Specialized unveil Project Black machine for Saxo Bank

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=615%2C800 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=615%2C800 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=616%2C800 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=616%2C800 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=615%2C800 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-137560 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/21/2019/03/1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383" width="295" height="383" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Specialized have provided Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) with this development mule called Project Black - which will almost certainly become the next-generation S-Works Roubaix SL3" title="1270627885421-wwfpnerh9x8l-083ca6f" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Specialized have provided Stuart O’Grady (Saxo Bank) with this development mule called Project Black – which will almost certainly become the next-generation S-Works Roubaix SL3 James Huang

Saxo Bank team sponsors Specialized have provided a few of their riders with their latest ‘Project Black’ road bike for this Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix.

Judging by an earlier Project Black bike, which was first tested under Tom Boonen and eventually became the S-Works Roubaix SL2, this new rig is almost certainly a thinly veiled preview of an upcoming S-Works Roubaix SL3.

Overall design cues are fairly similar with a giant down tube, a slightly smaller and notably bowed top tube, a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 3/8in front end, and enormous chainstays matched to dramatically smaller seatstays, all damped by Specialized’s trademark Zertz elastomeric inserts in the seatstays and fork blades.

Compared to the current Roubaix SL2, though, this new ‘SL3’ takes most of those concepts and pushes them even further. First off, the Zertz inserts are now significantly larger at both ends and are secured with a metallic plate bolted in from the backside (though it’s possible that plate is just cosmetic).

In addition, the SL3 seatstays are spindlier than before, and when viewed from behind they now follow a straighter path from the seat cluster to the dropouts. That should stiffen up the rear end laterally but, based on Specialized’s usual design directions, we expect the new SL3 to offer even greater vibration damping capabilities than the SL2 for a smoother ride, too.

Down tube, top tube and chainstay dimensions are still comparatively huge on the SL3 but with slight tweaks. The top tube is now more evenly bowed from end to end (compared to the SL2’s sudden kink at the head tube) and both the down tube and chainstays attach further down on the bottom bracket shell.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=1067,800&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,704&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,545&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,416&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,266&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,254&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,239&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1067" height="800" class="wp-image-137593 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="Compared to the current Specialized Roubaix SL2, the Zertz elastomeric inserts on the Project Black are absolutely huge" title="1270627885450-i7dap9zqkj4a-e276652" data-source-name="James Huang"> Compared to the current specialized roubaix sl2, the zertz elastomeric inserts on the project black are absolutely huge: compared to the current specialized roubaix sl2, the zertz elastomeric inserts on the project black are absolutely huge James Huang Down tube height looks to have decreased a tad down there as well and the transition to the chainstays is much smoother and cleaner looking than before. The seat tube has clearly received some attention, too, being more squared off toward the bottom and with a noticeably more asymmetrical shape than before. Unlike on the SL2, the outer diameter bulges out a bit as it joins the top tube and chainstay – suggesting perhaps a new joint method.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=1067,800&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,704&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,545&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,416&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,266&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,254&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,239&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1067" height="800" class="wp-image-137617 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="Chainstays are joined to the bottom bracket shell in a smoother fashion on the Project Black frame than on the current Roubaix SL2" title="1270628092288-zdwr91h9e0xi-5236ed1" data-source-name="James Huang"> Chainstays are joined to the bottom bracket shell in a smoother fashion on the project black frame than on the current roubaix sl2: chainstays are joined to the bottom bracket shell in a smoother fashion on the project black frame than on the current roubaix sl2 James Huang Dropouts are again aluminium at both ends with the rear likely using the same trick hollow construction as on the Tarmac SL3. In a first for Specialized on the road (if not, please feel free to let us know!), cable routing is fully internal for both derailleurs and the rear brake with the exception of a short exposed section at the bottom bracket guide – likely for ease of maintenance and setup. In addition to offering a cleaner look, the bolt-on entry and exit ports will almost certainly be made compatible with Shimano’s electronic Dura-Ace Di2 groupset for a nicely integrated package.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=1067,800&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,704&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,545&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,416&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,266&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,254&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,239&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1067" height="800" class="wp-image-137662 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="Derailleur and rear brake lines are routed internally on the Project Black frame" title="1270628371600-tgvtufe46dqt-d28b588" data-source-name="James Huang"> Derailleur and rear brake lines are routed internally on the project black frame: derailleur and rear brake lines are routed internally on the project black frame James Huang Specialized’s director of research and development, Chris D’Alusio, was tight-lipped about the new Project Black frameset, refusing to quote any weight or stiffness figures or even confirm or deny our observations. He said there are no firm plans for production, but we’re betting something very similar to this will be debuted as a 2011 model.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7.jpg?quality=90&lb=800,1067&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,970&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,741&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,473&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,453&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,426&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="800" height="1067" class="wp-image-137625 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="The Project Black fork blades are more curvaceous and look to be a tad deeper front to back than on the 2010 Specialized Roubaix SL2" title="1270628223105-1877qzujkxub5-65aabe7" data-source-name="James Huang"> The project black fork blades are more curvaceous and look to be a tad deeper front to back than on the 2010 specialized roubaix sl2: the project black fork blades are more curvaceous and look to be a tad deeper front to back than on the 2010 specialized roubaix sl2 James Huang