The Frenchman's lightweight race features a classic mix of tubular tyres, traditional tube shapes and rim brake actuation
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Romain Bardet's Eddy Merckx Stockeu69 is actually just a Ridley Helium in disguise(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Eddy Merckx's signature adorns the top tube(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Bardet's name takes pride of place on the top tube(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
His initials also feature near the headset on the top tube(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Complete with Comete. Mavic supplies the tubular race wheels(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Bardet is using Shimano's range-topping Dura-Ace R9150 shifters(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Which is a theme that continues through to the rear mech (Image credit: Colin Levitch)
The front mech is also courtesy of Shimano Dura-Ace(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Shimano Dura-Ace also takes care of the braking(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
However, rather than using a Shimano Dura-Ace crank, Bardet is using Rotor's 2InPower power meter(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
The handlebar/stem combo is the Deda Alanera(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Which features an integrated out-front mount for his Garmin computer(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Despite the aero handlebar, the cables are external, and the Di2 junction box is situated beneath the stem(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Heat shrink has been put to good use, though(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Bardet is using Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic Ti pedals(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
This bling gold chain is the X11-SL from KMC(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
It's paired with an 11-30T cassette(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
And it wraps around 53/39T chainrings(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Elite Vico Custom Race Plus bottle cages weigh in at just 20 grams(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
The saddle looks to be an updated version of the Fizik Arione 00(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
It sits atop a Deda Superleggera seatpost with 25mm setback(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Marking the perfect saddle height are these branded stickers(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Behind the rear brake, a K-Edge number holder is fitted(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Lizard Skins provides tape for the aero bar(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Romain Bardet, like the rest of the cycling – and wider – world, is currently undertaking unprecedented social distancing and self-isolation measures in order to stop the spread of coronavirus. Cycling has been banned in Bardet's home country, France, itself an incomprehensible step in what is arguably the cycling capital of the World, and home to the biggest cycling race of the year, the Tour de France.
We caught up with Bardet before the 2020 season came to its abrupt hiatus and spent some time with his race bike, the Eddy Merckx Stockeu69. For the foreseeable future, the lightweight bike will be providing a different service: hooked up to a turbo trainer and plugged into Zwift, but let's delve into the details of the AG2R La Mondiale team-issue bike that Bardet hopes to ride again this year.
Romain Bardet's Eddy Merckx Stockeu69
With the eye-watering velocity at which new technology is filtering up from end-user preference and onto the bikes of the WorldTour pros, the Eddy Merckx Stockeu69 foregoes those marginal gains in favour of traditional style. If you were to believe various brands' marketing departments, you might assume that Bardet's bike is completely unrideable. Just look at that frame shape: there are no dropped seat stays, the tubing is round, there's no D-shaped seatpost and the cables are left to billow wildly in the wind.
There's not a tubeless tyre in sight, instead, Bardet's bike is fitted with primitive tyre technology called tubulars (remember them?) which are absolutely sponsor-correct. Honest. Nothing to see here, move along please, no black pens were harmed in the colouring-in of these Continental Pro Ltd tubs.
Finally, the bike is fitted with an ancient form of stopping power you might've read about called the rim brake - more commonly seen on the bikes that your grandfather would ride.
However, against all probable assumption, Cyclingnews can report that Bardet's bike does in fact work just fine. It was ridden to 2nd place on general classification at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var in February. Perhaps this is a true testament to his ability, or perhaps it's a reminder that the bike in your garage is just fine, and that when all this blows over, we should all get together and enjoy a ride, whatever bike you own.
Click through the gallery above for a closer look at Romain Bardet's Eddy Merckx Stockeu69
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Romain Bardet's Eddy Merckx Stockeu69 full bike specifications
Frameset: Eddy Merkckx Stockeu69
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 rim brake
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 rim brake
Brake/shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9100, 11-30T
Chain: KMC X11-SL Gold
Crankset: Rotor 2InPower power meter crankset, NoQ chainrings 53/39T
Wheelset: Mavic Comete Pro Carbon SL
Tyres race day: Vredestein Fortezza Senso Tri tubular
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
