Simon Gerrans’ (Orica-GreenEdge) Scott Plasma 3 – the platform which delivered him the yellow jersey, and the Australian team’s second Tour de France victory in two days(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Carbon is shaped over the back wheel to reduce turbulence(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Plasma 3 frame eliminates drag by riding extremely close to the back wheel(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
A speed sensor magnet shines out of the blackness of the Textreme Disc(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
A conventional Dura-Ace brake is mounted horizontally and anchored in the high volume of carbon around the bottom bracket(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Electronic shifting at the end of the Pro Missile Evo bars(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The GreenEdge logo ran around the Dura-Ace hub(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Gerrans opted for a Shimano Dura-Ace C75 shod with a Continental on the front(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
An SRM PowerControl 7 is mounted and taped for extra security(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Di2 bar end shifters cap the bars(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Plasma 3’s integrated steering assembly sitting flush with the frame provides an extremely neat front edge(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
By the marked disc, the rear derailleur runs extremely close in the lowest gear(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Simon Gerrans became the first Orica-GreenEdge Tour de France stage winner yesterday and followed it up with the team’s yellow jersey today too(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Gerrans’ choice from the wide range of Prologo saddles is the ribbed Nago Evo TTR(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The first generation Dura-Ace Di2 battery is mounted on a plate clamped to the seat rails(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Plasma 3’s radically shaped chainstays with their internal cable routing has been a defining feature of the bike since the bike was introduced in 2009(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Australian’s bike runs Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 10-speed(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
As a Shimano-sponsored team, the inevitable rear disc choice is the monocoque Pro Textreme disc(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Plasma 3 has stood the test of time; it was first unveiled in 2009(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Less than a second was all that separated Tour de France team time trial victor Orica-GreenEdge from second-placed Omega Pharma—Quick-Step today in Nice – but it was enough to deliver the team its first yellow jersey since its formation in 2011.
Two wins in two days and the yellow jersey means spirits were running high at the team hotel after the team time trial in Nice. Fans draped in Aussie flags stood in the lobby and when BikeRadar went to visit the hotel, the drinks for a reception were already flowing.
Simon Gerrans’ Scott Plasma 3 was just off the mechanic’s washstand. The machine which took the winner into the yellow jersey has been a staple of the team. The frame hasn’t changed much since it was launched in 2009.
Even today, the integrated steering assembly, the hidden back brakes and the aerofoil shaped tubing mean it has stood the test of time well.
While the squad uses new Shimano Dura-Ace 11 speed on its road bikes, the TT frames are kitted in previous generation 10sp Di2 technology – not that it did any harm today.
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The rear brake is a conventional brake, upended and housed in a recess above the seatstays
The rear wheel is a state of the art Pro Textreme disc and the front a standard – if logo-less – Shimano C75. It was the perfect combination for the flat, still 25km stage on the Cote d'Azur.
Click through the photo gallery to the above right for a detailed look at the Scott Plasma 3 TT of yellow jersey wearer Simon Gerrans.
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.
