Former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom (Rabobank) went to his familiar roots, running a Giant TCX Advanced SL at this year’s Paris-RoubaixJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom (Rabobank) used an anatomic-bend PRO handlebar for his run at Paris-RoubaixJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom (Rabobank) used an aluminum bar and a carbon-wrapped stem – both by PRO – for Paris-RoubaixJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom (Rabobank) opted for the mechanical Dura-Ace version instead of the electronic one. Team officials said he thought the shift buttons were too sensitive on the cobblesJames Huang/BikeRadar
Giant cleverly use the internal routing as a structural element on the tapered head tubeJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom (Rabobank) gets his own personalized graphic on the head tube of his Giant TCX Advanced SL. ”Boom” means “tree” in Dutch.James Huang/BikeRadar
Rabobank team mechanics added an inline adjuster for the front derailleur cable on Lars Boom’s TCX Advanced SLJames Huang/BikeRadar
Giant integrate no crazy shaping into the TCX Advanced SL top tube, preferring just a wide and gently tapering form that helps maintain a stiff front endJames Huang/BikeRadar
The rectangular MegaDrive down tube on Lars Boom’s (Rabobank) Giant TCX Advanced SL is notably wide at the head tube and only gets wider as it moves toward the bottom bracketJames Huang/BikeRadar
There’s easily a finger’s width of room on all sides of the front tire on Lars Boom’s (Rabobank) Giant TCX Advanced SL, even with a bulbous 30mm casingJames Huang/BikeRadar
A deep-drop hanger eases cable routing on Lars Boom’s (Rabobank) Giant TCX Advanced SLJames Huang/BikeRadar
Rabobank’s Lars Boom ran a cantilever-equipped ‘cross bike to get more clearance, not for mud but for his preferred 30mm-wide tiresJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom’s brakes are lightweight with compact, low-profile arms, yet still include handy centering adjustmentsJames Huang/BikeRadar
Ball-joint sockets on the pad holders allow for toe-in and tilt adjustmentsJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom (Rabobank) planted himself on a Fi’zi:k Arione CX saddleJames Huang/BikeRadar
Fi’zi:k offer their sponsored athletes a wide range of options for saddles. Here, Lars Boom (Rabobank) has chosen an Arione CX with a nylon shell and K:ium railsJames Huang/BikeRadar
This year’s parcours could have been covered in slippery, sticky mud but it’s unlikely it would have kept Lars Boom’s (Rabobank) bike from continuing to roll given the massive clearances all aroundJames Huang/BikeRadar
Giant’s PowerCore bottom bracket design features press-fit cups that allow for wider frame tubesJames Huang/BikeRadar
The down tube is offset slightly to the non-driveside in order to make the most of the available real estate on the bottom bracketJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom (Rabobank) used standard Tacx Tao aluminum cages on his Giant TCX Advanced SLJames Huang/BikeRadar
Lars Boom’s (Rabobank) Shimano Dura-Ace crank, pedals, front derailleur and chain glisten in the sun before getting coated in dust at Paris-RoubaixJames Huang/BikeRadar
Shimano now make matched chainrings in more Paris-Roubaix-friendly ratios, like the 53/44T combination that Lars Boom (Rabobank) used on SundayJames Huang/BikeRadar
The integrated seatmast allows Giant to run the rear brake line directly through the top tubeJames Huang/BikeRadar
The Shimano Dura-Ace rear derailleur is affixed to a replaceable aluminum hanger and an aluminum dropoutJames Huang/BikeRadar
Giant claim that offsetting the seatstays and top tube allows for more flex in the seat tube for increased rider comfort on rough terrainJames Huang/BikeRadar