Pro bike: Johan Vansummeren's Cervélo R3 Mud

This article originally published on BikeRadar

Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Sharp) had the ride of his life when he won Paris-Roubaix in 2011. The lanky Belgian will try for his second cobblestone trophy on Sunday – and he'll again be on a Cervélo R3 that's been modified to tackle the punishing pavé.

Cervélo has applied its long-running – and highly successful – Paris-Roubaix formula to the latest R3, which now has an official name: the R3 Mud. Longer stays lend more tire clearance out back while the standard fork is swapped for one with longer legs for the same effect. Extra fork rake evens out the altered rear center to maintain the same fore-aft weight balance, too, plus the longer wheelbase that results from all the changes lends extra stability overall as well.

Given Vansummeren's success on the bike, then, it's rather surprising that he's downsized from a 61cm frame to a 58cm, which has gained him 25 additional millimeters of drop but also cost him 9mm of reach. Never fear, though, as 3T has supplied the lanky Vansummeren with a colossal 150mm-long ARX Team stem with an aggressive -17° angle. Add in the 865mm saddle height and what you get is an enormous 178mm of handlebar drop.

Garmin-Sharp has stuck with its proven Mavic M40 wide-profile carbon tubular wheels and 27mm-wide FMB Paris-Roubaix tires this year along with 3T cockpit components, another fi'zi:k Antares saddle, and – of course – a new Garmin Edge 510 computer to record Vansummeren's data along the way.

Also carrying over are a pair of Arundel stainless steel cages and Gore Ride-On sealed cables and housing throughout.

The team has since switched from SRAM to Shimano, though, and Vansummeren will use the company's previous-generation Dura-Ace 7900 mechanical group (the new 9000 version is still not only in short supply but also requires a longer freehub body so it'll take a while for the wheel fleet to refresh). Several Shimano-sponsored teams and riders – including two-time winner Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Leopard-Trek) – have suggested that the system's longer throws are actually an advantage since Di2's buttons can sometimes be too sensitive on the pavé.

Vansummeren has also switched to a more conventional two-bolt 3T Dorico seatpost in place of the secure – but somewhat convoluted – 3T Palladio, moved to a carbon fiber 3T Rotundo bar instead of the alloy version he used in 2011, and has gone with a beefier Rotor 3D+ crank setup that includes the company's solid 'Aero' outer elliptical Q-Ring chainring plus the matching 'Aero' solid spider.

Total weight without the computer or bottles is 7.62kg (16.8lb).

The chain stays are massive behind the bottom bracket. And note the Gore Ride-On cable liner

Complete bike specifications

Frame: Cervélo R3 Mud, 58cm
Fork: Cervélo SL
Headset: FSA Orbit IS-2 integrated, 1 1/8-to-1 3/8" tapered
Stem: 3T ARX Team, 150mm x -17°
Handlebars: 3T Rotundo Team, 44cm
Tape/grips: fi'zi:k bar:tape, single wrapped
Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads for Mavic
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7900 w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads for Mavic
Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7900
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7900
Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7900
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7900, 11-23T
Chain: Shimano Ultegra CN-6701
Crankset: Rotor 3D+, 180mm, w/ Aero spider and 53/44T Aero Q-Rings
Bottom bracket: Cervélo BBright
Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL PD-7900
Wheelset: Mavic M40 tubular
Front tire: FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular, 27mm
Rear tire: FMB Paris-Roubaix tubular, 27mm
Saddle: fi'zi:k Antares w/ k:ium rails and carbon fiber shell
Seat post: 3T Dorico Team
Bottle cages: Arundel Stainless (2)
Computer: Garmin Edge 510
Other accessories: Gore Ride-On sealed cables and housing, Rotor chain catcher

Critical measurements

Rider's height: 1.97m (6' 5")
Rider's weight: 76kg (167lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 865mm
Saddle setback: 105mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 580mm
Seat tube length, c-c: 535mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 665mm
Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 178mm
Head tube length: 199mm
Top tube length: 581mm (horizontal)
Total bicycle weight: 7.62kg (16.80lb) w/o computer or bottles

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