This article first appeared on Cyclingnews.
An entire generation of professional cyclists have now grown up, raced on, and perhaps even retired using exclusively carbon road bikes. However, US Pro Continental outfit Hagens Berman Axeon is demonstrating that you don't need the latest and greatest carbon bike to be successful in 2018 by riding Specialized's Allez Sprint Comp frameset to victories in Europe and the US already this season.
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Initially the Trek-Livestrong development team in 2009, Hagens Berman Axeon has evolved to be one of the top developmental squads in the sport with alumni that include Taylor Phinney, Ben King, Sam Bewley, Alex Dowsett, Ian Boswell, Jasper Stuyven, Tao Geoghegan-Hart, Logan Owen, Neilson Powless, Chris Lawless, and Jhonatan Narvarez, all of whom now race at the WorldTour level.
Headed up by former professional Axel Merckx since the team's inception and now in its tenth year, the team has shown a longevity that perhaps puts bigger and wealthier WorldTour teams to shame, and a continued success in its objective to consistently develop WorldTour riders.
Previously racing on bikes from Trek and Cipollini, the team is on Specialized framesets for the third consecutive season this year. While the Hagens Berman Axeon squad has previously raced on S-Works Tarmac full carbon framesets, it's switched to the aluminium Allez Sprint Comp this year in a move to make the sport appear more accessible for younger, aspiring racers.
Hagens Berman Axeon pairs the framesets with a full SRAM Red eTap groupsets and Zipp provides the 454 NSW wheels and cockpit components, with Specialized also suppling the team with tubular tyres and saddles.
Click or swipe through the above gallery of 22-year-old American Sean Bennett's Allez Sprint Comp from the Tour of the Gila.
Full specification
- Frame: Specialized Allez Sprint Comp E5 DSW
- Fork: S-Works FACT full carbon, size specific taper
- Front brake: SRAM Red
- Rear brake: SRAM Red
- Brake/shift levers: SRAM Red eTap
- Front derailleur: SRAM Red eTap
- Rear derailleur: SRAM Red eTap
- Cassette/chain: SRAM
- Crankset: SRAM Red with Quarq power meter, 53/39 chainrings
- Wheelset: Zipp 454 NSW
- Tyres: S-Works Turbo, 26mm tubular
- Handlebars: Zipp Service Course SL
- Stem: Zipp SL Speed
- Pedals: Speedplay
- Saddle: S-Works Power
- Seatpost: Specialized Venge Aero seatpost
- Computer: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt