Recently crowned German champion, Andre Greipel, is aboard Ridley's Noah SL, a bike renowned for its rigidity and aerodynamics, at this year's Tour(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Greipel's massive power numbers are recorded by a Campagnolo Record SRM with 172.5mm crankarms and stout 54/39 gearing. Campy's Super Record EPS shifts across Greipel's 11-25 cassette(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Unlike many national champions, Greipel isn't riding a custom painted machine, but his name tag does include the German flag(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Greipel's saddle of choice is Selle Italia's Turbomatic Team Edition. His seat height is 76cm and he tilts the nose of his saddle slightly down(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Like all race bikes, Greipel's is equipped with a transmitter than enables live on-bike feeds once a camera is installed(Image credit: Nick Legan)
As he has for some time, Greipel uses Deda's oversized 35mm diameter, 42cm wide handlebars and a lengthy 14cm stem. Reach from the tip of his saddle to the midpoint of his bar top is 58cm(Image credit: Nick Legan)
The only bike in the peloton with holes in the fork legs, the Noah uses them to help smooth turbulence between the front wheel and fork legs. A timing transponder is zip-tied to the right leg(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Before mechanics even had a chance to unload the race bikes, UCI officials were on hand to test for hidden electric motors(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Andre Greipel's Ridley Noah SL(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
A look at the Deda cockpit(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Andre Greipel runs a SRM Power Meter(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Looking down on the Deda front-end(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Ridley Noah SL has some of the most eye catching forks in the peloton(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
A look at the rear end of Greipel's Ridley Noah SL(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
"Live your Dream"(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Greipel opts for Look pedals(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Campagnolo looks after all the shifting(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The Selle Italia Turbomatic Team Edition for Greipel(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Elite bidon cages are a common choice for the pros(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Black and grey camo bartape for Greipel(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Despite his win at the German national championships, André Greipel has stuck with his normal team issue Ridley Noah for the opening stages of this year's Tour de France rather than riding a custom-painted model.
With a strong team dedicated to delivering Greipel to the line, it's likely that he didn't want to risk disrupting his fantastic form ahead of the world's most important race.
Well known for its extreme rigidity and aerodynamics, the Noah SL is a perfect machine for a rider of Greipel's impressive abilities. Other component choices also make it clear that this is a sprinter's bike – 54-tooth chainrings, for instance, are rarely used on road bikes by anyone but the fastest of finishers.
Deda's oversized 35 bars, with a 35mm diameter instead of industry-standard 32, and matching stem are extra stiff. Greipel also uses the strongest spring possible in his LOOK Keo Blade 2 Ti pedals, rated a 20, in lieu of the 12 or 16 options.
With Greipel, his compatriot Kittel, Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish and other fast men all in attendance at this year's Tour, only time will tell if Lotto-Soudal's finisher will do so with his arms raised in victory. But Greipel clearly has a bike that's up to the task.
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