Sylvain Chavanel of IAM Cycling has a custom-painted Scott Addict for this year's Tour de France - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Scott and Chavanel worked on the design, which was painted in Switzerland by André Marty - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
IAM mechanics sealed up the port for cabled shifting as the Di2 wire is tucked in above - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Prologo Scratch 2 has a unique CPC gripper treatment - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
CPC is Prologo's term for these tiny silicone cylinders, which Prologo claims adds a degree of vibration absorption in addition to grip - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Although he could have any of Ritchey's carbon bars, Chavanel prefers alloy - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Even before the Tour de France began, Chava's orange bike had already taken a beating - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Despite the bike industry's push towards integration and internal routing, zip ties are still in wide use for sensors - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Scott uses the full width of the bottom-bracket shell for the down tube - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Chavanel has ceramic-bearing pulleys on an otherwise stock Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Chava and most Tour riders are using one width tubular for all stages except stage 5, where larger casings of at least 25mm were called into action - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Swiss wheels for a Swiss team. More specifically, IAM uses DT Swiss RC55T tubular wheels - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Despite technological advances in bikes and mechanics' tools, some old-fashioned electrical tape still does the job for marking seat height - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Scott produced this bike back in May for Chavanel - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
DT uses straight-pull spokes on the RC55T, which weigh 1,440g for the set - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
While more fastidious mechanics might prefer to see the frame's narrow Di2 port stopped up, the sealed Di2 wire itself isn't affected by water - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
The DT Swiss RC38T have DT's unique twist-on quick releases. Instead of pivoting open and closed, the lever turns like door handle - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
One of Chavanel's stock team bikes, a Foil, has an SRM power meter, while his custom Addict does not - Ben Delaney / Future Publishing
Popular French rider Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) got a freshly painted one-off bike back in May that he's brought to the Tour de France. Painted in Switzerland by André Marty, the bike's design was created by Scott staffers with input from Chavanel.
The Scott Addict is otherwise a stock bike, identical in geometry to his standard team bikes. But while at least one of his regular bikes uses an SRM, he forgoes the power meter here, freeing up some weight to run deeper aero wheels and still stay close to the 6.8kg / 15lb UCI minimum weight limit. We weighed this machine at 6.89kg / 15.19lb.
Sylvain chavanel's scott addict
Video: Sylvain Chavanel's Scott Addict
Although the Tour de France is cycling's biggest stage — upon which teams and companies eagerly put their best foot forward — it isn't immune to the realities of bike racing. Before the Tour even started, Chava's orange bike bore testament to at least one crash, with paint nicked on the fork and frame.
Chavanel's Scott Addict also has alloy handlebars, which many pro teams use because they aren't as likely to be broken in a crash, so riders can (hopefully) hop back up and keep going should they touch down.
At the Tour, IAM Cycling riders can choose between the lightweight Addict and the more aero Foil. Chava has both bikes on hand. But only one bike in the world has this paint job.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look.
Complete bike specifications
Frameset: SCOTT Addict HMX-NET
Fork: SCOTT Addict HMX-NET, 1 1/8-to-1 1/4in tapered
Stem: Ritchey WCS alloy, 120mm
Handlebars: Ritchey WCS NeoClassic alloy, 42cm
Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000
Shift/brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000, 11-25t
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000, 172.5mm
Power meter: SRM on stock team bike; none on this bike
Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
