Defending champion out of Paris-Roubaix but team show off his bike
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This is the Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 that Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) was supposed to ride in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix. Sadly, it'll still be this clean on Monday after he suffered a Classics-ending injury during Ronde van Vlaanderen.(Image credit: James Huang)
The oversized bottom bracket is filled with bearings from CeramicSpeed.(Image credit: James Huang)
Red-tinted Zertz elastomeric inserts for this limited edition paint scheme.(Image credit: James Huang)
Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro carbon-specific pads would have clamped down on Zipp 303 Firecrest rims on Sunday.(Image credit: James Huang)
177.5mm-long Specialized carbon cranks for Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).(Image credit: James Huang)
SRAM's latest Red 2012 rear derailleur.(Image credit: James Huang)
Team mechanics hadn't yet changed over Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) gearing in prep for Sunday's flat parcours but this SRAM PG-1070 11-26T cassette was probably going to stay put. Note how the rear derailleur housing grommet is thoroughly greased - both to keep water out of the frame and to prevent creaking.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 features a unique geometry with a longer reach and shorter head tube than what's typically available.(Image credit: James Huang)
The all-aluminum Zipp cockpit on Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Zipp CSL aluminum bars are double-wrapped with Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix tape. Extra padding has been added up top.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) was set to tackle the brutal pavé on Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon rims and 27mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars.(Image credit: James Huang)
A little team decal marks the saddle height while a coating of friction paste aims to keep it there.(Image credit: James Huang)
Naturally, Specialized chose the colors of the Belgian flag for Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) custom S-Works Roubaix SL4.(Image credit: James Huang)
This paint scheme was created just for Boonen but just in case, his name is painted on the top tube, too.(Image credit: James Huang)
Specialized has commemorated past winners of Paris-Roubaix inside the main triangle.(Image credit: James Huang)
Paris-Roubaix's 28 secteurs of pavé are labeled on the top tube.(Image credit: James Huang)
Gore Ride-On sealed cables and housing are fitted throughout.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tom Boonen heads for the finish line in 2012(Image credit: AFP)
Tour of Flanders favourites Fabian Cancellara, left, and Tom Boonen chat on the start line.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) crashed early in the Tour of Flanders and abandoned the race.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tom Boonen finally made it through the Belgian rush hour to the press conference(Image credit: AFP Photo)
This year's Paris-Roubaix was slated to be a showdown between two giants of the spring classics – 2013 Ronde van Vlaanderen winner Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Leopard-Trek) and 2012 Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep). But sadly, Boonen is now out of the race after a nasty crash on Sunday. Even worse, team sponsor Specialized had built the Belgian rider a gorgeous custom painted S-Works Roubaix SL4 that will now never be ridden across the pavé.
Boonen's Paris-Roubaix bike-to-be is the production version of the 'Project Black' machine he rode in last year's edition and is more of a true race bike than ever before. Specialized's unique vibration-squelching Zertz elastomeric inserts and slim, curvaceous seat stays are present as always but the front triangle is now a virtual carbon copy of the harder edged Tarmac SL4. As a result, it's now not only comfortable but more efficient than one would usually expect of an 'endurance' bike.
Custom tweaks blur the race vs. endurance bike lines even further. Specialized supplies Boonen with a special "60 Pro" frame geometry with nearly the same top tube length as the company's standard 61cm size but with a head tube length barely longer than on the consumer-spec 54cm for a far more aggressive fit than is typical – something that Boonen has said in the past is necessary for his sensitive back.
This year's bike is far showier than last year's stealthy all-black finish and kicks off the start of the company's new Specialized Edition program. Tucked within the Belgian-inspired black, red, and yellow motif are the names and years of past Paris-Roubaix winners inside the front triangle, a course cheat sheet on the top tube calling out all 27 secteurs of pavé, plus Boonen's name boldly emblazoned on the seat tube.
The build kit is virtually identical to what Boonen used last year, including a SRAM Red 2012 group, Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon tubular wheels wrapped in 27mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tires, Look KéO Blade pedals, a 155mm-wide Specialized S-Works Chicane saddle with carbon fiber rails, and Specialized's latest S-Works carbon crankarms fitted with specific SRAM Red 2012 chainrings (still with a 39T inner ring, too, since mechanics hadn't yet gotten around to doing the final setup for Sunday when Boonen crashed).
Zipp provides the cockpit components as well, including the SLSpeed carbon fiber seatpost, 140mm-long Service Course SL forged aluminum stem, and a CSL aluminum handlebar double-wrapped with Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix tape plus an extra layer of padding up top. As with his Tarmac, Boonen again was to use a 42cm-wide (outside-to-outside) bar as off-season testing found it to provide better aerodynamics without sacrificing his ability to breathe.
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Total weight is pictured is 7.34kg (16.18lb) without the Garmin Edge computer – which to everyone's dismay will still read zero when the winner of Paris-Roubaix crosses the line on Sunday.
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 Paris-Roubaix, size "60 Pro" Fork: Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4, 1 1/8-to-1 3/8" tapered Headset: Cane Creek for Specialized, 1 1/8-to-1 3/8" tapered Stem: Zipp Service Course SL, 140mm x -6° Handlebars: Zipp CSL, 42cm (o-o) Tape/grips: Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix, double wrapped Front brake: SRAM Red 2012 w/ Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro carbon-specific pads Rear brake: SRAM Red 2012 w/ Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro carbon-specific pads Brake levers: SRAM Red 2012 DoubleTap Front derailleur: SRAM Red 2012 Rear derailleur: SRAM Red 2012 Shift levers: SRAM Red 2012 DoubleTap Cassette: SRAM PG-1070, 11-26T Chain: SRAM PC-1091 Crankset: Specialized S-Works Carbon, 177.5mm, 53/39T Bottom bracket: CeramicSpeed Pedals: Look KéO Blade Wheelset: Zipp 303 Firecrest tubular Front tire: FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular, 27mm Rear tire: FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular, 27mm Saddle: Specialized S-Works Chicane, 155mm Seat post: Zip SLSpeed, 20mm setback Bottle cages: Tacx Tao (2) Computer: Garmin Edge Other accessories: Gore Ride-On sealed cables and housing
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.92m (6' 4") Rider's weight: 82kg (181lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 820mm Saddle setback: 100mm Seat tube length, c-t: 570mm Seat tube length, c-c: 525mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 650mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 130mm Head tube length: 175mm Top tube length: 595mm (horizontal) Total bicycle weight: 7.34kg (16.18lb) without computer
