Pro bike: Lance Armstrong’s Radioshack Trek Madone 6 Series

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-324712 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/21/2019/03/1270414274790-1gegq7td3yeal-70c79dc.jpg?quality=90&resize=461%2C600" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Lance Armstrong recons the Muur van Geraardsbergen on his Trek Madone before the Tour of Flanders" title="US cyclist Lance Armstrong of the Radios" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Lance Armstrong recons the Muur van Geraardsbergen on his Trek Madone before the Tour of Flanders AFP/Getty Images

Lance Armstrong (Team Radioshack) returned to the Tour of Flanders after a four-year hiatus, again on a Trek Madone but one that is a far cry from the one he used back in 2005.

Armstrong’s latest 58cm Pro Fit Madone 6 Series frame is essentially identical to the one he usually uses on the road. It has the same tapered front end, directly moulded-in bearing seats at the head tube and bottom bracket, extra wide down tube and chain stay spacing, and novel no-cut integrated seat mast. Internally routed control lines yield a cleaner look but in this case also lend greater protection from contamination, especially in combination with the sealed SRAM Professional System by Gore sealed cable set.

One critical – but very subtle – difference we noted was a few millimetres more tyre clearance up front between the tyre and fork crown in case of mud and Armstrong was reported to be the only Radioshack rider using it today.

When questioned, Trek team liaison Ben Coates was quick to point out that while the Ronde van Vlaanderen-special fork wasn’t exactly a consumer item, it “came from stock parts” – presumably using fork tips from another Trek model and apparently said in reference to the UCI technical rule stating that prototype materials can’t be used in competition.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C225, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C450 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C675 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C225, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C450 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C675 3x" type="image/jpeg"><source media="(max-width: 375px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C266, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=710%2C532 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=1065%2C799 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 375px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C266, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?quality=45&resize=710%2C532 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400227435-10n3oq82rt3xu-85b4955.jpg?quality=45&resize=1065%2C799 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Lance armstrong’s team radioshack trek madone 6 series is ready to go just two hours prior to the start of the ronde van vlaanderen.: James Huang/BikeRadar.com Ready to roll

The additional tyre clearance at the crown would be wholly unnoticeable were it not for the giveaway on the front brake: the pads are set several millimetres lower than usual.: James Huang/BikeRadar.com The additional tyre clearance at the fork crown

Additional changes were similarly subtle but otherwise limited to componentry. To help with the unrelentingly pounding cobbles, alloy Bontrager Race Lite handlebars were swapped in for Armstrong’s usual carbon fibre Race XXX Lite model, then double wrapped with Bontrager cork tape and cushioned with Bontrager Isogel padding.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C225, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C450 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C675 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C225, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C450 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C675 3x" type="image/jpeg"><source media="(max-width: 375px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C266, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=710%2C532 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=1065%2C799 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 375px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C266, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?quality=45&resize=710%2C532 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270400395639-12vxeit645ds7-6f48209.jpg?quality=45&resize=1065%2C799 3x" type="image/jpeg"> 24mm-wide hutchinson tubulars (inflate to just 87/90psi front/rear) are mounted to 50mm-deep bontrager aeolus 5.0 carbon rims.: James Huang/BikeRadar.com 24mm-wide Hutchinson tubulars (inflate to just 87/90psi front/rear) are mounted to 50mm-deep Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 carbon rims

Interestingly, Armstrong also chose to run his familiar Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 carbon tubular wheels instead of the aluminium box-section wheels used by his teammates but wrapped around them were the standard-issue 24mm-wide Hutchinson tubulars. Drenchingly wet conditions prior to the start prompted comparatively low 87/90psi front/rear inflation pressures for better traction on the wet cobbles but improving weather may have prompted a change later on.

A longtime advocate of shimano spd-sl pedals, armstrong made the switch to look kéo this year in case he needs to borrow a bike from a teammate during a race.: James Huang/BikeRadar.com Armstrong switchwd to Look KéO from Shimano SPD-SL pedals this year

Armstrong recently switched from his long-running Shimano SPD-SL pedals in favour of Look KéO Blades to facilitate emergency bike changes with his otherwise Look-equipped teammates though his drivetrain still displayed a unique spec. Instead of the team-issue PG-1090 PowerDome cassette, Armstrong was using the heavier – but quieter-running – PG-1070 model, along with the revised PC-1090R chain with more aggressive chamfering for reduced noise as used by all SRAM riders in De Ronde.

Armstrong’s ride position has changed little from recent years save for some minor saddle adjustment: his height has gone up to 758mm and his setback has decreased to 70mm.

As for the total bike weight, we’d love to tell you but weren’t permitted to take a reading on our scale. According to Trek team liaison Ben Coates, the team would prefer that its competition not get more information on its bikes than necessary and also doesn’t want its riders to worry if they’re right on the cusp of the UCI-mandated 6.8kg limit.

Along those same lines, Team Radioshack seemingly doesn’t want the competition to know too much about its riders’ physical conditions, either, as we also weren’t able to obtain Armstrong’s current body weight for our associated rider profile. “I don’t have that info,” said recently hired team physiologist Allen Lim.

Armstrong says he was here at De Ronde not to vie for the win but rather test himself and his equipment plus learn more about how the peloton behaves on the cobbles in preparation for July’s Tour de France. Nevertheless, he always made sure he was safely near the front as usual – even attacking with 50km to go – and did a good job of staying out of trouble, earning a 27th place finish to boot. Not exactly bad for a ‘training race’, eh?

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Trek Madone 6 Series, size 58cm Pro Fit Fork: Trek Madone 6 Series Headset: Cane Creek 110 integrated Stem: Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 12cm x -6° Handlebars: Bontrager Race Lite, 44cm (c-c) Tape/grips: Bontrager Cork Tape, double wrapped with additional Bontrager Isogel padding Front brake: SRAM Red with carbon-specific pads Rear brake: SRAM Red with carbon-specific pads Brake levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap Front derailleur: SRAM Red with Force steel cage Rear derailleur: SRAM Red Shift levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap Cassette: SRAM PG-1070, 11-26T Chain: SRAM PC-1091R Crankset: SRAM Red GXP, 175mm, 39/53T Bottom bracket: Trek Madone integrated Pedals: Look KéO Blade Wheelset: Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 tubular Front tire: Hutchinson tubular, 24mm, 87psi Rear tire: Hutchinson tubular, 24mm, 90psi Saddle: Selle San Marco Concor Lite Seat post: Trek Madone 6 Series carbon seatmast cap Bottle cages: Trek Bat Cage Computer: Bontrager Node 1 Other accessories: SRAM Professional System by Gore derailleur cables and housing Critical measurements

Rider’s height: 1.77m (5′ 10″) Rider’s weight: 73kg (161lb) (unconfirmed) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 758mm Saddle setback: 70mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 575mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 80mm Head tube length: 160mm Top tube length: 573mm (horizontal)