Amgen tour of California 2012

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More bikes of the Tour de France: what the pros are riding this year

  • Katusha riders are using a mix of Ridley Noahs and Heliums for Tour de France road stages.

    Katusha riders are using a mix of Ridley Noahs and Heliums for Tour de France road stages.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Rabobank riders have a number of Shimano wheels to choose from.

    Rabobank riders have a number of Shimano wheels to choose from.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Head tubes on the Omega Pharma-Lotto team bikes are fairly long so most riders opt for a conventional headset cap assembly and slam their stems all the way down.

    Head tubes on the Omega Pharma-Lotto team bikes are fairly long so most riders opt for a conventional headset cap assembly and slam their stems all the way down.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Omega Pharma-Lotto bikes have been fitted with Mavic's Cosmic Carbone Ultimate for much of the this year's Tour de France.

    Omega Pharma-Lotto bikes have been fitted with Mavic's Cosmic Carbone Ultimate for much of the this year's Tour de France.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Giant chain stays are matched to tiny seat stays on the Omega Pharma-Lotto Canyon Ultimate CF SLX.

    Giant chain stays are matched to tiny seat stays on the Omega Pharma-Lotto Canyon Ultimate CF SLX.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Selle Italia saddles are mounted atop Ritchey posts on the Omega Pharma-Lotto team bikes.

    Selle Italia saddles are mounted atop Ritchey posts on the Omega Pharma-Lotto team bikes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX boasts an exceptionally stout front end.

    Canyon's Ultimate CF SLX boasts an exceptionally stout front end.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Where on earth did the Omega Pharma-Lotto team mechanics find turquoise housing to match Jurgen Van den Broeck's custom paint job?

    Where on earth did the Omega Pharma-Lotto team mechanics find turquoise housing to match Jurgen Van den Broeck's custom paint job?

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Omega Pharma-Lotto_Canyon_SLX_paint.jpg

    Omega Pharma-Lotto_Canyon_SLX_paint.jpg

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • German company Canyon provides the Omega Pharma-Lotto team with its top-end Ultimate CF SLX frames.

    German company Canyon provides the Omega Pharma-Lotto team with its top-end Ultimate CF SLX frames.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Omega Pharma-Lotto's Canyon Ultimate CF SLX frames include stout forks for precise handling.

    Omega Pharma-Lotto's Canyon Ultimate CF SLX frames include stout forks for precise handling.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Rabobank bikes are outfitted with a variety of PRO handlebars and stems.

    Rabobank bikes are outfitted with a variety of PRO handlebars and stems.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Rabobank's Giant TCR Advanced SL frames include press-fit bottom bracket cups.

    Rabobank's Giant TCR Advanced SL frames include press-fit bottom bracket cups.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Vittoria tires are mounted to Shimano Dura-Ace carbon tubular rims on the Rabobank team bikes.

    Vittoria tires are mounted to Shimano Dura-Ace carbon tubular rims on the Rabobank team bikes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The rear end of Rabobank's Giant TCR Advanced SLs features wishbone-style seat stays.

    The rear end of Rabobank's Giant TCR Advanced SLs features wishbone-style seat stays.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Giant was one of the first manufacturers to use an integrated seatmast as seen here on the Rabobank team bikes.

    Giant was one of the first manufacturers to use an integrated seatmast as seen here on the Rabobank team bikes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Saddle sores can be a major problem at the Tour de France as demonstrated by Rabobank's Oscar Freire.

    Saddle sores can be a major problem at the Tour de France as demonstrated by Rabobank's Oscar Freire.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Note the very different shapes of Shimano's mechanical vs. electronic Dura-Ace levers.

    Note the very different shapes of Shimano's mechanical vs. electronic Dura-Ace levers.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Rabobank is again on Giant's TCR Advanced SL.

    Rabobank is again on Giant's TCR Advanced SL.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Rabobank riders are split between mechanical and electronic Shimano Dura-Ace groups.

    Rabobank riders are split between mechanical and electronic Shimano Dura-Ace groups.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • This Rabobank rider is looking to get his bars as low as possible.

    This Rabobank rider is looking to get his bars as low as possible.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Tacx Taco cages hold on to the Rabobank team bottles.

    Tacx Taco cages hold on to the Rabobank team bottles.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Look KéO pedals are bolted to the Campagnolo Record cranks of the Omega Pharma-Lotto team.

    Look KéO pedals are bolted to the Campagnolo Record cranks of the Omega Pharma-Lotto team.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Omega Pharma-Lotto is using these unique chain watchers, which mount to the bottle cage bosses instead of the front derailleur tab for a far more secure foundation.

    Omega Pharma-Lotto is using these unique chain watchers, which mount to the bottle cage bosses instead of the front derailleur tab for a far more secure foundation.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Ritchey cockpits are featured on the Omega Pharma-Lotto team bikes.

    Ritchey cockpits are featured on the Omega Pharma-Lotto team bikes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Katusha is using Vredestein tires mounted on Campagnolo rims.

    Katusha is using Vredestein tires mounted on Campagnolo rims.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The black paint makes it hard to see but similar slots are featured on the seat stays, too.

    The black paint makes it hard to see but similar slots are featured on the seat stays, too.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • A collection of Selle San Marco saddles are mounted atop the Katusha team bikes.

    A collection of Selle San Marco saddles are mounted atop the Katusha team bikes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Ridley was an early adopter of tapered steerers so it's no surprise to see one here.

    Ridley was an early adopter of tapered steerers so it's no surprise to see one here.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • See those slots in the fork blades? Ridley contends the unique design pulls air away from the churning spokes to reduce aerodynamic drag.

    See those slots in the fork blades? Ridley contends the unique design pulls air away from the churning spokes to reduce aerodynamic drag.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Katusha riders put the power down through Campagnolo Record cranks and Look K

    Katusha riders put the power down through Campagnolo Record cranks and Look K

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Cateye provides Katusha with its miniscule Strada Wireless computers. And yes, that's an FSA stem painted and decaled to look like a Deda one (most of the team bikes are fitted with proper Deda stems, though).

    Cateye provides Katusha with its miniscule Strada Wireless computers. And yes, that's an FSA stem painted and decaled to look like a Deda one (most of the team bikes are fitted with proper Deda stems, though).

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Katusha team riders use Elite's new Sior cages to hold their bottles.

    Katusha team riders use Elite's new Sior cages to hold their bottles.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • As with all Tour riders, Katusha has a choice of various rim depths to use for any given stage.

    As with all Tour riders, Katusha has a choice of various rim depths to use for any given stage.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Lampre-Vini Farnese's Wilier Cento 1 SL frames directly accept Campagnolo Ultra-Torque bottom bracket bearings.

    Lampre-Vini Farnese's Wilier Cento 1 SL frames directly accept Campagnolo Ultra-Torque bottom bracket bearings.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The Omega Pharma-Lotto team occasionally had Canyon's latest Aeroad CF machine on display but it's yet to be raced in this year's Tour de France.

    The Omega Pharma-Lotto team occasionally had Canyon's latest Aeroad CF machine on display but it's yet to be raced in this year's Tour de France.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Lampre-Vini Farnese team leader Damiano Cunego perches himself atop a fi'zi:k Arione saddle.

    Lampre-Vini Farnese team leader Damiano Cunego perches himself atop a fi'zi:k Arione saddle.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The rear end of Lampre-Vini Farnese's Wilier Cento 1 SLs feature dramatically asymmetrical chain stays.

    The rear end of Lampre-Vini Farnese's Wilier Cento 1 SLs feature dramatically asymmetrical chain stays.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Campagnolo Record Ergopower levers are clamped to Ritchey bars on the Lampre-Vini Farnese team bikes.

    Campagnolo Record Ergopower levers are clamped to Ritchey bars on the Lampre-Vini Farnese team bikes.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Holy neon! Hard to miss the brightly covered Wilier Cento 1 SLs of Team Lampre-Vini Farnese.

    Holy neon! Hard to miss the brightly covered Wilier Cento 1 SLs of Team Lampre-Vini Farnese.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Vittoria tires are wrapped around Lampre-Vini Farnese's Fulcrum carbon rims.

    Vittoria tires are wrapped around Lampre-Vini Farnese's Fulcrum carbon rims.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • The looped rear end of Lampre-Vini Farnese's Wilier Cento 1 SL frames include replaceable derailleur hangers.

    The looped rear end of Lampre-Vini Farnese's Wilier Cento 1 SL frames include replaceable derailleur hangers.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Like many Campagnolo-sponsored teams in this year's Tour de France, Lampre-Vini Farnese bikes use Record cranks, not Super Record ones.

    Like many Campagnolo-sponsored teams in this year's Tour de France, Lampre-Vini Farnese bikes use Record cranks, not Super Record ones.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Lampre-Vini Farnese team mechanics augment the purchase of the Tacx Tao Carbon cages with short pieces of grip tape.

    Lampre-Vini Farnese team mechanics augment the purchase of the Tacx Tao Carbon cages with short pieces of grip tape.

    Photo credit © James Huang

  • Cockpit setups of Katusha's Ridley bikes are awash in white.

    Cockpit setups of Katusha's Ridley bikes are awash in white.

    Photo credit © James Huang