Defending Tour of Flanders champion chooses a familiar friend
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Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is hoping this Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 will carry him to victory in Oudenaarde.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is hoping for his fourth Ronde van Vlaanderen victory on Sunday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A simple line from a silver paint marker keeps track of Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) saddle height.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Gore Ride-On sealed rear derailleur cable is routed through the hollow carbon fiber dropout.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Zipp recently widened the flange spacing on its rear hubs for greater wheel stiffness.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Supple-riding 25mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars are mounted to the Zipp 303 Firecrest rims with nary a shred of excess glue visible.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The hugely reinforced bottom bracket area of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Basic Zipp skewers are used front and rear.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Specialized's latest S-Works carbon crankarms are broader and stiffer than in years past.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A pair of Tacx Tao aluminum cages are fitted for Sunday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The 140mm-long Zipp Service Course SL forged aluminum stem is slammed down atop the Cane Creek headset on Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The SRAM Red rear derailleur is mated to a PC-1070 11-26T cassette and PC-1091 chain.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
SRAM Red 2012 DoubleTap levers mounted high on classic-bend Zipp CSL bars for Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The newly textured hoods on SRAM's latest Red levers might prove handy if things get wet on Sunday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is using an all-aluminum cockpit from Zipp for Ronde van Vlaanderen.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The SRAM Red brake calipers are filled with Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro pads.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Zipp 303 Firecrest carbon tubular wheels will be used front and rear.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The distinctive hourglass head tube profile on Specialized's S-Works Tarmac SL4.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is using a 155mm-wide Specialized Chicane saddle mounted atop a Zipp SL Speed carbon fiber seatpost for Ronde van Vlaanderen.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The SL4 is the latest version of Specialized's Tarmac road racing flagship.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) will use standard 53/39T SRAM Red chainrings on Sunday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Gore Ride-On 'grub' cable seal could prove handy if it's wet on Sunday.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Belgian cycling superstar Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) doesn't want to mess with a good thing at this Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen. While some riders constantly tweak their setups always in search of something new, Boonen's Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 is essentially just an updated version of what he won on last year.
Once again, Boonen is on the custom '60 Pro' geometry that Specialized essentially created just for him a few years ago, featuring roughly the same reach as the company's standard 61cm size but the head tube length of a 58cm. Otherwise, the frame is seemingly standard issue including the roundish cross-sections used throughout, the tapered 1 1/8-to-1 3/8" front end, and Specialized's usual OSBB oversized bottom bracket shell.
Much of Boonen's equipment has carried over from last year as well, including the SRAM Red 2012 group, Specialized Chicane saddle, and Zipp SLSpeed carbon seatpost, 140mm-long Service Course SL forged aluminum stem, and aluminum CSL handlebar. Wheels have been switched to Zipp's shallower 303 Firecrest tubulars, however, and they're wrapped with 25mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tires.
Specialized has since upgraded its carbon fiber crankarms, too, with a broader profile that's apparently stiffer than previous iterations. There was no power meter installed when we photographed Boonen's bike but then again, this was also one of his spares. Boonen raced Ronde van Vlaanderen with a Quarq-equipped Specialized crank last year so we expect he may do the same on Sunday.
Boonen's fit is nearly the same as before but with one major exception. While he used to run 46cm-wide (outside-to-outside) bars – apparently just because that's what he was used to – Specialized has convinced him to run a narrower 42cm size for better aerodynamics.
Total weight as pictured is 7.29kg (16.07lb).
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The hugely reinforced bottom bracket area of the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4, size '60 Pro' Fork: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 Headset: Specialized S-Works by Cane Creek, 1 1/8-to-1 3/8" tapered Stem: Zipp Service Course SL, 140mm x -6° Handlebars: Zipp Service Course CSL, 42cm (outside-to-outside) Tape/grips: Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix 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 PC-1070, 11-26T Chain: SRAM PC-1091 Crankset: Specialized S-Works Carbon, 177.5mm, w/ SRAM Red 2012 chainrings, 53/39T Bottom bracket: Specialized OSBB by CeramicSpeed Pedals: Look KéO Blade Wheelset: Zipp 303 Firecrest tubular Front tire: FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular, 25mm Rear tire: FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular, 25mm Saddle: Specialized S-Works Chicane, 155mm Seat post: Zipp SLSpeed, 20mm setback Bottle cages: Tacx Tao (2) Computer: Garmin Edge
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.92m (6' 4") Rider's weight: 82kg (181lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 813mm Saddle setback: 100mm Seat tube length, c-t: 580mm Seat tube length, c-c: 535mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 650mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 125mm Head tube length: 175mm Top tube length: 595mm Total bicycle weight: 7.29kg (16.07lb)
