Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) started in Corsica on a Cervélo R5 specially decorated for the 100th Tour de France - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Fresh components for 2013 are present throughout the bike, which is a paragon of pedigree and consistent component choices - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 levers are the latest generation of electronic hardware from the Japanese manufacturers, and shift across the entire block with one sustained depression - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Martin’s 3T Arx Team Pro stem measured 140mm – the longest in the range - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The 42cm 3T Rotundo Pro is about as traditional a bar as you’ll get: aluminium with a medium drop - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Garmin-Sharp had a number of R5s at their hotel, but many of them were special editions for the 100th Tour - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
On the top tube, more decals denote a bike for an extra special Tour de France - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The new Dura-Ace brakes have won plaudits for their extra braking power over previous generations - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
While big brands dominate componentry on the Cervélo, bottle cages come from Arundel - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Martin’s name was committed to the frame before it left the paint shop; that’s not a sticker - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The mechanic’s neat handiwork to hide cabling for the Rotor chain catcher sits alongside the frame’s vital statistics; note stack and reach measurements sitting alongside more traditional frame centimetre size - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The only deviation from the Dura-Ace groupset is around the crank and bottom bracket: Spanish company Rotor provide the SRM crank and chainrings, and give the bike an edgy look - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Well-worn and wide-platformed Dura-Ace pedals take the load - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The Fi’zi:k Antares Braided saddle, like the pedals, shows signs of wear: tried and tested contact points - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The workmanlike 3T finishing kit continues with a Doric Team seatpost - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
A pristine, brand new 11-25 Dura-Ace cassette with which to start the Tour - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
With a cable tie, the mechanics make use of the mechanical gear lug to hold the electronic wiring - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The pro mechanic’s standard solution to adapt electronic gearing to non-specific frames – tape - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The Mavic Cosmic Carbone 80 CX01 wheels are shod with 25mm tyres, which the mechanic told us have better aerodynamic, rolling resistance and traction properties - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) started in Corsica on a Cervélo R5 specially decorated for the 100th Tour de France - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) has enjoyed a breakthrough season this year. Three prestigious wins – a stage and the overall in the Tour of Catalonia, and victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege – mean the 26-year-old specialist climber has joined the firmament of the best cyclists in the peloton.
This year, Martin’s principal bike for the 2013 Tour de France – only his second – will be the Cervélo R5 – a tried and tested, no nonsense frameset that’s light and stiff, to serve him in the mountains, and aerodynamic enough for use on the fast flat stages.
To celebrate the 100th Tour, Cervélo have painted up limited edition frames for the race. The blue argyle in the badge, yellow details in the frame and flash of scarlet in the Fi’zi:k Antares Braided saddle might not be to everyone’s taste but do make the bike stand out.
Beneath the decals, this bike has pedigree. The 2014 Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed groupset runs the length of the bike, only interrupted by Rotor SRM cranks and chainrings. The bike we saw during stage 1 weighed 7.23kg (15.94lb), but a saving can be made on the CXR60T wheels that were fitted for the fast and flat opening stage.
On the top tube, more decals denote a bike for an extra special tour de france: - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Decals denote a bike for an extra special Tour de France
Team manager Jonathan Vaughters believes the experienced Garmin-Sharp squad, weighted towards climbers such as Martin, form “a group of guys that together can create chaos in the race”.
Complete bike specification
Frame: Cervélo R5, 54cm
Fork: Cervélo R5
Headset: FSA Orbit IS-2
Stem: 3T ARX-Team Pro 140mm ±17 degrees
Handlebar: 3T Rotundo Pro, 42cm (c-c)
Tape: 3T Pro
Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000
Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace ST-9070
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-9070
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-9070
Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-9070
Sam Dansie is a former contributor to BikeRadar. With 15 years experience working in cycling media, Sam also worked for Procycling and was a script writer for GCN.
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