Eritrean rider’s super light build ready for the Tour of Turkey’s queen stage
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Merhawi Kudus’ (MTN-Qhubeka) Trek 7-Series H1 for the Tour of Turkey(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Schwalbe One tyres have become a firm favourite of the pros since their launch last year(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
The Trek 7-Series is crammed with nifty inbuilt features like this chain catcher(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
No gaudy paint schemes for Kudus, just a simple Mary and Jesus transfer(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Kudus’ saddle choice is Selle Italia SLR SuperFlow with its radical cutaway (Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Shimano and SRAM on the same bike - MTN-Qhubeka use Dura-Ace direct mount brakes for the rear brake(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
To handle the extra chain slack the cassette produces at the high end, the rear derailleur arm is lengthened (Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Kudus is a fan of SRAM’s climb-assisting WiFli technology and it’s fitted to his bike most of the time we’re told. His transmission was still to be oiled when we saw it(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
An SRM SRAM RED 22 Exogram crank handles Kudus’ power output. He’s using standard 53/39 chainrings(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Kudus’ Zipp 202 tubular wheels with Schwalbe 1 tyres are super light – perfect for the 11.5km climb to Elmali(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Kudus likes a short reach and his FSA Energy stem is just 100mm(Image credit: Sam Dansie/BikeRadar)
Merhawi Kudus is not a name on many people’s lips, but those in the know believe the 20-year-old Eritrean is one of the hottest talents in cycling.
The MTN-Qhubeka rider – who finished second at the mountainous 2014 Tour de Langkawi – is currently competing at the Presidential Tour of Turkey. And the 184km stage three that finishes with a 11.5km summit finish above Elmali featured just the sort of terrain where the youngster is likely to burn up the opposition in the future as his fourth place suggests
While the team is eager to alleviate pressure on the youngster, we’re told he’s riding extremely well… so we thought we’d take a look at his Trek Madone 7-Series.
The frame itself is well known for its all-round capabilities – truncated aerofoil shaped tubes, a wide BB99 bottom bracket, a wind-hidden rear brake and a number of integrated features, such as chain catcher and computer magnet, give the 7-series the pro credentials MTN-Qhubeka could need.
And this one’s set up as a pure climber’s bike – and one for a rider who likes to pedal a high cadence too. It’s equipped with a SRAM RED 22 drivetrain and feathery, high performance Zipp 202 wheels. All in, this 54cm bike came in at dead on 6.8kg.
Kudus is a high cadence rider and his SRAM WiFli 11-32 gearing reflects that – an extra couple of sprockets in the low range provided all the spinning potential he could possibly need when the road headed up towards Elmali at the end of the day.
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Complete bike specifications
Frame: Trek 7-series H1 (54cm) Fork: Trek 7-Series KVF fork Headset: Cane Creek integrated, tapered 1 1/8in-to-1 1/2in Stem: FSA Energy (100mm) Handlebars: FSA Omega Compact (c-t-c 400mm) Front brake: SRAM RED Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace Direct Mount Levers: SRAM RED 22 DoubleTap Front derailleur: SRAM RED 22 Rear derailleur: SRAM RED 22 WiFli Cassette: SRAM RED 22 WiFli (11-32) Chain: SRAM RED 22 Crankset: SRM Wireless PowerMeter SRAM RED 22 (53/39) Pedals: Speedplay Wheelset: Zipp 202 Front tyre: Schwalbe One Rear tyre: Schwalbe One Saddle: Selle Italia SLR SuperFlow Bottle cages: Elite Custom Race (2) Computer: SRM PowerControl 7 (not pictured)
Critical measurements
Rider height: 1.73m (5ft 7in) Rider weight: 58kg (127lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 723mm Tip of saddle nose to centre of bars: 545mm Head tube length: 125mm Top tube length (actual): 54.5mm Total bicycle weight (without computer): 6.8kg (14.99lb)
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.
