Look 695 Aerolight, Orca Race, Pioneer power meters and more
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The Euskaltel-Euskadi team rode out on Orbea’s new Orca Race, a more organic evolution on the previous model that is based on stack and reach measurements, rather than conventional seat-tube and top tube numbers(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
The only hangover from Blanco days at the completely refreshed squad however were the Tacx bidons - all the bikes carried them(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Pinot seems to be trialling his position – the saddle is set back to almost comic proportions and at the front end there was steering spacers on top of his stem to allow for upward adjustment(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Thibaut Pinot’s (FDJ) Lapierre Xelius EFi frame was carrying a modified fork, with the top front edge cut away to accept a Shimano Dura-Ace Direct Mount brake(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Tyre maker Schwalbe have a new tyre in the athlete-testing process. These tyres on the AG2R-La Mondiale squad bikes bear the maker’s First Ride stamp on a model with a new diamond tread. It’s called the One(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
New to the 695 AeroLight is the Look AeroStem – an elegant, more aerodynamic evolution to the angular and brick-like C-Stem. The clamping mechanism is covered under the rubberised flap(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Hidden among the Cofidis team bikes was Christophe Le Mével’s Look 695 Aerolight. He was the only rider on the new frame. Instead of using Look’s one-piece Z2 crank, however, mechanics fitted a team issue FSA K-Force Light(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
There were three different styles of seatpost on the Orcas at the Euskaltel-Euskadi bikes – one straight and two with setback, and this was the most radical(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Rubén Pérez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was getting into the Tour mode with the special edition Polar RC3 Bike GPS watch. We’re not sure what proportion of the aero advantage of the new Orca frame is offset against the mounting(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
A decade on from the first Orca, the new model is compatible with both electronic and mechanical groupsets(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
The kinked seatstays and chainstays have been retained in the new Orca, but have been sculpted to give a more flowing look to the whole(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Dutch Team Belkin had seen that most components – including the Pioneer power meters - matched the sponsors new colours (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
The new Look 695 Aerolight at Cofidis, the new, more sculpted Orbea Orca and Pioneer power meters were all present on the first stage of the 2013 Tour de France.
Tyres from Schwalbe – called the One – carried the company’s First Ride stamp, a sure sign that some new road tyres are on the way.
French team FDJ appeared to be using a new, cut away fork on the Lapierre Xelius EFi frame too: the leading edge had a cutaway in the leading edge which housed a Shimano Dura-Ace Dual Mount brake.
Check out the gallery to the right for all the details.
Sam started as a trainee reporter on daily newspapers in the UK before moving to South Africa where he contributed to national cycling magazine Ride for three years. After moving back to the UK he joined Procycling as a staff writer in November 2010.
