Europcar's Colnago Cross Prestige, BMC's GranFondo GF01 and more
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George Hincapie's (BMC) new BMC GranFondo GF01 machine for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A few wraps of electrical tape go a long way. Most of the SRM computers we saw at Paris-Roubaix were secured in this fashion.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Liquigas-Cannondale did, however, have this rim brake-equipped Cannondale SuperX atop the team car, properly equipped with appropriate gearing and tires for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
This Liquigas-Cannondale Cannondale SuperX spare bike is fitted with three-section brake pads on the Avid Shorty Ultimate cantilevers.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Liquigas-Cannondale's rim brake-equipped spare Cannondale SuperX was built with 53/44T chainrings - suggesting it's actually meant to be used if needed. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
40mm-deep Mavic Cosmic carbon tubular wheels and fat tubular tires for this Liquigas-Cannondale spare.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
NetApp riders used these Simplon Pavo machines at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) won Paris-Roubaix today on a new bike from Specialized - what we expect will be introduced later this year as the S-Works Roubaix SL4.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The broad top tube leaves plenty of room for Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) course notes.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The seat stays on Tom Boonen's (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) Specialized S-Works Roubaix (SL4) arc forward just before joining the seat tube.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Mavic C29ssmax wheels were wrapped with narrow 23mm clinchers - further evidence this bike wasn't intended to actually be raced today.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Standard 53/39T gearing on Liquigas-Cannondale's spare SuperX Disc suggests the bike was mostly there for show.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Post-mount tabs on the rear end of this Liquigas-Cannondale SuperX Disc.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The only Vacansoleil-DCM rider to depart Compiègne on a carbon bike was Frederik Veuchelen, who chose Bianchi's Infinito model over the Impulso his teammates used.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Liquigas-Cannondale rider Ted King opted for fi'zi:k's new Kurve saddle at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Liquigas-Cannondale's Cannondale SuperSix Evo forks are swept more aggressively before making a quick kink back at the dropouts for a softer ride.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Cannondale SuperSix Evo machines of Liquigas-Cannondale riders Juraj Sagan, Ted King, and Daniel Oss.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
It's that time of year again - Speedplay's special Paris-Roubaix pedals resurface for the spring classics.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
An Avid BB7 caliper clamps on to an Avid XX six-bolt rotor on this Liquigas-Cannondale Cannondale SuperX Disc.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Liquigas-Cannondale had this disc-equipped Cannondale SuperX mounted atop the team car but it seemed like more of a publicity stunt than a proper spare bike for Paris-Roubaix. Don't forget that the UCI has apparently already banned the technology for the 2012 road season.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Perhaps just as planned, there was certainly a crowd around this disc-equipped Liquigas-Cannondale machine. Given the ancillary equipment installed, though, we find it highly unlikely it ever left the top of the team car during the race.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Standard Tacx Tao aluminum cages for the Rabobank team.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
All of the Rabobank riders departed Compiègne aboard Giant Defy Advanced SLs. Lars Boom was planning on switching to his 'cross bike before hitting the cobbles.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Gregory Rast (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek) normally rides Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 but relied on the mechanical version for Paris-Roubaix. This was on his spare bike.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Bontrager Aeolus 3 carbon wheels and 27mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubulars for Radioshack-Nissan-Trek rider Gregory Rast.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Double-wrapped bars and double hoods for Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The bolted connection on Sky's Pinarello Dogma K dropouts is normally visible but it's smoothed over on Juan Antonio Flecha's machine.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Juan Antonio Flecha's (Sky) Pinarello Dogma K for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
27mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular tires were the hot setup at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Mid-range FSA Gossamer brake calipers are fitted to Vacansoleil-DCM's Bianchi Impulso bikes at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Vacansoleil-DCM riders were all on aluminum Bianchi Impulso bikes save for one rider on the Infinito model.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Paris-Roubaix edition Speedplay Zero pedals and Trek BAT cages for Radioshack-Nissan-Trek team leader Gregory Rast.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
All of Radioshack-Nissan-Trek - including team leader Gregory Rast - raced on Trek's new Domane at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The IsoSpeed 'decoupler' on Radioshack-Nissan-Trek's new Trek Domane frames allows for a remarkable amount of fore-aft flex in the seat tube.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Lars Boom (Rabobank) has a MyKnoaky widget on his stem for good luck.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace groups for the Rabobank boys today.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Giant says the integrated seatmast design of Rabobank's Defy Advanced SL machines for Paris-Roubaix was necessary to get the desired amount of flex.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The top tube and seat stays are offset on Rabobank's Giant Defy Advanced SL frames to promote fore-aft flex in the seat tube.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Lars Boom's (Rabobank) course notes were among the neatest we saw at the start of Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
All of Rabobank were on 27mm-wide tubulars for Paris-Roubaix, save for Lars Boom switched to his 30mm-shod 'cross bike later in the race.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rabobank riders started from Compiègne using 35mm-deep Shimano carbon tubular wheels.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Nokon derailleur and brake housing for Radioshack-Nissan-Trek rider Gregory Rast. Team bikes also use non-replaceable derailleur hangers for more accurate shifting.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Simple s-bend stays on Vacansoleil-DCM's aluminum Bianchi Impulso machines for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Critical sections of the course are marked on this GreenEdge rider's stem. Note the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 satellite shifter and the tape holding the SRM PowerControl 7 computer, too.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
A chunk of carpet padding helps keep the saddle from bottoming out on the seatpost head on Nico Sijmens' (Cofidis) Look 586 SL.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Most of the Cofidis team opted for Look's 586 SL frame for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
American Classic is a new wheel sponsor for Cofidis.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Top-mount brake levers and double-wrapped bars for this Cofidis rider.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
We're not sure what model rims these are but their 23mm-wide, box-section profile makes them nearly ideal for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cofidis team leader Edwig Cammaerts will likely welcome the slight cushioning effect of Look's elastomer-insulated E-Post seatpost design.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cofidis riders set off from Compiègne with 25mm-wide Vittoria Corsa Evo CX tubulars.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Cofidis used a mix of box-section aluminum wheels and deeper-section carbon wheels from new sponsor American Classic.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Most of the BMC team had to resort to more aggressively angled stems to get their new GranFondo GF01 frames to fit. Easton doesn't currently offer aluminum stems with enough angle so the team searched elsewhere for stems from Deda, 3T, PRO, and FSA.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Continental Competition tubular tires for BMC's George Hincapie. Note the sealed brake cables, too.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The cassette on this Ag2r-La Mondiale Kuota KOM Evo is nearly a straight block. Note the internally routed cables, which differs from the current consumer version.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ag2r-La Mondiale set off for Roubaix aboard these Kuota KOM Evos, tweaked with internal cable routing instead of the standard external setup to protect the lines from mud and water.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Ag2r-La Mondiale's Reynolds carbon rims were wrapped with prototype Michelin tubular tires. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
An army of Reynolds 32mm-deep carbon tubular wheels and just a few traditional aluminum hoops for Ag2r-La Mondiale.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
All of the BMC riders set off from Compiègne aboard the new BMC GranFondo GF01.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Anatomic-bend Easton aluminum bars and single-wrapped fi'zi:k tape for BMC's George Hincapie.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
George Hincapie's (BMC) BMC GranFondo GF01 is fitted here with a mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrain.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
BMC's Easton EC90 SL carbon tubular wheels have now proven themselves durable enough for the cobbles.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Most of Europcar's Colnago Cross Prestige machines for Paris-Roubaix were equipped with supplemental top-mount brake levers.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar once resorted to TRP cantilevers for Paris-Roubaix but now that official sponsor Campagnolo has added them to the company catalog, the team can now stay within the family.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Selle Italia's Monolink saddle and seatpost interface on this Farnese Vini-Selle Italia MCipollini RB800 at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Paying homage to the late Franco Ballerini on this Farnese Vini-Selle Italia machine.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Farnese Vini-Selle Italia bikes were fitted with Ursus Miura T24 carbon tubulars as they set off from Compiègne.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
All of the FDJ-BigMat riders departed Compiègne on Lapierre Sensium 2 framesets.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Interesting cable routing on FDJ-BigMat's Lapierre Sensium 2 bikes at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 satellite shifters on the bikes of FDJ-BigMat.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Lapierre Sensium 2 frames of FDJ-BigMat feature an elastomer cushioning element just above the rear brake.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Farnese Vini-Selle Italia's MCipollini RB800 bikes use a deep-section integrated seatmast but it's still substantially less massive than the team's usual RB1000 model.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Farnese Vini-Selle Italia's Ursus wheels are built around carbon-bodied hubs.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Farnese Vini-Selle Italia swapped their usual MCipollini RB1000 frames for the softer riding RB800 model at Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar's Tacx Tao aluminum cages are beefed up with loops of electrical tape to tighten up the fit.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar's 53/44T chainrings are typical for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar riders used Colnago's Cross Prestige chassis for Paris-Roubaix.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar's Colnago Cross Prestige bikes for Paris-Roubaix were built with previous-generation Campagnolo Record rear derailleurs.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar had two different tire types mounted, one with a finer file tread and these Dugast Paris-Roubaix tubulars with their more aggressive herringbone pattern.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Europcar's tire casing profiles varied, too, from very round here…(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Mother Nature constantly threatened rain at this year's Paris-Roubaix but the windy – but mostly dry – conditions kept both the riders and bikes relatively clean and definitely mud-free at the end of the day. Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) won his fourth Paris-Roubaix aboard Specialized's new S-Works Roubaix, Europcar captain Sebastien Turgot sprinted for second on a Colnago Cross Prestige, and Alessandro Ballan (BMC) came in third after starting in Compiègne on his brand-new BMC GranFondo GF01.
Turgot – all of Europcar, in fact – and Rabobank's Lars Boom were the only riders we noticed at Paris-Roubaix on 'cross bikes in contrast to some other years where the machines were frequently a little more radical. Obviously there was no reason for shouldering here – the main goal was tire clearance.
The hot setup looked to be 27mm-wide Paris-Roubaix tubulars, used by Boonen, Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), and countless others. Boom's Giant TCX Advanced SL 'cross bike, however, allowed for even bigger 30mm FMBs inflated to just 60psi or so.
Otherwise, most of the key teams and riders rode bikes that are virtually tailor-made for such conditions stock or after only just a few modifications. Sky went with Pinarello Dogma Ks, Garmin-Barracuda on the very well proven modified Cervélo R3, Lotto-Belisol on Ridley Heliums with different forks, and Argos-Shimano on tweaked Felt F1s.
One notable exception was Liquigas-Cannondale's disc brake-equipped Cannondale SuperX 'cross bike. It seems this was mostly just for show, though, as it wasn't really equipped for Paris-Roubaix with its Mavic C29ssmax mountain bike wheelset, 23mm-wide clincher tires, and standard 53/39T gearing. Nonetheless, if the point was to draw a crowd, it worked – there were definitely lots of people checking it out.
Here's a look at most of the remaining bikes at Paris-Roubaix we didn't already cover yesterday but there will still be more to see in the coming days. We're not done yet!
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Liquigas-Cannondale had this disc-equipped Cannondale SuperX mounted atop the team car but it seemed like more of a publicity stunt than a proper spare bike for Paris-Roubaix. Don't forget that the UCI has apparently already banned the technology for the 2012 road season
