Pro bike: Kristoff's Canyon Aeroad CF SLX

Team-only Mavic carbon rim and custom paint for Flanders contender

Coming off the overall win at Three Days of De Panne earlier this week, Alexander Kristoff is among the favorites for the Tour of Flanders

Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Ben Delaney

Published: April 3, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Coming off the overall win at Three Days of De Panne earlier this week, Alexander Kristoff is among the favorites for the Tour of Flanders - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX debuted last year as the German brand's aero machine - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Canyon isn't available in the United States, but is sold consumer direct elsewhere in the world - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
This team edition version of the Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate features a wide, snub-nosed rim. The consumer version comes to a thinner point - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
The rear Cosmic Carbones, however, feature the same shape as the consumer version - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
The perch of a Viking - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Kristoff and the rest of Katusha will be on Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX next weekend for Paris-Roubaix, but Kristoff deems the cobbles of Flanders mild enough to tackle on the aero bike - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Kirstoff's snow crystal adorns the integrated Aeroad cockpit - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Katusha's mechanic cleverly use the SRM head unit mount to wedge the Shimano Di2 junction box in place, avoiding cluttering the stem with Shimano's stock rubber-band mount - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
With 14cm of saddle-to-handlebar drop, Kristoff has his hoods kicked up high on the bars - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Shimano's so-called sprint shifter buttons are quite aptly named on this particular machine - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Shimano's direct-mount Dura-Ace caliper holds a non-Mavic pad for the carbon brake track - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Katusha is using 25mm Veloflex tubulars for the Tour of Flanders - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Mavic Cosmic Carbones are trued at the hub - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
How clean is your drivetrain? - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
Kristoff is hoping his number plate will be holding #1 in 2016… after a win this year - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media
175mm cranks on Kristoff's SRM - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Notching no less than three consecutive sprint wins at the Three Days of De Panne this week, Katusha's Alexander Kristoff is feeling good about his chances at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday.

The Norwegian's chances are further improved with the help of teammate and, for this weekend, super-domestique Luca Paolini, who just won the wind-pummelled Gent-Wevelgem last weekend.

Although boasting plenty of cobbles — with more than a dozen pavé sections between 300m and 2650m in length — the Tour of Flanders evidently isn't harsh enough for Kristoff to forego the aerodynamic benefit of his Canyon Aeroad CF SLX. (Most if not all Katusha riders will switch to Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX for Paris-Roubiax next weekend. Kristoff instead will rely on the cushion of 25mm Veloflex tubulars and his custom Selle Italia SLR saddle to take the edge off the kasseien.

The canyon aeroad cf slx debuted last year as the german brand's aero machine:

Saddle covers and custom paint aren't the only pro-only touches on Kristoff's bike; his front Mavic Cosmic Carbone features a team-only rim, which is wider and much more snub-nosed than the consumer model. The rear Cosmic Carbone is stock.

As befits a sprinter, Kristoff has Di2 shift buttons on the inside of his bars. He will be hoping to put those to good use come the finale of De Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday.

This team edition version of the mavic cosmic carbone features a wide, snub-nosed rim. the consumer version comes to a thinner point:

You won't find this snub-nosed rim on consumer versions of the Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate

Complete bike specifications

  • Frameset: Canyon Aeroad CF SLX
  • Stem/handlebar: Canyon Aerocockpit CF, 130mm x 410mm
  • Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace Direct Mount
  • Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace Direct Mount
  • Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
  • Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
  • Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
  • Additional shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 sprint shift buttons
  • Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace, 11-25T
  • Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
  • Power meter/crankset: SRMShimano 11-Speed, 53/39T
  • Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
  • Front wheel: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate - team edition rim
  • Read wheel: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate
  • Front tubular: Veloflex, 25mm
  • Rear tubular: Veloflex, 25mm
  • Saddle: Custom printed Selle Italia SLR
  • Seatpost: Canyon S27 Aero VCLS CF
  • Bottle cages: Elite (2)
  • Computer: SRM Power Control 7 (not pictured)

Critical measurements

  • Rider's height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
  • Rider's weight: 78 kg (172b)
  • Saddle height from BB, c-t: 79cm
  • Tip of saddle to center of bar: 62cm
  • Saddle-to-bar drop: 14cm

Ben Delaney

Contributor

Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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