Three-time world champion to race Allez Sprint Disc frameset
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Former world champion Peter Sagan will ride an alloy Specialized Allez Sprint Disc at the Tour Down Under(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
Sagan has opted for a 54-39 chainring combo for the opening crit race(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The rear derailleur cable guides languish unused on this Di2 built(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
A Romin Evo is Sagan's saddle of choice(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
Sagan opts to fit sprint shifters to the drops of his Aerofly handlebars(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The bike is fitted with a K-Edge chain catcher(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
Specialized's DSW system moves welds from their conventional locations and is claimed to result in a stronger and stiffer frame overall(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The team use Retul's system for bike fits(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The race number holder is neatly glued onto the back of the Allez Sprint's seatpost, which is borrowed from the Venge aero bike(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The bike is custom finished in Bora-Hansgrohe team colours (Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The disc-equipped bike is tied together with thru-axles at both ends(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
In another shift from convention, Sagan's bike is also set up with tubeless Specialized Turbo tyres in a 26mm width(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
Alloy in the pro peloton is an incredibly rare sight in 2019(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
As ever, Sagan opts for an unmarked Zipp Sprint SL stem(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
The bike is built around a Dura Ace 9170 Di2 groupset that is fitted with Specialized's own power meter(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
CeramicSpeed supplies bearings for the team(Image credit: Jack Luke/Immediate Media)
"I did some training on the bike at the team camp in Mallorca in December. Now they've built me a new bike, with new colours. It's a lot stiffer than the Venge and the Tarmac but we'll see. We're going to try and race it in the criterium and then we'll see how it goes. This will be the first time I've raced on it," Sagan exclusively told Cyclingnews at the Tour Down Under pre-race press conference.
We have also featured this bike in our Peter Sagan's bike archive in an overview of all the Slovak's race machines over the years.
Sagan’s alloy frame and carbon fork are paired with Bora-Hansgrohe’s usual Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 groupset, Specialized finishing kit and accessories from CeramicSpeed and K-Edge.
Roval CLX 64 carbon wheels are also upgraded with CeramicSpeed bearings and the three-time world champion — and current Slovakian national champion — will also race on 26mm S-Works Turbo RapidAir tubeless tyres as opposed to the more common tubular setup favoured in the WorldTour.
The Down Under Classic is the precursor to the WorldTour opener — the Tour Down Under — which begins on Tuesday. A 1.7km circuit in the heart of Adelaide is raced for an hour plus one lap, with sprint primes available on laps 5, 10, 15 and 20. Sagan won last year’s event.
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Specialized's Smartweld system moves welds from their conventional locations and is claimed to result in a stronger and stiffer frame overall
Specialized’s Allez Sprint Disc frameset features D’Alusio Smart Weld (DSW) technology, relocating the traditional welds for claimed improvements to stiffness and comfort.
The carbon forks used on frameset are the same as used on the brand’s more expensive Tarmac. The carbon aero-profiled seatpost is also borrowed from the aero Venge model.
A Romin Evo is Sagan's saddle of choice
The frame features a metallic silver base coat with green chevrons along the top tube fading to the Bora-Hansgrohe green team colours. Contrasting black Specialized decals feature on the fork, down tube and chainstays.
Sagan opts for his usual cockpit setup of an unmarked carbon stem and S-Works Aerofly handlebars. Supacaz handlebar tape is used on the drops and satellite sprint shifters are also positioned on the handlebar drops.
Sagan opts to fit sprint shifters to the drops of his Aerofly handlebars
The bike is built around a full Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Di2 disc groupset. Sagan is running the common 160mm front/140mm rear rotor combination and an 11-28 Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 cassette, which is paired with 54/39 chainrings. The Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 crankset is equipped with a Specialized power meter.
Specialized has a history of making bold equipment choices at the Tour Down Under — Sagan's gold Roval wheels used in the 2017 of the race spring to mind — and showing here that if an Allez Sprint Disc is good enough for Peter Sagan, it’s good enough for the rest of us, is bound to leave a lasting impact.
We expect Sagan to return to his usual S-Works Venge when the Tour Down Under begins in earnest on Tuesday but, at 8kg on the nose, Sagan’s Allez Sprint Disc shouldn’t pose any problems at the Down Under Classic tomorrow.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look at Peter Sagan’s custom-painted Specialized Allez Sprint Disc.
