Pro bike: Fabian Cancellara's Trek Domane 6-Series Maillot Jaune

This article originally published on BikeRadar

Swiss powerhouse Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan) rumbled to victory in Saturday's prologue, thus becoming the first rider in this year's Tour de France to don the maillot jaune. In keeping with recent traditions, Cancellara was covered in yellow from head to toe for Stage 1, including his Trek Domane 6-Series bicycle.

Even without the bright yellow livery, Cancellara's machine is still unique in that he's running a Domane model instead of the new Madone used by his teammates. Trek intends the Domane as its 'endurance' machine for the cobbled classics with dedicated features such as detuned handling, a much lower bottom bracket, and the unique IsoSpeed 'decoupler' pivot at the seat tube-top tube junction that allows for an extraordinary amount of saddle movement.

This year's Tour de France tarmac obviously won't match the brutality of Paris-Roubaix's cobblestones but since Cancellara was intimately involved with the development of the Domane and has spent much of the early season on it (he won Strade Bianche on one in early March), he's decided to stick with it for now. It's only marginally heavier than the Madone and virtually identical in terms of drivetrain efficiency so in reality, Cancellara isn't putting himself at an advantage regardless.

Consumers can purchase their own all-yellow Domane through Trek's Project One custom program but even then, it won't be quite the same chassis as what Cancellara rides. Team bikes feature special one-piece rear dropouts with non-replaceable derailleur hangers for improved shift accuracy and durability. Being a Radioshack-Nissan-Trek rider is also the only way to get a Domane with the lower, more aggressive 'pro-fit' front triangle, although Trek is obligated to release it to the public before the end of this calendar year.

Cancellara's build kit closely mirrors his everyday Domane, including a Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 mechanical group, SRM cranks, Schwalbe tires, Speedplay Zero pedals (ultralight Nanograms in this case), a Cane Creek headset, and Nokon cables and housing. The rest is filled out by Trek's Bontrager component arm: Aeolus 5 D3 50mm-deep carbon tubular wheels, a Race Lite Anatomic aluminum handlebar, Race XXX Lite molded carbon fiber stem, Team Issue saddle, and RXL carbon fiber bottle cages.

Cancellara's mechanics, Roger Theel, has snuck in a few subtle go-fast tweaks, though, such as the aftermarket derailleur pulleys and bottom bracket that's installed without the normal supplemental outer rubber seals. Ceramic bearings of some sort are a virtual guarantee, too.

Actual weight is 7.56kg (16.63lb).

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Trek Domane 6-Series, 58cm 'pro' fit
Fork: Trek IsoSpeed full carbon
Headset: Cane Creek Forty, tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2"
Stem: Bontrager Race XXX Lite, 140 x -7°
Handlebars: Bontrager Race Lite Anatomic, 44cm (c-c)
Tape/grips: Bontrager cork
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ carbon-specific pads, grey compound
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ carbon-specific Bontrager cork pads
Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7900
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7900 w/ aftermarket pulleys
Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7900
Crankset: SRM Wireless Powermeter Dura-Ace 7900 Compatible, 175mm, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: Trek BB90 integrated, unknown bearings
Pedals: Speedplay Zero Nanogram
Wheelset: Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 tubular
Front tire: Schwalbe Ultremo HT tubular
Rear tire: Schwalbe Ultremo HT tubular
Saddle: Bontrager Team Issue
Seat post: Bontrager Ride Tuned Carbon seatmast
Bottle cages: Bontrager Race X Lite (2)
Computer: SRM PowerControl 7
Other accessories: Nokon cables and housing

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 1.86m (6' 1")
Rider's weight: 82kg (181lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 781mm
Saddle setback: 89mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 500mm
Seat tube length, c-c: 485mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 616mm
Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 117mm
Head tube length: 150mm
Top tube length: 567mm
Total bicycle weight: 7.56kg (16.67lb, with SRM computer head)

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1