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TECH NEWS: TOUR DE FRANCE TECH: THE SILVER BULLETS
Zap
July 17, 2010
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Photo by Yuzuru Sunada
MARK CAVENDISH'S SCOTT F01
Early on in the Tour Mark Cavendish and his new Scott F01 could do little more than look on at Fabian Cancellara and wonder what it must feel like to wear yellow.
Only a handful of HTC/Columbia riders were aboard the prototype F01. Mark Cavendish used his (with a special silver paint scheme) up until Stage Four after which he decided to revert back to his trusty & proven 2010 Addict. The F01 project has been two years in the making and although Scott says it is not currently in the 2011 product line, it could show up for a spring 2011 release.
Cavendish made additional headlines after Stage Four when he reportedly got quite upset at himself/his bike/his team/his Facebook status (?). Apparently, his undoing was the over new Pro Components stem which he deemed too flexy to get the job done in the last few meters. For the following day, Cavendish switched back to his trusty Addict with the old Pro carbon stem which resembles a cinder block in terms of size, girth and stiffness. The result? A decisive victory! As has become THE fashion for 2011, the F01 runs internally routed cables and the buttressed head tube.
The exquisite melding of tubes on the F01 is most apparent at the seat tube/top tube junction. Add to the mix an internal seat binder and the prototype Scott enjoys one of the most tasteful frame sections in the peloton. We were told that compared to the Addict frame, the new F01 frame which has all new tube profiles, has a 13% reduction in weight over the Addict (with a claimed weight of 840 grams), a 10% increase in stiffness and a 20% reduction in wind drag.
While all the HTC/Columbia riders were on the Continental/Hed wheels (w/ no graphics due to their Shimano contract) and Fizik saddles, some used Shimano Di2 drivetrains (not Cavendish), and there was a mix of Pro carbon/aluminum stems.
While Cavendish switched back to his Addict, teammates Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel (above) stayed on their new F01s and used them to deliver Mark to his much anticipated stage wins.
ANDY SCHLECK'S (PRE-YELLOW) SPECIALIZED TARMAC SL3
Despite our intention to ride off on Andy Schleck's Tarmac SL3 to shoot photos, Saxo team personnel wouldn't let the bike out of their hands - go figure! Andy's bike stood out with its polished chrome-like finish. Kudos to Specialized and the Saxo Bank/Astana teams for allowing some personality in the race with custom paint schemes on the bikes for Schleck, Contador and Vino.
The message on Andy's top tube is certainly playing out in this year's Tour de France.
As outdated as the "tribal" graphic has become, some of it still found its way as a decorative effect on Andy's chainstay. Like teammate Fabian Cancellara, Andy runs the oversized Berner derailleur pulley wheels.
Apparently, a ProLogo saddle from last year is still good enough for Andy to use to wear the yellow jersey with this year. FSA supplies the carbon seatpost and handlebars.
Andy Schleck and his Specialized Tarmac SL3 would go from this....
Photo by Yuzuru Sunada
To this in just a matter of days. The question now, will it last to Paris?
Photo by Yuzuru Sunada
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