Lance Armstrong recons the Muur van Geraardsbergen on his Trek Madone before the Tour of FlandersAFP/Getty Images
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
Armstrong is competing in his first Ronde van Vlaanderen since 2005.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong is flying number 161 for today’s race.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The SRAM Red DoubleTap levers are set high on Armstrong’s signature Variable Radius-bend Bontrager handlebars.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Bars are first cushioned with Bontrager Isogel padding then double wrapped with Bontrager cork tape.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong’s usual carbon bar is replaced for the spring classics with an aluminium version.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong’s spare bike was mistakenly fitted with a 130mm stem the morning of the race – but was promptly swapped to the same 120mm length as used on his primary bike before loading it into the team bus.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Bontrager Node 1 wireless computer displays critical information in an easy-to-read format.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The internally routed cables maintain a clean appearance but also protect them from contamination.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Tyre clearance at the fork crown is noticeably increased over standard Madones.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
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
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
Red anodised aluminium valve extenders peek out from behind the carbon rim fairings.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong’s trademark Selle San Marco Concor Lite saddles were often free of identifying logos in recent years but they’re flown proudly now.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong has his usual Selle San Marco saddle on both bikes though the one on the primary rig is badged with the Mellow Johnny’s logo.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Team mechanics use this simple method to keep Armstrong’s primary and secondary machines separate – though it really doesn’t matter much as they’re essentially identical.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Rear clearance appears to be typical of production items.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong has long preferred the Trek Bat Cage for its secure bottle holding ability.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Armstrong’s 175mm-long SRAM Red crankarms are fitted with 53/39T chainrings.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
A Force steel cage is spliced on to the Red front derailleur for additional stiffness and presumably faster shifting.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
Trek’s BB90 direct-fit bottom bracket system allows for an extra-wide down tube and broadly spaced chain stays.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
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’s secondary bike sports a red grub seal on the Gore cable but his primary one is fitted with – what else – a yellow one.James Huang/BikeRadar.com
The Bontrager Node 1 wireless speed and cadence sensor is tucked inside the non-driveside chain stay.James Huang/BikeRadar.com