Colnago, Specialized and Cervélo in the build up to the Tour de France
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_V6O6798 - Peloton cruising along the Yak farm(Image credit: James Huang)
_V6O6758 - The main group at Jiang XiGaou Town(Image credit: James Huang)
Sylvain Chavanel's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 is dressed in French-inspired livery, a new SRAM Red group, Specialized FACT carbon cranks with a Quarq power meter, a Zipp cockpit and seatpost, and Zipp 303 tubulars wrapped in Specialized rubber.(Image credit: James Huang)
Sylvain Chavanel's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) office seat for the day is Specialized's Romin saddle with a carbon shell, carbon rails, and a 143mm width.(Image credit: James Huang)
Surprise, surprise - Sylvain Chavanel's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) stage notes are coded in white, blue, and red.(Image credit: James Huang)
Even Sylvain Chavanel's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Prevail helmet and Oakley Radar sunglasses adhere to the white, blue, and red theme.(Image credit: James Huang)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep mechanics use the double-crossover technique for Sylvain Chavanel's Zipp Service Course SL handlebars so there's no cheater strip required.(Image credit: James Huang)
Mavic Yksion Grip Link tubulars are mounted on Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels on Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Cannondale Super Six Evo.(Image credit: James Huang)
Four little o-rings protect the paint on Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Cannondale Super Six Evo.(Image credit: James Huang)
"Slam that stem" devotees would approve of Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) position.(Image credit: James Huang)
Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Cannondale Super Six Evo.(Image credit: James Huang)
Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Cannondale Super Six Evo is still fitted with previous-generation SRAM Red chainrings and front derailleur but the nifty chain catcher from the new version conveniently fits just fine.(Image credit: James Huang)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider Tony Martin runs an unusual tilt on his Zipp Service Course SL bars.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) may be running a new SRAM Red transmission but he's still using the older dual-pivot calipers.(Image credit: James Huang)
More carbon fiber can be found on Tony Martin's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) bike in the form of Zipp's new SLSpeed seatpost.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tony Martin's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized Romin saddle is curiously tarnished with residual adhesive.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tony Martin's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized Romin saddle is curiously tarnished with residual adhesive.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) puts the power down through a pair of Look KéO Blade pedals.(Image credit: James Huang)
New SRAM Red DoubleTap levers for Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).(Image credit: James Huang)
_V6O6758 - The main group at Jiang XiGaou Town(Image credit: James Huang)
_V6O6758 - The main group at Jiang XiGaou Town(Image credit: James Huang)
SRAM has slickly integrated a chain catcher on the latest Red front derailleur, as pictured here on Tony Martin's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) pairs a new SRAM Red rear derailleur and Gore Ride-On cables with a SRAM PG-1070 cassette - in an 11-28T size for Stage 6's hilly profile.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Specialized FACT carbon crank on Tony Martin's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) is fitted with Quarq's latest power meter model.(Image credit: James Huang)
Tony Martin's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) all-aluminum Zipp Service Course SL cockpit on his Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4.(Image credit: James Huang)
SRAM Red chainrings are fitted to Cannondale's Hollowgram SL crank and SRM power meter on Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Cannondale Super Six Evo.(Image credit: James Huang)
Cannondale flattens the center section of the chain stays on Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Super Six Evo to help promote vertical flex in the rear end.(Image credit: James Huang)
_V6O6798 - Peloton cruising along the Yak farm(Image credit: James Huang)
Colnago sticks with lugged construction on Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) C59 Italia.(Image credit: James Huang)
The anodized finish on Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) Campagnolo Super Record chainrings have faded from frequent washing. (Image credit: James Huang)
Interestingly, Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) prefers a basic, wired computer on his Colnago C59 Italia.(Image credit: James Huang)
Carbon bars mated to a forged aluminum stem - both from Deda - on Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) Colnago C59 Italia.(Image credit: James Huang)
Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) Campagnolo Record 11 dual-pivot front brake is fitted with carbon-specific pads. Rather than use a more common wireless computer, Voeckler instead prefers to run a wired setup.(Image credit: James Huang)
Campagnolo Super Record 11 Ergopower levers are mounted to semi-anatomic bars on Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) Colnago C59 Italia.(Image credit: James Huang)
The seat stays take a unique path from top to bottom on Samuel Sanchez's (Euskaltel-Euskadi) Orbea Orca.(Image credit: James Huang)
Even the seatpost clamp and cover on the custom Selle Italia saddle are finished in a gold hue for reigning Olympic road champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi).(Image credit: James Huang)
Samuel Sanchez's (Euskaltel-Euskadi) Olympic-themed Orbea Orca, decked out in lightweight wheels and lower gearing in preparation for Stage 6's hilly parcours.(Image credit: James Huang)
More gold can be found on Samuel Sanchez's (Euskaltel-Euskadi) Orbea Orca in the KMC chain, aluminum derailleur pulleys, and even the accent color on the SRM power meter decal.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Campagnolo wheels are secured in the frame with Carbon-Ti skewers on Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) Colnago C59 Italia.(Image credit: James Huang)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) may be riding an Italian bike but he's a proud Frenchman.(Image credit: James Huang)
Garmin-Barracuda mechanics have to file off a little bit of the lower saddle cradle to prevent rubbing on David Millar's Cervélo R5.(Image credit: James Huang)
A carbon-shelled fi'zi:k Antares saddle for Garmin-Barracuda rider David Millar.(Image credit: James Huang)
David Millar's (Garmin-Barracuda) Cervélo R5 is fitted with Garmin-badged pedals but there are still no power measuring bits included.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels on David Millar's (Garmin-Barracuda) Cervélo R5 are now several model years old but they still look quite modern.(Image credit: James Huang)
David Millar's (Garmin-Barracuda) Cervélo R5.(Image credit: James Huang)
O.symetric chainrings with blacked-out logos and Rotor 3D+ crankarms mounted on David Millar's (Garmin-Barracuda) Cervélo R5.(Image credit: James Huang)
Garmin-Barracuda veteran David Millar's 3T Ergosum bars are triple-wrapped. Team mechanic Geoff Brown says Millar just prefers it that way.(Image credit: James Huang)
Colnago avoids radical shaping on the stays for Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) C59 Italia.(Image credit: James Huang)
A well padded Selle Italia Flite saddle for Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).(Image credit: James Huang)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) surely has the option for an electronic transmission but Campagnolo's standard Super Record 11 drivetrain is fitted here.(Image credit: James Huang)
Look KéO Blade pedals for Europcar captain Thomas Voeckler.(Image credit: James Huang)
There's a lot going on at the front end of reigning Olympic road champion Samuel Sanchez's (Euskaltel-Euskadi): gold bar tape, gold anodized aluminum brake cable housing, a top-mounted Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 satellite shifter, and a custom paint job on the Orbea Orca.(Image credit: James Huang)
The Critérium du Dauphiné is one of the last preparation events for the Tour de France so it's no surprise that the peloton is filled with some of the sport's top stars. A win here is certainly a major achievement but it's also an indicator of good form ahead of the biggest race in the world.
Take a look at the bikes of a few of the key riders who will likely play a role on the grand stage in two weeks. Here we have Tony Martin and Sylvain Chavanel's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL4s, Vincenzo Nibali's (Liquigas-Cannondale) Cannondale Super Six Evo, Thomas Voeckler's (Europcar) Colnago C59 Italia, Samuel Sanchez's (Euskaltel-Euskadi) special Orbea Orca, and David Millar's (Garmin-Barracuda) Cervélo R5.
