Taylor Phinney's Cannondale Slice has a few unusual things going on(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Hopefully the ceramic bearings are a bit smoother than the paint job(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Not quite a Tony Martin 58t, but Phinney's 56t seems to serve him just fine, with two top-20 time trials in his first Tour (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Phinney rode into the KOM jersey on stage 2 of the Tour off the back of a good stage 1 time trial (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Eyeballing saddle height is not something pro mechanics do. Marking the saddle provides a static point of reference for stack and reach measurements (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Phinney uses a Specialized Romin on the road, and this well-padded Fizik Arione model for time trials (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Speaking of effieciency, Mavic opted to supply Cannondale with dual-purpose wheels to cover both rim and disc bikes(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
While big chainrings are for leverage, big pulleys are designed to improve efficiency by avoiding tight bends on the chain (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Clinchers can made with lower rolling resistance than the tubular tires that pros normally race(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Mavic's new, pro-only Carbon Pro Comete clinchers can be run as rim or disc wheels(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
To hide the junction box, or make charging more accessible? Cannondale mechanics go with a tidy version of the latter (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
When combined with the bayonet fork, the fore/aft depth on the Slice's head tube is enormous (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
TRP's brake systems are generally well regarded, but the brand is shut out of the full drivetrain game (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
Digital Di2 shifting or TRP mechanical braking? With a little glue, the answer: both(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
A little duct tape temporarily seals the disc's valve cut-out (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)
In his first Tour de France, American Taylor Phinney placed 12th and 17th in the race's two time trials aboard a Cannondale Slice. Perhaps more impressively, he fought his way into the break on stage 2 and claimed the polka-dot climber's jersey for a day. Somewhat curiously, his Slice TT bike is equipped with aero Mavic wheels that can work with rim and disc brakes.
Double-duty wheels
Like other WorldTour teams, Cannondale-Drapac has been experimenting with disc-brake bikes in races this year. Phinney's teammate Alberto Bettiol made history at the start of the race, becoming the first rider to race a Tour time trial on a disc-brake machine. Phinney also raced disc-ready wheels in the time trials — but on a rim-brake bike.
Mavic's new Carbon Pro Comete clinchers can be run as rim or disc wheels
For Mavic, sponsoring Cannondale presented a logistical challenge: how to supply a full complement of aero, climbing, cobbles and time trial wheels for both rim- and disc-brake bikes. For the time trials, Mavic opted to go for some wheels that could work for both.
"When you're trying to support the team during this transition between rim and disc, it is impossible to supply a full season's worth of wheels for both options," said Mavic brand manager Chad Moore. "So, we maximize efficiencies where we can when there is no impact on performance. They can easily run those TT wheels with or without rotors to work on both types of bikes."
The Centerlock hubs are the easiest giveaway that the wheels are ready for discs, but the front wheel's spoke lacing is a marker, too.
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Speaking of effieciency, Mavic opted to supply Cannondale with dual-purpose wheels to cover both rim and disc bikes
Phinney and at least a few other of his Cannondale teammates also raced on prototype clinchers that Moore said were "very fast and very grippy." World time trial champion Tony Martin and other top riders have used clinchers in the past, as they can be made with lower rolling resistance than stock tubulars.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look at Phinney's Cannondale Slice.
