Paris Roubaix, Cancellara and Sportives

I haven't been to see Roubaix live in ages, yet much of that day from when I last saw it is still clear in my mind. I can remember what I had for breakfast, how cold it was standing by the Roadside and how fast the riders are over the cobbles. I'd made the decision after Flanders this year that I wouldn't be back to watch it in 2011. I've managed it for the last three years, and to be honest it will be strange not watching the Ronde in Flanders. But I knew I had to visit the Queen again, she was calling loud and clear and both races are Super Special.

With the rumours that have been flying around and the now recent announcement that ASO would be holding a Sportive version for amateurs the day before. Unlike Flanders where having 17,000 people trample over the bergs before the Pro's is likely to do little damage, but may actually help clear the course, the same can't be said for Roubaix. I wonder if it may make the Stones worse. Details are sketchy at best, so we really don't know how much it'll cost or how many people will be able to enter. We do know that it will be 135km in length and the date is the 9th of April.

So I'd like to take part, and I'm sure I won't be alone in thinking that it'll be a great day, but I expect it to be tough. Unlike the June version run off every two years, the one the ASO are proposing will get the full Pro effect being the day before. I love Pave, and the more I ride it the better I get. So if I get in this will represent my first goal this year, and the training will have to start, or I'll never get fit in time. I've just watched these excellent videos from Michael at the www.theroaddiaries.com and it makes me want to have a go at it even more. I am sure it'll be a big challenge, and if the weather is shit a big ask. But it really appeals and I'm hoping to gather a little Team of people so we can ride can tackle the pave together. If I can't get in, I'll be hitting Belgium instead.

The race winning bike, although I'm unlikely to use a Specialized but I love the idea of using Sram, Zipp and FMB tubs. Not afraid of carbon on the cobbles as I won't be hitting then at 50 kmph+.

I'll be happy to finish, much in the same way I was chuffed to finish my first Flanders. Goals and going for a good time can happen on the second edition!

 

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TdF the Prologue - Cervelo PR

Thor Hushovd (NOR): “I didn’t want to take too many risks. The most important thing is to be ready tomorrow for the stage and try to take the green jersey. There are no time bonuses anymore, so it’s hard for the sprinters to try to take the yellow jersey with time bonuses.” Carlos Sastre (ESP): “For me it was nice to start the Tour de France after these hard four weeks with the back problems that I had. I could not do intensive training like I normally do so I didn’t know how I would be today. I am happy because I did not have pain in my back. That’s the most important thing. There are 20 days of racing ahead of us, so anything can happen.” Jeremy Hunt (GBR): “It was special today to be on the start ramp. I am a classics rider, so I have never been to the Tour de France before. It’s never too late. The Tour is one of those races that you dream about your whole life. When you’re a boy, you dream of racing the Tour, Paris-Roubaix. I am excited to be here at the Tour. They told me to take it easy in the prologue, to not risk crashing. We have a great team here at the Tour. We will help Thor to try to win the green jersey and help Carlos win the yellow jersey. My goal is to make it to Paris and hopefully see one of our guys on the podium.” Ignatus Konovalovas (LTU): “I couldn’t suffer today like I wanted to. I couldn’t go full-gas when I needed to. With the rain and the corners, it was more difficult. Yesterday, when we saw the course, we thought, ‘OK, great time trial course.’ But when we raced it in the wet conditions, it was much more difficult. Also, with the big crowds, you couldn’t see the corners. Now I will focus on helping the team. I was hoping for a top-20, but this is the Tour de France. The best riders are here. I am happy to be at the Tour. My goal is to help the team the best I can.” Andreas Klier (GER): “The stage on Sunday will be challenging. We know we can expect wind, narrow roads and maybe some rain. The part of the course that goes near to the sea is early in the stage, but we will want to be careful to keep our leaders out of harm’s way. We can expect it to be a bunch sprint, but we must be prudent and avoid crashes or splits in the peloton.”

"Great to see that the Team are looking futher ahead than just today as I have a feeling that this Tour might go the same way as the Giro and it could provide some twists and turns as I expect the jersey to change hands a few times over the next 7 days. With only 8 riders, it will be a challenge but the Team has a wealth of experience and should do ok." - Rich

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Brabanste Pijl - In photos and a few words

Sram Force is good enough for the AN Post Team. As light as Dura Ace but way cheaper it's not a cop out and it enables the Teams without Thousands of Euros budgets to compete.

Museeuw may have long retired from the racing scene, but his bikes are now used on the roads he made his name on. Flax Carbon is comfy and stiff and is ideal for the cobbles.

Cervelo, although only Pro Continental, are one of the big boys and looking at their kit they have all of the toys to play with.

I really liked the little beads hanging off the saddle rails. Not sure what the story is behind them, but I'd love to know, no matter

I am a sucker for a Ridley. I think that having owned one they ride great and have a look all of their own. The new colour scheme is to my liking and they really stand out. They are built for the tough roads of Belgium and beyond.

Milram are another Team who have some nice toys to play with. The hi-light no doubt being the Lightweight wheels, which are really something else. I am sure that when they can't use them in races it must make them a little less happy.

Last minute tinkering by a Milram Mechanic. Not sure if anything was really wrong, or if he was just doing it to calm a riders nerves. Nice tool kit though.

I apologise that the photo isn't great on the saddle and you can't see the decal properly. But Danny Pate was using a Arione Tri saddle. Same cool shape with a little more comfort thrown in, good call.

I'm not the worlds biggest carbon bottle cage fan, but these from Arundel are really nice, a bit like the ones from Zipp. The Zipp ones are a bit easier to get hold of outside the USA.

Mr Meyer in his dashing white.

A fan bags a signature, happy days.

This was just off the roadside, a think some sort of priest box. I think its really pretty.

The Pros hitting a corner hard and fast.

The Pave is what adds another element to what makes Belgium special and its races extra tough.

This was at the finish. Few finished as the course was tough, but being circuits it allowed them to get off much easier than in the middle of knowhere.

Nico is nicknamed 'Rambo' and for good reasson as I think he was made out of granite. We where told he'd had a crash a few days before. A couple of days later I found out he'd cracked a vertabrae, which is pretty impressive as he was in the escape group for over 100km.

The Pro photographers waiting at the finish.

It seems funny after seeing the Garmin boys on Mavic wheels after being on Zipp for so long. I like the Mavic wheels especially as I have a habit of wrecking alloy freehubs on more exotic brands.

This was close to Waterloo. The peloton was closing down fast on the escape group and the speed was damn fast. They split over the roundabout and I chose the right, which ended up being the wrong side as most riders when on my left. (pic left)

 

I'm in the Team car at this point. Going round in the car just went to prove how tough that circuit was. Very lumpy, which never truly comes over when you are watching on TV.(pic above right) I'd really like to ride this circuit and if I could manage five circuits like the Pros did I'd be super happy.

The AN Post team at the start. The weather was around 21c, so much nicer than two weeks previous when I was there for the Tour of Flanders.

Oh so pretty, but I hate that long winded graphic down the seatstay. Not sure why they think they need to do this. The bikes are cool and don't really need a lot of marketing to attract a bunch of customers, just better availability. Although I'd like it with Sram or Shimano better.

Even the valve extension shows its battle scars. Cole wheels are still pretty rare on any Pro bike.

The AR, it looks more like a weapon than a bike. Riders mainly chose the F series (which I love) but it must be nice to be able to ride the bike that suits you the best.

 

Steve Cozza (above) is a super nice guy and I managed to exchange a few words. I wished him the best for the day and would love to have a beer with him some day.

Some of the Garmin team where using these Prototype Vittoria tyres. Not sure what was different about them but they looked a lot like regular CX tyres. They also bore a stricking resemblance to the new Vredestein tyres. Be interesting to see what they are like when they come to the market.

 

The K-Edge chain catcher has become increasingly popular in the the peloton. It looks far nicer than the custom ones that the mechanics have been making for years. I think I'd like to get one on the next bike, if only just to look Pro. 

Cervelo Test Team

Ok, you can be cynical about these videos, but I think they are being honest with their thoughts, It's in the eyes for me. They make great bikes, and if other companies were smart they'd encourage the same involvement with all the Teams they worked with. So take these as you will, and don't forget to watch out for the MIB on Sunday, Haussler, Thor & Klier will be up there for sure. (just as a note I wrote this post a few days ago and had it scheduled to go up today. Unfortunately Haussler and Klier will not be there, such a shame for the riders and the fans)
 











and lets not forget those special tyres



and the jacket I wish I had for Sunday, or in fact any Sunday.

Boys Toys, Cervelo at Milan San Remo

Cervelo get ready for Milan San Remo
Originally uploaded by The Road Diaries

Although Cervelo Test Team had an incredibly successful 1st season, they are always looking to improve the equipment that they use.

S3 - Lightweight Aero Road frame, with a fabled comfort which has it's DNA in the R series bike. I'm loving the all black look, very stealth.

Zipp 404 Wheels - What can be said that hasn't been said before, well very little. They are great wheels and are often rebadged by other Teams when their sponsored wheels don't cut the mustard. Other change, PowerTap have come on board this year provided power measurement so a new rear hub for the Team this year.

SRAM - Red. Is it a performance advantage over Shimano, well in the weight front yes. The ergonomics of the shifters and how they work, well that's totally up to you, but I'm a big fan.

Rotor Cranks - after the first version of the cranks proved to be too flexy and seeing more than half the Team abandon them for the Spring Classics Rotor set about to make a crank light enough for Carlos and stiff enough for Thor. Reading reviews and listening to the Pros it seems like mission accomplished.

Cervelo Test Team Project California Version 1

Project California Version 1

You have to take your hats off to Cervelo, they have again upped the bar not only in the weight of a frame, but also in the stakes of price. Ouch $9600 dollars is a huge sum to pay for a frame, but I am sure there will be some takers with bikes reaching over $15k being an easy possibilty!! The great thing about what Cervelo has learnt in producing this frame is that it will filter down through the range in time, but I'd expect the price still to be pretty high.

I think I'd be a bit heavy for one, but I'm sure if it follows Vroomen/Whites philosphy it probably won't have a weight limit, which truly makes the mind boggle. Makes me think that the Team may have something super special lined up for Paris-Roubaix, it might just be the extra edge that Thor needs to lift that cobble stone after 260km.

Sportful Saxo Bank Team Kit

I have just had the new Saxo Bank kit explained to me. My impression is just Wow. Since the introduction of the Cervelo Test Team the Aero Jerseys and shorts and the rest of the investment they have made has changed the way they are percieved and what riders now what from their kit.

Seeing the new Saxo kit it the level has been raised again. The fabrics and cut have taken the advantage to a new level. The difference between a regular jersey and an aero jersey is worth about 10 watts at 40kmh. In a sport where every second counts and marginal differences make a huge difference over 8 hours or 3 weeks this is not only an advantage in myth, but in reality.

Will you want some, absolutely cycling clothing is now as technical as the bikes the riders are riding.

When does the racing start again?

Home and Away

When Cervelo Test Team turned up to the Tour de France team presentation it wasn't the first time a Team had changed it's kit prior to the start. In the last few years it has become the norm (and mainly for the American Teams) to announce new sponsors and turn up with a modified version of the kit. This is great for the Team and the sponsor as it guarantees maximum exposure. Team Once were different in that every year you would expect them to turn up in their pink version of the normal kit, which ended up being as famous (and maybe more sought after) as their regular yellow kit.



What was different with Cervelo is that the kit change came about because of the weather! Cervelo has justly deserved the badge of the best kit this year, and world wide sales would back this up. But to then make the bold move based on riders heat management is a first as far as I am aware (and possibly risky due to those sales figures).



This led to many discussions with friends and colleagues, 'Why don't cyclists have two kits, like in football a Home and Away strip'. This in essence wouldn't work but what we are really looking for is a kit for the Spring and Autumn Classics and another kit for the Grand Tours. Colours and fabrics would reflect the chosen season and no doubt the psychological benefit would be appreciated by the riders.

Columbia Highroad (as was) used this to a small effect in the Spring Classics by having a short with a black bum and groin area. Lets face it, it's no bad idea if you are racing in the Flemish Spring time when you can see four seasons in one race to at least give the riders a small piece of dignity when battling hard against the elements.



In the current climate where so many teams use the sales of merchandise to supplement the Teams budget, a second kit may be welcome. It could also allow shared title sponsors to equally have their companies colours unleashed unto the public at large. I don't buy lot's of Team kit, but I maybe more tempted if there was a colour way I liked.



Let's hope that the UCI open it up and make some things less rigid. If we are wanting to globalise our sport more we need to look at the success stories in other sports to see if they are worth adopting in ours.

Dura Ace 7800 & 7900 and Cervelo

***************

This is a post for the self confessed geeks out there. I watched some hi-lights of Stage 13 when Haussler took an amazing win. The next day Hayden Roulston was away in the break. What struck me was that Haussler was using 7900 and Roulston was on 7800. I fired some Tweets around and to be honest we couldn't agree, so I thought I'd drop the guys at Cervelo a quick mail.

Hi Geert

This is a question aimed mainly at your team mechanics.

Yesterday Heinrich was using 7900 Dura Ace shifters. Today Hayden was using 7800 shifters at least. What front deraileur are the team using and why are the bikes set up differently.

Many thanks


Rich

Ps - answer when you get a chance.


Dear Rich,

Answer on your question from Damon Rinard (Race Engineer Cervélo TestTeam):

"Like most TestTeam riders, Hayden uses Dura-Ace 7800 STI, FD (Front
Derailleur) and RD (Rear Derailleur). Heinrich prefers 7900.
Vroomen and White design engineers measured the force required to move the lever and found it higher for 7900, especially the FD, so we prefer 7800. Also the Rotor crank is the same chain ring spacing as 7800 and most 10s cranks, while 7900 has new wider spacing (approx. 1 mm)."

Best regards,

Geert



So what we can surmise from this is that because of the cranks and due to the lighter action many of the Cervelo Test Teams guys prefer the 7800 version of Dura Ace. Let's not forget that Haussler used to ride for Gerolsteiner, who were one of the developement Teams who worked with Shimano on DA 7900. It probably shouldn't work with the chainrings but having great mechanics on a team they can make things work even when shouldn't.