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Pro bike: Francisco Mancebo's Rock Racing Kestrel RT 800

Even without decals, the Kestrel's unique shape is easy to identify.

  • Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) took a glorious win on stage 1 of the 2009 Tour of California aboard a Kestrel RT800.
  • Even without decals, the Kestrel's unique shape is easy to identify.
  • The top tube and down tube meld smoothly into the head tube, which uses a standard 1 1/8
  • The consumer-spec Kestrel RT800 comes with a carbon steerer but Mancebo's bike uses an aluminum one.
  • Rock Racing has switched from Campagnolo to Shimano for the 2009 season.
  • The Dura-Ace 7900 rear derailleur had a tough job to do during stage 1's brutally cold and wet conditions.
  • Mancebo's Dura-Ace crankset rotates on a standard external bottom bracket.
  • A stainless steel plate provides a firm anchor for the front derailleur.
  • Rock Racing mechanics have apparently opted to use the removable master link on the Dura-Ace 7900 chain.
  • Mancebo needed only an 11-23T cassette for stage 1.
  • Mancebo's bike came in with a Dura-Ace carbon tubular rear wheel…
  • …but a shallow-section carbon-aluminum clincher up front. This wasn't due to a puncture, though; the team opted for the shallower front wheels given the harsh winds of the day.
  • PRO provides Rock Racing with cockpit components including the Vibe carbon bar and handlebar.
  • Mancebo prefers an anatomic handlebar bend.
  • Mancebo's Vibe carbon seatpost is capped with a Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle.
  • A different seat clamp allows for the use of a round post in Mancebo's RT800 instead of the stock aero unit.

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Even without decals, the Kestrel's unique shape is easy to identify.

© James Huang/BikeRadar.com