54x11-36 gearing proves fruitful for former omnium Olympic champion
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Lasse Norman Hansen's 1X SRAM Force drivetrain(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
Lasse Norman Hansen (Aqua Blue Sport) shows off his 3T Strada single-ring bike(Image credit: Con Chronis)
Aqua Blue Sport's 3T Strada in the Australian summer(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
10-42 cassettes were also spotted on the bikes(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
Here you can see some of the larger jumps between sprockets on the cassette(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
The 3T Strada is arguably the most forward thinking bike design on the market(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
The frame is only available with disc brakes(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
Larry Warbasse's spare bike had a much smaller 44T front chainring(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
Hansen's 54T chainring that was used for his stage 1 victory(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
Quarq provide the team with power meters(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
3T produce cassettes with closer gear ratios at one end of the cassette for racing or climbing, here is the former(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
The 3T Strada seat tube profile hugs the rear wheel(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
A look at Hansen's 11-36 cassette(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
The 1X drive train is unique in the current professional peloton(Image credit: Zeb Woodpower/Immediate Media)
Lasse Norman Hansen (Aqua Blue Sport) was happy to make up for his mistake in the time trial(Image credit: Con Chronis)
Lasse Norman Hansen (Aqua Blue Sport) in the Herald Sun tour leader's jersey(Image credit: Con Chronis)
Lasse Norman Hansen (Aqua Blue Sport) celebrates his stage win(Image credit: Con Chronis)
The Aqua Blue Sport 3T Strada with SRAM Force for the 2018 season(Image credit: Team Aqua Blue Sport)
Lasse Norman Hansen’s victory at the Jayco Herald Sun Tour was the first for the Irish-registered team aboard the unique 3T Strada bikes. The disc brake only, 1X drivetrain aero machines are a first in the modern professional peloton.
1X drivetrains have risen in popularity within mountain biking and other off-road disciplines in recent years, and while the effectiveness of the systems has proved a success in these disciplines, it is suggested more of a compromise will have to be made in the top level of road racing.
Removing one of the chainrings at the front of the bike can massively limit gear range and for Hansen’s victory on stage 1 of the Herald Sun Tour, the Dane – an omnium gold medallist at the London Olympics – chose to run a 54-tooth chainring with an 11-36 cassette.
Although a slightly rolling finale, the 161.6km stage didn’t require an inner chainring and Hansen’s gear combination choice proved to be perfect for the slightly uphill reduced-bunch sprint finish.
While Hansen ran a fairly standard cassette on stage 1 of the race, 3T produce cassettes designed to work specifically with their 1X drivetrains, with closer ratios at either the top or bottom of the cassette to suit the parcours. However, large jumps do remain if a wide range is required and the Aqua Blue Sport riders will have to choose their gearing carefully later in the week.
The remaining stages of the Herald Sun Tour feature far more climbing than the opening stage of the race. The final five-lap circuit at Kinglake on the final day of the race will further test the suitability of a 1X drivetrain at the top-level.
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