Cadel Evans (BMC) has held the Giro d'Italia's coveted pink jersey twice before but, unlike in 2002 and 2010, the plucky Australian is looking to keep that jersey on his back all the way to the finish in Trieste. Here's a look at the BMC TeamMachine SLR01 that Evans hopes will carry him there.
BMC recently redesigned its flagship SLR01 model, bringing down the chassis weight while at the same time supposedly also increasing its stiffness and making it more comfortable. Those traits sit at the top of the list for a GC contender like Evans, who spends little of his time punching through the wind on his own and isn't interested in a more aerodynamic – but heavier – machine such as BMC's own TMR01.
Cadel Evans (BMC) is currently leading the Giro d'Italia – but can he maintain that position until the finish in Trieste?
We weighed a 54cm SLR01 frame at 790g back in May – a drop of about 100g from the previous versions. As is commonplace in the pro ranks, however, Evans uses a smaller size than would typically be expected for someone who stands 1.74m (5ft 8in) tall – and his 51cm chassis should be lighter still. As shown with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 electronic group, Continental-shod, 35mm-deep Shimano carbon tubular wheels, 3T cockpit components, a fi'zi:k saddle, and an SRM power meter and computer, Evans' bike weighs just 7.00kg (15.43lb).
It's a good move to position the electronic derailleur wire by the brake housing port. The unused mechanical housing stops are capped with a tidy plug
Swapping in Shimano's shallower C24 wheelset would bring things right down to the UCI-mandated 6.8kg minimum for the big mountain stages. With either setup, Evans carries on with traditional 22mm-wide rubber, although that's partly to do with the fact that neither of his preferred wheelsets are currently made with correspondingly wide cross-sections to match.
Aside from the low weight, Evans' SLR01 is also notable for its characteristically aggressive position, with more than 110mm of handlebar drop and a powerful 80mm of saddle setback. The handlebar setup is a bit unusual too, with 2cm lopped off the ends and padding added beneath the tape both on the drops and up top.
Evans prefers a traditional-bend bar, with about 2cm cut off of the ends and padding beneath the grippy tape on the tops and drops
According to BMC team mechanic Jurgen Landrie, Evans "just likes it that way."
With such an impressive palmarès, though, who is anyone to argue, right?
Cadel Evans is hoping for Giro d'Italia glory aboard BMC's revamped TeamMachine SLR01
Complete bike specifications
- Frame: BMC TeamMachine SLR01, 51cm
- Fork: BMC TeamMachine SLR01
- Headset: Integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 1/4in tapered
- Stem: 3T ARX Team, 120mm x -6°
- Handlebar: 3T Rotundo Team, 42cm, w/ 2cm trimmed from ends
- Tape: 3T
- Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads
- Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 w/ Shimano carbon-specific pads
- Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070
- Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000, 11-28T
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000
- Crankset: SRM PowerMeter Shimano 11-speed, 172.5mm, 53/39T
- Bottom bracket: C-Bear ceramic
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL PD-9000
- Wheelset: Shimano Dura-Ace WH9000-C35-TU
- Front tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited Allround tubular, 22mm
- Rear tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited Allround tubular, 22mm
- Saddle: fi'zi:k Antares w/ carbon shell and braided carbon rails
- Seatpost: BMC TeamMachine SLR01
- Bottle cages: Elite Custom Race (2)
- Other accessories: SRM PowerControl 7 computer
Critical measurements
- Rider's height: 1.74m (5ft 8in)
- Rider's weight: 68kg (149lb)
- Saddle height from BB, c-t: 743mm
- Saddle setback: 80mm
- Seat tube length (c-t): 505mm
- Tip of saddle nose to midpoint of bars (next to stem): 573mm
- Saddle-to-bar drop: 114mm
- Head tube length: 128mm
- Top tube length (effective): 535mm
- Weight: 7.00kg (15.43lb, with computer)