2012 Olympic road champion Marianne Vos and her gold-accented Giant(Image credit: Giant/Cor Vos)
Marianne Vos's Giant TCR Advanced SL features gold accents in honour of her recent victory in the Olympic Games road race.(Image credit: Giant/Cor Vos)
Holland's Marianne Vos is arguably the world's most successful multi-discipline racer active today. Having won world titles on the road, on the track and in cyclo-cross, not to mention her victories in prestigious road events like the Giro d'Italia Femminile, Vos added another impressive line to her palmarès in London with a win in the Olympic road race.
Vos won the Olympic race in the rain aboard a Giant TCR Advanced SL. Olympic cycling competition rules dictate that branding be kept to a minimum - one logo per side of each wheel, one company name on each side of the bicycle - but after the Olympics, of course, those rules are off. Rabobank, the trade team for which Vos rides the rest of the year, quickly capitalized on their rider's success and bling'ed up her bike with gold graphic on the frame and wheels.
Vos's Olympic bike features a fairly straightforward, if expensive, set-up. Electronic Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 shifters are mounted on a carbon Pro Vibe handlebar (40cm), and Shimano C35 tubulars are wrapped with 23mm Continental Competition tires.
Vos uses Rotor Q-rings, however, with a 52/39 ring configuration.
Giant's TCR Advanced SL frame is built using carbon fiber made in Giant's own carbon facility. The top tube and seat tube are woven together, then remolded under heat and high pressure. The frame also gets a carbon nanotube polymer added into the resin, which Giant says greatly improves impact resistance.
The OverDrive 2 fork features a tapered steerer tube that runs from a 1.25-inch top bearing to a 1.5-inch lower bearing.
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Her bike shown here is the TCR Advanced SL she raced in London, after Rabobank gave it the golden once-over.
Complete bike specification
Frame: Giant TCR Advanced SL, size Team S Fork: Giant Advanced SL with OverDrive 2 steerer Stem: Pro Vibe aluminum, 110mm Handlebar: Pro Vibe carbon, compact bend, 40cm Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 11-25 Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900, 172.5, 53/39T Chain rings: Rotor road Q-Rings, 52/39t Bottom bracket: Shimano press fit Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 Wheelset: Shimano Dura-Ace C 35 tubular Front tire: Continental Competition 23mm tubular Rear tire: Continental Competition 23mm tubular Saddle: Pro Turnix Ti Bottle cages: Tacx carbo (2) Computer: Pro SX-4W
