Dede Demet-Barry's T-Mobile Giant TCR Carbon

	Photo ©: Chris Davidson

Attacking Montreal's Mount Royal with a former champ

After a top 10 finish at the Tour de l'Aude, Dede Demet-Barry arrived back in Canada excited about the prospect of another Montreal World Cup win. Cyclingnews diarist and T-Mobile wrencher for the race, Chris Davidson, took a close look at her T-Mobile Giant TCR carbon before race day.

Custom name decal and race number Photo ©: Chris Davidson

Continental GP3000s with hot-pink trim Photo ©: Chris Davidson

Deda Newton oversized bar and stem Photo ©: Chris Davidson

Dede Barry knows the Mount Royal course well. Two years ago, she launched a daring move with Australian Anna Millward with less than a lap to go, both riders going from being dropped on the climb finishing on top of the podium, with Demet-Barry standing tallest by the day's end to take one of the biggest victories of her distinguished career.

The out-of-the-box medium-sized Giant fits Dede to a T. Custom pink graphics cover part of the nude carbon frame, but still allow a good view of the frame material beneath the clear coat. The monocoque frame is complemented with a Giant carbon fork and carbon steerer, with the fork turning on an FSA internal headset.

The parts spec on this bike is almost all Shimano, including the latest Dura-Ace group, WH-7800 Dura-Ace wheel set and SPD-SL "Lance" pedals. Just for the Montreal World Cup, the standard 39 tooth inner ring has been replaced with a 38, providing slightly smaller gearing on the low end, and at the rear, the usual 12-25 cassette was modified to accommodate a 11-25 gear range.

The race course in Montreal involves a 1.7km climb each lap followed by a fast descent, and it was on this section two years ago that Dede shot by the lead group and assumed control of the race, hence her choice for the 11 cog. The cassette and chainring choices demonstrate her experienced approach to this course, small changes to optimise the equipment based on the knowledge gained in victory.

Up front, the controls are mounted on Deda 31.8 diameter Newton equipment, and on top, Dede is perched on a Selle Italia Flite SLR clamped to the top of a Giant carbon post. Light and comfortable, these items help keep the weight right down near the UCI limit. Elite's Ti cages and Shimano's 7800 wheels are also of the low-fat variety, the latter paired with Conti's 700x23 GP3000s with hot-pink sidewalls, naturally.

Photos

Images by Chris Davidson

• Dede Demet-Barry's T-Mobile Giant in race-ready trim.
• Custom name decal and race number for the Montreal World Cup.
• Continental GP3000s with hot-pink trim are paired with Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 WH-7800 hoops.
• Deda Newton oversized bar and stem form the cockpit.

Full specification

Frame: Giant TCR Carbon, size medium
Fork: Giant carbon with 1' 1/8" carbon steerer
Colour: T-Mobile

Cranks: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800
Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 10-speed
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 10-speed braze-on
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 10-speed
Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800
Levers: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 10 speed
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 10-speed, 12-25

Rim: Shimano Dura-Ace WH-7800, 722g (F), 857g (R)
Hubs: Shimano
Spokes: Shimano bladed, 20 (F), 24 (R)
Skewers: Shimano
Tyres: Continental GP3000, 700x23c

Stem: Deda Newton 31.8, 110mm, 86 degree
Bars: Deda Newton 31.8, 44cm
Headset: FSA integrated, 1' 1/8"

Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace SPD-SL, 277g
Seat post: Giant carbon, 27.2mm
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite SLR