Paris-Roubaix 2014 – tech gallery part one

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=462%2C600 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-331732 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383" width="295" height="383" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Team Belkin’s super chunky tire choice looked aggressive on the Bianchi Infinito CV" title="1397396227778-1k1jkhs0r0k2v-2583b7e" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Team Belkin’s super chunky tyre choice looked aggressive on the Bianchi Infinito CV Sam Dansie/BikeRadar

Paris-Roubaix is arguably the race of the year where setup from team to team, rider to rider diverges the most. As well as using the full armoury of kit at their disposal, teams often come up with their own unique fixes for irritating problems like bouncing water bottles and fingers slipping off brake levers, and do what they can to cushion riders from the bone shaking vibrations of pavé sections totaling more than 50km.

This year FMB tyres once again came to the fore and in a range of widths, too. The French specialist – a long-time provider of tyres to the top contenders – appear to have gone mainstream. They’re fitted to a large number of riders’ bikes this year and set up a partnership with Specialized, too.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=1024,681&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,625&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,484&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,369&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,236&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,226&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,212&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1024" height="681" class="wp-image-331747 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="FMB tires were ubiquitous across the peloton – including on Edvald Boasson Hagen’s (Team Sky) Pinarello" title="1397394543955-1xvesz2tjmnum-3727075" data-source-name="Sam Dansie/BikeRadar"> FMB tyres were ubiquitous across the peloton – including on edvald boasson-hagen’s (team sky) pinarello : Sam Dansie/BikeRadar FMB tyres shod a number of pro team bikes at Paris-Roubaix this year

In general, we saw widths ranging from standard 25mm to monstrously chunky 30mm tubulars on Sep Vanmarcke and other riders at the Belkin and Europcar squads.

Mechanics trying to find ways to stop bottles bouncing out ranged from United Healthcare’s quirky use of cable ties to Team Sky’s more sophisticated use of grip tape.

Check out our tech gallery of bikes from Compiègne this morning.