Pro bike: Lars Boom’s Rabobank Giant TCX Advanced SL

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=45&resize=462%2C600 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-328621 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/21/2019/03/1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0.jpg?quality=90&resize=461%2C600" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom (Rabobank) went to his familiar roots, running a Giant TCX Advanced SL at this year's Paris-Roubaix" title="1302682014065-1ooumf53x500v-53f8eb0" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom (Rabobank) went to his familiar roots, running a Giant TCX Advanced SL at this year’s Paris-Roubaix James Huang/BikeRadar

The modified Giant TCR Advanced SL machines that Rabobank typically use at Paris-Roubaix can already accommodate big 27mm-wide tubular tires for extra cushioning on the pavé. But for former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom, bigger is better.

This year Boom instead decided to use his familiar Giant TCX Advanced SL carbon ‘cross bike, which had more than enough room for the even more voluminous 30mm-wide tubulars he wanted to use to help him float across the cobbles.

Team officials wouldn’t comment on the exact make and model of tire Boom was using – they clearly weren’t sponsor-correct Vittorias – but the tread design and overall appearance suggested to us that they came from Dugast. Team mechanics did say, though, that Boom ran inflation pressures of just 72psi.

Armed with the bigger tires’ extra cushioning, Boom also passed over the traditional box-section aluminum tubular wheels of his teammates in favor of Shimano’s now discontinued 24mm-deep Dura-Ace carbon tubulars. As a result, his bike ended up being a full 500g lighter than other Rabobank bikes with an actual weight as pictured here of 7.39kg (16.29lb) – definitely more in keeping with some of the lighter Paris-Roubaix machines we’ve profiled this year.

Lars boom’s (rabobank) tires weren’t marked nor would team officials disclose their maker but they look like dugast’s paris-roubaix tread glued onto 30mm-wide casings: lars boom’s (rabobank) tires weren’t marked nor would team officials disclose their maker but they look like dugast’s paris-roubaix tread glued onto 30mm-wide casings James Huang/BikeRadar Lars Boom’s tires weren’t marked nor would team officials disclose their maker but they look like Dugast’s Paris-Roubaix tread glued onto 30mm-wide casings

Like a few other Shimano-sponsored riders who run Dura-Ace Di2 on their everyday race machines, Boom switched to the mechanical version for Paris-Roubaix despite the system’s increased susceptibility to housing contamination and longer shift lever throws. According to team mechanics, Boom felt that Di2’s super-short button throws were too sensitive when his fingers were bouncing around on the pavé and didn’t want to run the risk of a mis-shift during the race.

Typical Paris-Roubaix tweaks to the otherwise standard Dura-Ace 7900 group include 53/44T gearing (which Shimano now offer in matched sets to retain the stock setup’s superb shift performance) and a tight-ratio 11-23T cassette the better suit the flat parcours. Noteworthy is the fact that unlike many other racers that day, Boom went without a chain watcher.

Tight 11-23t spacing on lars boom’s (rabobank) giant tcx advanced sl for paris-roubaix: tight 11-23t spacing on lars boom’s (rabobank) giant tcx advanced sl for paris-roubaix James Huang/BikeRadar Tight 11-23T spacing on Boom’s Giant TCX Advanced SL for Paris-Roubaix

Shimano don’t make Dura-Ace cantilever brakes, so Giant and Rabobank instead commissioned lightweight aluminum brakes – anodized in team orange and blue colors – from one of their prototype suppliers in Taiwan. “These are new prototypes [done by] the same guy who makes the time trial brakes for us (Giant and Rabobank), the “standard” cross brakes for the Rabo team, and some other parts and projects with us,” said team technical director Andy Wollny. “It’s a small Taiwanese company – no big name, but very flexible and always able to help me to make special parts in a short time.”

Boom’s brakes feature simple dual-aluminum plate construction with no frills like spring covers or fancy hardware to keep the weight low. Ball-joint cartridge holders and slotted arms allow for proper pad placement, though, and tidy set screws are on hand for easy and precise centering. The low-profile configuration produces more power than the wide-profile brakes Boom usually uses for ‘cross.

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 casing: 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 casing James Huang/BikeRadar There’s easily a finger’s width of room on all sides of the front tire on Boom’s Giant TCX Advanced SL, even with a bulbous 30mm casing

Boom’s bike is finished with PRO’s Vibe carbon-wrapped stem and PLT Anatomic aluminum handlebar, Shimano Dura-Ace PD-7810 aluminum-bodied pedals, an FSA headset, a Fi’zi:k Arione CX saddle and a pair of Tacx Tao cages. Boom ultimately finished 12 th on the day .

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Giant TCX Advanced SL, size L/56.5cm Fork: Giant TCX Advanced SL, 1-1/8 to 1-1/4in tapered Headset: FSA Orbit integrated, 1-1/8 to 1-1/4in tapered Stem: PRO Vibe, 130 x -6° Handlebar: PRO PLT Anatomic, 42cm (c-c) Tape: PRO cork Front brake: Rabobank custom aluminum cantilever by Giant w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads Rear brake: Rabobank custom aluminum cantilever by Giant w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7900-F Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7900 Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-23T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7900, 175mm, 53/44T Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace SM-7800-P Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL PD-7810 Wheelset: Shimano Dura-Ace WH-7850-C24-TU Front tire: Custom Dugast Paris-Roubaix tubular, 30mm Rear tire: Custom Dugast Paris-Roubaix tubular, 30mm Saddle: Fi’zi:k Arione CX K:ium Seatpost: Integrated Bottle cages: Tacx Tao (x2) Critical measurements

Rider’s height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Rider’s weight: 78kg (172lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 817mm Saddle setback: 77mm Seat tube length, c-t: 554mm Seat tube length, c-c: 543mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 604mm Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 134mm Head tube length: 175mm Top tube length: 575mm Total bicycle weight: 7.39kg (16.29lb)