Mickael Cherel's 2018 Factor O2 - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
AG2R La Mondiale choose to modify their Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 rear derailleurs to integrate CeramicSpeed's OSPW system - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
CeramicSpeed's OSPW system claims to reduce friction, improve power transfer and have greater longevity than standard products - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
AG2R are the final WorldTour team to still be using Dura-Ace 9000 series components - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
The French WorldTour team use the popular Continental Competition ALX tubular tyres - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Cherel runs a Dura-Ace 11-28 cassette - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
French pedals for the French team - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Black Inc works closely with Factor to produce finishing kit including seatposts, handlebars and stems - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
As well as the OSPW derailleur system, CeramicSpeed provides the headset and bottom-bracket bearings for the team - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
A look at the Black Inc cockpit - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
The Black Inc cockpit is paired with Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 levers - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Black Inc also provides the team with subtle, black handlebar tape - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Cherel opts for a Fizik Antares saddle - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Name stickers on the top tube feature the famous colours of the French WorldTour team - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
A neat number-plate mount from K-Edge sits on the rear brake mount - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Colour-coordinated Elite Custom Race Plus bottle cages for the team - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
The French component trend continues with Mavic's Cosmic Ultimate carbon wheels - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
A look at the Black Inc carbon seatpost - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Black Inc opts for subtle decals on all its components - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Chérel rides a size 56 frameset - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Chérel's view of the cockpit - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
The Factor O2's seatpost clamp system sits on the inside of the frame triangle - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Loyal AG2R La Mondiale domestique Mikaël Chérel began his eighth season with the French WorldTour squad at this month’s Tour Down Under.
Despite being a size 56 frame, Chérel’s Factor O2 weighs just 6.81kg — a mere 100g above the UCI weight limit — and is the same build that Romain Bardet rode to third place at last year’s Tour de France.
The lightweight machine is paired with finishing kit from Black Inc, including handlebars, stem, bar tape and seatpost.
Wheels from Mavic and pedals from Look give the French team’s bike a taste of their home country, while Continental and Fizik provide the tyres and saddle respectively.
The French WorldTour team use the popular Continental Competition ALX tubular tyres - Colin Levitch/Immediate Media
Along with Bahrain-Merida, AG2R La Mondiale are equipped with cranksets from power meter specialists SRM.
AG2R’s SRM Origin crankset is the only component remaining in the WorldTour peloton that is still utilising Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 series components in the form of chainrings. Bahrain-Merida have paired their cranksets with the updated Dura-Ace R9100 series chainrings.
The rest of the build does come in the form of Shimano’s latest Dura-Ace R9100 series groupset, however, and a neat number-plate holder from K-Edge completes Chérel’s build.
Click or swipe through the gallery above for a closer look at the Frenchman’s machine.
