Team-only Mavic carbon rim and custom paint for Flanders contender
Image 1 of 17
The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX debuted last year as the German brand's aero machine.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Coming off the overall win at Three Days of De Panne earlier this week, Alexander Kristoff is among the favorites for the Tour of Flanders.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Kristoff is hoping his number plate will be holding #1 in 2016… after a win this year.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
How clean is your drivetrain?(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Mavic Cosmic Carbones are trued at the hub.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Katusha is using 25mm Veloflex tubulars for the Tour of Flanders.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Shimano's direct-mount Dura-Ace caliper holds a non-Mavic pad for the carbon brake track.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Shimano's so-called sprint shifter buttons are quite aptly named on this particular machine.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
With 14cm of saddle-to-handlebar drop, Kristoff has his hoods kicked up high on the bars.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Katusha's mechanic cleverly use the SRM head unit mount to wedge the Shimano Di2 junction box in place, avoiding cluttering the stem with Shimano's stock rubber-band mount.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Kristoff and the rest of Katusha will be on Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX next weekend for Paris-Roubaix, but Kristoff deems the cobbles of Flanders mild enough to tackle on the aero bike.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
The perch of a Viking.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
The rear Cosmic Carbones, however, feature the same shape as the consumer version.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
This team edition version of the Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate features a wide, snub-nosed rim. The consumer version comes to a thinner point.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Canyon isn't available in the United States, but is sold consumer direct elsewhere in the world.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
175mm cranks on Kristoff's SRM.(Image credit: Courtesy Castelli)
Notching no less than three consecutive sprint wins at the Three Days of De Panne this week, Katusha's Alexander Kristoff is feeling good about his chances at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday.
The Norwegian's chances are further improved with the help of teammate and, for this weekend, super-domestique Luca Paolini, who just won the wind-pummelled Gent-Wevelgem last weekend.
Although boasting plenty of cobbles — with more than a dozen pavé sections between 300m and 2650m in length — the Tour of Flanders evidently isn't harsh enough for Kristoff to forego the aerodynamic benefit of his Canyon Aeroad CF SLX. (Most if not all Katusha riders will switch to Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX for Paris-Roubiax next weekend. Kristoff instead will rely on the cushion of 25mm Veloflex tubulars and his custom Selle Italia SLR saddle to take the edge off the kasseien.
Saddle covers and custom paint aren't the only pro-only touches on Kristoff's bike; his front Mavic Cosmic Carbone features a team-only rim, which is wider and much more snub-nosed than the consumer model. The rear Cosmic Carbone is stock.
As befits a sprinter, Kristoff has Di2 shift buttons on the inside of his bars. He will be hoping to put those to good use come the finale of De Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Complete bike specifications
Frameset: Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Stem/handlebar: Canyon Aerocockpit CF, 130mm x 410mm Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace Direct Mount Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace Direct Mount Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Additional shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 sprint shift buttons Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace, 11-25T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace Power meter/crankset: SRMShimano 11-Speed, 53/39T Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace Front wheel: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate - team edition rim Read wheel: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate Front tubular: Veloflex, 25mm Rear tubular: Veloflex, 25mm Saddle: Custom printed Selle Italia SLR Seatpost: Canyon S27 Aero VCLS CF Bottle cages: Elite (2) Computer: SRM Power Control 7 (not pictured)
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.81m (5ft 11in) Rider's weight: 78 kg (172b) Saddle height from BB, c-t: 79cm Tip of saddle to center of bar: 62cm Saddle-to-bar drop: 14cm
