Third place in Flanders debut for new Ridley machine
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Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) rode Ridley's new Fenix Classic to a third place finish at this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A Selle San Marco Regale saddle with Xsilite rails is clamped by Deda's Superzero carbon fiber seatpost.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Given the generous 175mm-long head tube, it's no surprise that Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) has his stem positioned as low as possible.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Classic-bend Deda aluminum bars and double-wrapped Lizard Skins DSP tape for Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol).(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Despite UCI's crackdown on the practice, these aluminum fork tips still have (most of) their lawyer tabs filed off.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Standard 53/39T chainrings are installed on Jürgen Roelandts' (Lotto Belisol) 172.5mm-long Campagnolo Record cranks.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Campagnolo Record EPS wire is routed through the chain stay. Note the use of an all-steel Campagnolo Chorus cassette instead of the partially titanium Record one.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Press-fit cups adapt the oversized bottom bracket shell for Campagnolo's Record cranks on Jürgen Roelandts' (Lotto Belisol) Ridley Fenix Classic.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The opening at the bottom of the down tube provides a convenient exit point for wires and cables.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) uses dual-pivot brake calipers front and rear.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Record EPS front derailleur is backed up by Campagnolo's own chain catcher on Jürgen Roelandts' (Lotto Belisol) Ridley Fenix Classic.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Fenix "Classic" is essentially the standard Fenix but with a special paint job to suit the occasion.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) apparently finds the stock medium frame's 175mm-long head tube just fine given the rather normal stem size on his bike.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Clearance at both ends of the bike is pretty good with 25mm-wide tubulars fitted.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Flattened sections on the seat stays are designed to help smooth the ride on rough ground.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ridley keeps the chain stays pretty big on the Fenix Classic for drivetrain efficiency. Note the glued-on magnet just behind the bottom bracket for the SRM crankset that isn't currently installed.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Jürgen Roelandts' (Lotto Belisol) Ridley Fenix Classic features a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" head tube.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Campagnolo Record EPS for Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol).(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Jürgen Roelandts' (Lotto Belisol) Ridley Fenix Classic frame is built for comfort and toughness, not ultralight weight and stiffness, so the mid-grade 24-ton carbon fiber suits this application just fine.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
25mm-wide Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubulars for Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol).(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
In a world where unyielding stiffness, ultralow weights, and slippery aerodynamics are seen as requisite ingredients for performance, a frame made of mid-grade carbon fiber weighing 1,200g hardly seems noteworthy. Yet for Lotto-Belisol's Jürgen Roelandts, Ridley's new Fenix Classic was more than up to the task at the Tour of Flanders, carrying him to an impressive third-place finish.
Ridley introduced the Fenix as a mid-range model earlier this year with an impressively attainable price tag of US$3,610/£2,326 with a Campagnolo Chorus group and Rotor crankset – about a third less than what Sky and Movistar's Pinarello Dogma K frameset sells for on its own. The Ronde van Vlaanderen's short but bumpy cobbled climbs put less of a priority on weight and more on smoothness and durability, though, and Ridley contends the Fenix's smoother ride and more damage-tolerant 24-ton carbon fiber is a worthy trade-off.
Key features on Ridley's latest model include a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in front end, an oversized BB30 bottom bracket shell, internal cable routing that's convertible for electronic or mechanical drivetrains, and flattened sections on the seat stays to promote vertical flex on rough ground. Aside from that, it's a fairly standard modular monocoque frame that nonetheless found itself on the podium of one of the most prestigious one-day road races in the world.
Roelandts' frameset may have been mid-range but the build kit was decidedly high-end, including a Campagnolo Record EPS electronic group and matching Bora Ultra Two deep-section carbon tubular wheels wrapped with 25mm-wide, team-only Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tires. The Belgian rider's cockpit was also on par with the rest of the peloton with a forged aluminum Zero 100 stem, carbon fiber Superzero seatpost, and aluminum Newton Shallow traditional bend handlebar – in an increasingly common 40cm width for aerodynamics and double-wrapped with Lizard Skins DSP tape – all from Deda.
Even so, there were still a few nods to workhorse-level gear such as the all-steel Campagnolo Chorus cassette, Xsilite-railed Selle San Marco Regale saddle, and Look KéO 2 Max pedals.
All told, it added up to a 7.72kg/17.02lb package without the SRM PowerControl 7 computer – heavy by modern superbike standards but clearly still plenty fast thanks to the legs that powered it.
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You can check out the other bikes of the 2013 Tour of Flanders podium, including Fabian Cancellara's Trek Domane 6-Series and Peter Sagan's Cannondale Synapse Evo Hi-Mod.
The opening at the bottom of the down tube provides a convenient exit point for wires and cables
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Ridley Fenix Classic, size M Fork: Ridley Fenix Classic Headset: FSA Orbit integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2" tapered Stem: Deda Zero 100, 130mm x -8° Handlebars: Deda Newton Shallow, 40cm (c-c) Tape/grips: Lizard Skins DSP, double wrapped Front brake: Campagnolo Record D Skeleton dual-pivot w/ carbon-specific pads Rear brake: Campagnolo Record D Skeleton dual-pivot w/ carbon-specific pads Brake levers: Campagnolo Ergopower Ultra-Shift Record EPS Front derailleur: Campagnolo Record EPS Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Record EPS Shift levers: Campagnolo Ergopower Ultra-Shift Record EPS Cassette: Campagnolo Chorus 11 speed, 11-25T Chain: Campagnolo Record 11 speed Crankset: Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque 11 speed, 172.5mm, 53/39T Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque OS-Fit Pedals: Look KéO 2 Max Wheelset: Campagnolo Bora Ultra Two tubular Front tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubular, 25mm Rear tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited ProTection tubular, 25mm Saddle: Selle San Marco Regale w/ Xsilite rails Seat post: Deda Superzero Bottle cages: Tacx Tao aluminum (2) Computer: SRM PowerControl 7
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.85m (6' 1") Rider's weight: 78kg (172lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 778mm Saddle setback: 70mm Seat tube length, c-t: 540mm Seat tube length, c-c: 500mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 583mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 106mm Head tube length: 175mm Top tube length: 565mm (horizontal) Total bicycle weight: 7.72kg (17.02lb) without computer
