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Boonen races new front-suspension Specialized Roubaix at Flanders

published 3 April 2017

Belgium's favourite son tackles his last Ronde aboard Future Shock'ed Roubaix

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The Future is now: Tom Boonen started the 101st Tour of Flanders on a Specialized Roubaix with a Future Shock(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Boonen rolls off to the start of his final Tour of Flanders (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Specialized's new 28mm Hell of the North S-Works Turbo tubulars (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

The Shimano sprint shifter barely peeks through the thick tape (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Tape nearly to the stem for Tom, who prefers to race without gloves(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Thick tape for Boonen at Flanders(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Boonen opted not to use the Roubaix's stock CG-R seatpost(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

This is the first major outing for the new Roubaix at a pro race(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

The spring on Boonen's Future Shock is quite stiff (Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Tom Boonen's rim-brake Specialized Roubaix(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Boonen had a Tarmac on the car as a back up(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Immediate Media)

Once last time up the Muur for Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

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Boonen goes out in style at final Tour of Flanders

The massive crowd in the old square of Antwerp, Belgium went silent at the announcer's request, then began a slow clap that sped into a frenzied cheer before Tom Boonen rolled up onto the carpeted catwalk to the stage of the Tour of Flanders. Belgium's big star started his final Ronde van Vlaanderen Sunday morning aboard a new Specialized Roubaix that has a suspension cartridge under the stem.

The new Roubaix Future Shock is a spring cartridge that suspends the handlebar and stem. The consumer model can be bought with three different spring weights, but Specialized team liaison Gianpaolo Mondini said the team has been experimenting with others. I felt Boonen's bike and the spring is very stiff, likely more so than the stiffest consumer option.

Also notable on Boonen's Roubaix — it's a rim-brake bike. All the new Specialized Roubaix models are disc only. Specialized still has the older-style Roubaix SL4 available in some rim models, but those do not feature the Future Shock.

The geometry also looks to be a custom setup for Boonen, allowing him to stay low with the Future Shock in between the head tube and the stem.

Another piece missing from the Roubaix is the stock CG-R seatpost. Its cobra design with a Zertz insert allows for about twice the flex of a normal seatpost. Specialized pitches this as a comfort feature for consumers; some pro riders equate comfort with inefficiency. Whatever the case, Boonen choose not to use it.

Boonen did go with Specialized's new Hell of the North 28mm tubulars, though, as did a few of his teammates. Most riders at the 101st Tour of Flanders went with the now-pro-standard 25mm option. Only a handful were on 28mm tubulars, which we will see in multitude at Paris-Roubaix next weekend.