Race tech: Special machines for Cancellara, Schleck brothers

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=615%2C800 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=615%2C800 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=616%2C800 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=616%2C800 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=45&resize=615%2C800 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-222737 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C723" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Specialized were waiting in the wings with a bright yellow frameset in case one of their riders was in yellow. They didn't have to wait long, either, after Fabian Cancellara assumed the role as race leader after winning the prologue" title="1278412841714-1ctom458finbh-89dca3e" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Specialized were waiting in the wings with a bright yellow frameset in case one of their riders was in yellow. They didn’t have to wait long, either, after Fabian Cancellara assumed the role as race leader after winning the prologue James Huang

Saxo Bank riders are keeping team sponsors Specialized awfully busy at this year’s Tour de France. While many teams have just one or two riders aboard custom painted machines (if any), Saxo Bank have three – early race leader Fabian Cancellara and general classification contenders Andy and Fränk Schleck – and don’t forget about the spares, either.

Cancellara’s S-Works Tarmac SL3 is fairly straightforward, being finished in a monotone bright yellow. Adding to the theme are Zipp wheels with matching yellow decals, SRAM’s special Red LTE (Limited Tour Edition) transmission and brakes with black anodised aluminium bits and yellow graphics, and yellow brake hoods that were swapped in minutes before the start of Stage 1.

Otherwise, it’s his standard race machine including a Specialized S-Works Pro-Set stem, FSA bar and seatpost, Prologo saddle, Speedplay Zero pedals, Veloflex tyres, Specialized carbon crank with integrated SRM power meter, Tacx bottle cages and, of course, a shield on the top tube inspired by his ‘Spartacus’ nickname.

Cancellara would be riding a special machine if he wasn’t in yellow, though, as even his standard team-issue bike sports subtle accents to commemorate his status as Olympic time trial champion. Gold graphics decorate his SRAM Red rear derailleur and DoubleTap levers, chainring bolts and Nokon aluminium housing bits are anodised gold, Prologo provide a gold-accented Scratch TR saddle, and Speedplay even get in the game with gold pedal end caps.

Cancellara had a bright all-yellow machine to mark his status as gc leader but even his standard bike is special with gold-accented sram red components to celebrate his olympic gold medal: James Huang Even Cancellara’s standard bike is special, with gold-accented SRAM Red components

All things considered, Cancellara’s yellow Tarmac was fairly easy to get together as Specialized supply each of their teams with a collection of appropriately painted framesets to build up as the need arises. The far more ornate finish of the Schleck brothers’ bikes took a bit more work, though.

Both identically painted Schleck bikes proudly display the brothers’ Luxembourg heritage with a gleaming dark chrome-like base coat plus lion-theme graphics similar to what’s found on their national flag. Finishing things off are a few touches of red, white and light blue, blue cable end caps, and the custom Prologo Scratch TR saddles made for the brothers last year.

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C225, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C450 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C675 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C225, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?quality=45&resize=600%2C450 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?quality=45&resize=900%2C675 3x" type="image/jpeg"><source media="(max-width: 375px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C266, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=710%2C532 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=1065%2C799 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 375px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C266, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?quality=45&resize=710%2C532 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1278413011747-113d34x445iyo-3e6ff75.jpg?quality=45&resize=1065%2C799 3x" type="image/jpeg"> The custom painted frames gleam almost like they’re metal but they’re definitely carbon fibre: James Huang The Schlecks’ custom painted frames gleam like metal but they’re definitely carbon fibre

Finally, all three riders also share a propensity for Wolfgang Berner’s unique rear derailleur modification, which comprises a longer pulley cage and oversized 13T/15T upper/lower pulley wheels spliced onto an otherwise standard SRAM Red rear derailleur (the Schlecks use it on their road bikes; Cancellara only uses it for time trials along with Team RadioShack’s Lance Armstrong ).

Why the fuss? The theory is that the larger pulleys require the chain to bend less as it makes its S-shaped path back up to the cogs, thus creating less friction. SRAM road sports manager Alex Wassmann admits that the company are looking into the possibility of using the concept in production somehow, but says that instrumented testing thus far has been inconclusive. Guess that means we’ll have to wait and see, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it as part of a ‘Super Red’ group we’ve heard rumblings about for 2012.

SRAM red derailleurs fitted with oversized berner carbon fibre cages and pulleys are a hot item at this year’s tour with users including both of the schleck brothers, team-mate fabian cancellara, and lance armstrong (team radioshack): James Huang SRAM Red derailleurs fitted with Berner cages and pulleys are a hot item at this year’s Tour