in 2014, the Manx Missile is riding a 49cm frame, kitted with the enormous 140mm Zipp Sprint SL carbon stem.
That stem represents the last vestige of SRAM gear on the bike – the brand is no longer a sponsor of the team, meaning no SRAM, Zipp and Quarq anywhere else. In place of the Zipp wheels, Cav is using Roval CLX60 tubs from Specialized’s in-house wheel brand. Specialized Turbo tubulars offer fast, grippy rubber for sprinting.
Sponsored by FSA, Etixx-QuickStep is believed to be one of the first teams in the running to receive the company’s long-awaited electronic groupset. For now, Cavendish is using Dura-Ace Di2 levers – complete with sprint shifters on the drops – with corresponding derailleurs.
The crankset is from FSA though – it's a 53//39t K-Force Light carbon model complete with Power2Max power meter. Perhaps it’s been this mixed-brand combination that has seen Cavendish’s chances of victory scuppered by dropped chains at the sprint in Cascina during Tirreno-Adriatico and last weekend’s Milan-San Remo.
Cav uses a K-Edge out-front Garmin mount, clamped to FSA Energy New Ergo alloy bars. Specalized’s Romin saddle is also specced – Cav used a Toupe last year – while bottles are secured by Tacx Deva cages.
The bike is liveried in a classy white and metallic racing green with Cav’s vowel-less CVNDSH logo on the seat tube. We’re likely to see more of this machine steaming across finish lines in pole position as we get further into the racing season.
Complete bike specifications
- Frameset: Specialized S-Works Venge, 49cm
- Stem: Zipp SL Sprint, 140mm
- Handlebars: FSA Energy New Ergo, 42cm
- Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Shift/brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Crankset: FSA K-Force Light with Power2Max power meter
- Wheels: Roval CLX60 tubs
- Tyres: Specialized Turbo tubulars
- Saddle: Specialized Romin
- Seat post: Specialized Venge
- Bottle cage: Tacx Deva
- Other accessories: K-Edge Garmin mount and chain-catcher