When Philippe Gilbert started his warm up he threw any old thing on – it just happened to be his World Champion’s road jersey. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Belgian Champ Tom Boonen does his duty for fans(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
More black accenting on the rear derailleur cage and arm of Shimano 11 speed Dura Ace. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
That arm position, a good 6cm higher than his BMC team-mates belongs to Brent Bookwalter. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Between the legs of Blanco rider Steve Kruiswijk, anodised blue and orange brakes – a memento of Rabobank days.(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Warren Barguil of Argos-Shimano was wearing the Uvex Race 4 – new for this season on the team. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The bike that cut a dash over at Cofidis was Rein Taaramäe’s all-French Look 596, complete with Mavic Cosmic wheels – a new supplier to the team. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Triathlon specialist TriRighave broken into the professional ranks with their 122g Omega centre pull Aero brake. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Ridley Dean has been around for a while now and we’re expecting a refresh before the Tour, but the current bike’s front end still looks as aggressive as anything out there. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Ivan Basso (Cannondale Pro Cycling) got his engine running on his road rig before switching to his Cannondale Slice. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Campagnolo is a new provider to Astana. Here’s a close up of Campag EPS’s substantial brain on AndriyGrivko’s Specialized Shiv – with a machined mount.(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Grivko’s Specialized Shiv stands outside the team bus after its run out (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
By no means ubiquitous yet, but Shimano Dura Ace’ 11speed with black accenting was on display on some of Lampre-Merida’s road bikes. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
There’s been a colour explosion at Lampre-Merida this year – the bike maker’s lime green meets the sheet metal maker’s blue and fuchsia(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Garmin started using Magura’sRT8TT hydraulic brake system on Cervelo TT bikes last year –and the partnership continues (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The front end on BMC’s flagship Time Machine has the brakes integrated into the fork Aero. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
FDJ’s LapierreAeroStorms are still carrying this scary-looking chicken design from last year. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
This blacked out TT rig about an FDJ car carried a cantilever front brake. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
It’s the little things and David Millar’s rig carries Rotor’s popular anodised red chain catcher(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
MaguraRT8TT in the fron-on view. Tidy(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Thomas Voeckler held fans’ attention as he headed to the start but it was team-mate Damien Gaudin who unexpectedly stole the show at the opening prologue(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Jens Voigt feels the burn as he warms up ahead of his TT, but says ‘Shut Up Legs’, apparently. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
RadioShack-Trek’s TT rigs carry the Shimano Di2 battery unit in a very forward position(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
RadioShack-Trek gear, stacked up. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Garmin-Sharp’s fleet of P5s, ready to go. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The UCI, as ever were checking each bike to ensure it met their specs just before the riders set off (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Yesterday, Paris-Nice began with a 2.9km prologue north-west of the French capital. While surprise package Damien Gaudin (Europcar) stole the honours from established TT specialists Sylvain Chavanel and Lieuwe Westra, BikeRadar snooped around to see what time trial kit was on show.
We noted the arrival of Merida's Warp in the pro peloton, and also some new gear such as Uvex' Race 4 short distance lid, seen on the Argos-Shimano squad. Most notable, perhaps, was the debut of TriRig's centre-pull brakes, at Cofidis.
Despite the short distance teams brought their full range of gear to Paris, most of it tried and tested through 2012. A tranche of new showings is expected later in the year – a successor to the Ridley Dean, for example, and new carbon materials from Mavic.
Check out our image gallery for more details from the Paris-Nice 2013 prologue.
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Sam started as a trainee reporter on daily newspapers in the UK before moving to South Africa where he contributed to national cycling magazine Ride for three years. After moving back to the UK he joined Procycling as a staff writer in November 2010.
