Pro bike: Mark Cavendish's Specialized Venge (video)

Pro bike: Mark Cavendish's Specialized Venge (video)

Will the Venge carry Cav to the yellow jersey on Saturday?

Mark Cavendish unveiled his special edition Specialized Venge after taking the 100th win of his career at the Giro d’Italia stage 12 in Treviso in May

Sam Dansie/Future Publishing

Sam Dansie

Published: June 27, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Mark Cavendish unveiled his special edition Specialized Venge after taking the 100th win of his career at the Giro d’Italia stage 12 in Treviso in May - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Zipp 404 Firecrests continue the custom Tour de France green jersey coloured decals - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Cavendish is running SRAM’s RED groupset with ceramic bearings - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
A 53T 10-speed SRAM chainring is used on the front - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
170mm Specialized S-Works cranks have been fitted - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Bottle cages on Cavendish’s Venge are the of Tacx Uma Carbon variety - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The Omega Pharma-QuickStep sticker marks seatpost height - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The 2011 world champion’s name is embossed on the Specialized S-Works Toupe saddle - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
29 March, 2008 – the date Cavendish became Madison World Champion with Bradley Wiggins. It’s one of the key milestones in Cavendish’s career that’s commemorated in the frame - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
CVNDSH - the brand Cavendish unveiled earlier this week - on the Venge fork - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Specialized have been hard at work on new tyres, and these models have a 24mm width that complement the aerodynamic properties of the Zipp 404 wheels - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
A chunky Zipp SL145 stem clamps to a shallow Zipp Service Course SL bar - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Cavendish uses a Quarq for SRAM power meter system - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Plush S-Wrap Roubaix bar tape provides vibe damping – which might come in handy on some of the sketchy Corsican roads - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Power transfer won’t get much smoother – or neater - than with the CeramicSpeed BB - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Two days out from the start of the Tour de France and the number is still absent - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
A bird’s eye view of Cavendish’s cockpit - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Look Keo 2 pedals finish off the bike - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing

Mark Cavendish is a hot favourite to win the opening stage of the 2013 Tour de France on Saturday. If all goes to plan, the 28-year-old will swap his new British National Champion’s jersey for the maillot jaune in Bastia, Corsica. However, while his jersey colour might change to yellow, the green-accented Specialized Venge beneath the Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider likely won’t.

The metallic frame is a nod to his green jersey victory in the 2011 Tour, and has since become a defining colour in his new brand, CVNDSH, unveiled in the aftermath of his 100th career victory at the Giro d’Italia in May.

Cavendish has a long association with Specialized (and the Venge in particular), going back to his days at HTC when he first debuted the aero frameset at Milan-San Remo 2011. According to Chris Riekert, of Specialized’s global marketing department, Cavendish says it’s the fastest bike in the world.

Watch our video on the Venge below, and check out our image gallery of the Manx Missile’s green machine.

Chris riekert on mark cavendish's specialized venge

Video: Chris Riekert on the Specialized Venge

Complete bike specifications

  • Fork: Specialized S-Works SL4
  • Headset: Specialized S-Works
  • Stem: Zipp 145 SL (120mm c-t-c )
  • Handlebar: Zipp Service Course SL (44cm outside to outside)
  • Tape: Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix
  • Front brake: SRAM Red
  • Rear brake: SRAM Red
  • Front derailleur: SRAM Red Yaw
  • Rear derailleur: SRAM Red
  • Levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap
  • Cassette: SRAM Red XG1090 (11-26T)
  • Chain: SRAM Red PC 1091
  • Cranks: Specialized S-Works (170mm)
  • Power meter: Quarq for SRAM
  • Bottom bracket: CeramicSpeed
  • Pedals: Look Keo 2
  • Wheels: Zipp 808 Firecrest
  • Front tire: Specialized ProTour Turbo All Around tubular
  • Rear tire: Specialized ProTour Turbo All Around tubular
  • Saddle: Specialized S-Works Toupe (143mm)
  • Seatpost: Specialized Venge carbon

Critical measurements:

  • Rider height: 1.75m (5ft 8in)
  • Rider weight: 69kg (165lb)
  • Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 691mm
  • Seat tube length, c-c: 487mm
  • Tip of saddle nose to c of bar: 533mm
  • Top tube length (virtual): 537mm
  • Complete bicycle weight: 6.89kg (15.2lb)
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