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First look: Mark Cavendish's Specialized McLaren Venge

By:
Stephen Farrand
Published:
March 18, 2011, 18:54,
Updated:
March 18, 2011, 19:30
Edition:
First Edition Cycling News, Saturday, March 19, 2011
Race:
Milan-San Remo
The complete package: Mark Cavendish's Specialized McLaren Venge

The complete package: Mark Cavendish's Specialized McLaren Venge

view thumbnail gallery

Photo gallery: A preview of Cav's new Milan-San Remo rig

Specialized yesterday launched its newest product, the McLaren Venge, an advanced high modulus carbon fiber frame designed to be as light as possible while increasing aerodynamics and stiffness. Cyclingnews caught sight of Mark Cavendish's bike as he prepares for his shot at a second Milan-San Remo title tomorrow.

Only Cavendish, Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel will be atop the Venge for HTC-Highroad in tomorrow's race.

Note the aerodynamic features of the frame, including "cambered airfoil cross-section seat stays", designed to reduce drag in cross-winds, the tapered head tube/steerer which beefs up stiffness - something important for powerful sprinters - and the bladed fork.

Add in details like the internal cable routing, a specially designed bar/stem combination made just for Cavendish by Pro as well as the electronic Dura-Ace group with SRM power meter, and you have the complete package.

View the photo gallery here.

 

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  • ... and the next guy in line - Mark Cavendish.

    Mark Cavendish

    Key results

    1st World Road Championships 2011
    1st World Track Championships, Madison 2005, 2008
    1st Points competition, Tour de France 2011
    20 stage wins, Tour de France 2008-11
    9 stage wins, Giro d’Italia, 2008-11
    1st Points competition, Vuelta a España 2010
    4 stages wins, Vuelta a España 2010
    1st Milan-San Remo 2009
    1st Scheleprijs 2007, 2008, 2011
    2nd Points competition, Tour de France 2009, 2010

    Looking ahead to 2012

    It will be hard for Mark Cavendish to top his 2011 season, winning the green jersey in the Tour de France and the rainbow stripes of World Champion – but Cavendish has big dreams, and they’re centred around July, riding the Tour de France and then the Olympic road race in London. Not that the rest of the peloton will be making it easy for him – and it will be interesting to see whether the move from HTC to Sky will affect his racing. Whatever happens, there are sure to be the usual fireworks!

Related teams

  • Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) takes a drink

    HTC-Highroad

    2011 UCI status: ProTeam
    Sponsor: Mobile phone manufacturer
    Team Nationality: USA
    Website: www.highroadsports.com

    Team Manager: Bob Stapleton
    Directeurs sportifs: Rolf Aldag, Brian Holm, Alan Peiper, Valerio Piva, Jan Schaffrath, Friebe