Classics star Tom Boonen and his Quick Step team will stay on Eddy Merckx bikes for another season, but will upgrade to the company's all-new EMX-7 carbon flagship and the heavily revamped EMX-5, both with all the bells and whistles of other modern race machines.
Key features include the usual must-haves: a tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" head tube, an integrated bottom bracket with press-fit bearing cups and internal cable routing. As a side benefit of the stiffer and more precise handling front end and lighter crank bearing assembly, the upsized head tube and bottom bracket also allow for a broader down tube and wider spacing on the asymmetrical chain stays, both of which help increase drivetrain and torsional rigidity.
The EMX-7 - Tom Boonen's choice machine - also adds nominally aero-shaped tubes, an upgraded composite blend with strategically placed patches of pitch carbon fibre for additional stiffness, and an integrated seatmast. The EMX-5 carries on with a standard, round, telescoping post. Both models retain Eddy Merckx's stable stage race-type geometry with relatively slack head tube angles and low bottom brackets.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) walks over to his bike before the day's ride
Campagnolo's second-tier Record 11 rear derailleur uses aluminum knuckles instead of Super Record's carbon fiber ones
Campagnolo has fitted the latest Record 11 front derailleurs with stiffer mechanisms for faster shifts under power
Quick Step mechanics fit the team bikes with Campagnolo Record 11 groups across the board, including the company's latest Ergopower lever internals for a more positive shift action, smoother hoods, and revised chainring tooth profiles. Campagnolo also provides the full catalog of wheelsets including both carbon and alloy tubulars depending on the task at hand (Boonen's bike is pictured here with training clinchers fitted).
Finishing kit is provided by FSA (bars, stems, headsets, and seatmast heads or seatposts depending on bike model), Vittoria (tires), Prologo (saddles and bar tape), Look (pedals), Tacx (bottles and cages), and BBB (computers).
Complete bicycle specifications
- Frame: Eddy Merckx EMX-7, 58cm
- Fork: Eddy Merckx Aerofork
- Headset: FSA integrated
- Stem: FSA SL-K, 140mm x -6°
- Handlebars: FSA compact, 44cm (c-c)
- Tape/grips: Prologo
- Front brake: Campagnolo Record 11 D-Skeleton dual-pivot
- Rear brake: Campagnolo Record 11 D-Skeleton single-pivot
- Brake levers: Campagnolo Record Ergopower Ultra-Shift 11s
- Front derailleur: Campagnolo Record 11s
- Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Record 11s
- Shift levers: Campagnolo Record Ergopower Ultra-Shift 11s
- Cassette: Campagnolo Record 11s
- Chain: Campagnolo Record 11s
- Crankset: Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque ST 11s, 177.5mm, 53/39T
- Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque press-fit
- Pedals: Look KéO Blade
- Wheelset: Campagnolo Zonda
- Front tire: Vittoria
- Rear tire: Vittoria
- Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro TR
- Seat post: FSA integrated head
Critical measurements
- Rider's height: 1.92m (6'4")
- Rider's weight: 82kg (181lb)
- Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 820mm
- Saddle setback: 100mm
- Seat tube length, c-t: N/A
- Seat tube length, c-c: 514mm
- Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 645mm
- Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 135mm
- Head tube length: 174mm
- Top tube length: 582mm (horizontal)