There are no fancy 'wheel systems' to be found here
Not even alloy nipples make the cut here.
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) is set to race Paris-Roubaix with a special machine created just for the cobbles.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan has only been a professional since 2004 but is already a favorite to win.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan's frame bears no model designation and its construction is indeed unique from any frame in Wilier Triestina's catalog.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The rear wishbone includes a novel see-through section.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The increased rear tire clearance requires the use of a long-reach Shimano brake caliper.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The seat stay assembly was clearly borrowed from a 'cross bike, but turned around and fitted with an eyelet to mount the rear brake caliper.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The fork crown is also equipped with a bit of extra clearance.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
This looks like a careless mistake, but the one-off dropouts are actually fitted with a bit of extra material to provide more tire clearance at the crown without resorting to new fork blades.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Like most of the riders in Sunday's peloton, Ballan will run with double-wrapped tape.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Vittoria provides Ballan with 27mm-wide tubulars specially made to handle the cobbles.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
There are no fancy 'wheel systems' to be found here ; just good old-fashioned 32-hole hand-built wheels with box-section aluminum tubular rims.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Not even alloy nipples make the cut here. These wheels are laced with more reliable brass nipples.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
A little bit of insurance goes a long way as a dropped chain can mean the difference between glory and regret.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan's bike is otherwise fairly standard fare, including the team-only 'red' edition of Campagnolo's Record Ergopower levers.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan's bike is also equipped with his usual Campagnolo Record Ultra-Torque crankset…
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
…although here a 46T inner ring replaces the usual 39T or 42T.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan is surprisingly tall at 1.9m and thus runs 175mm-long crankarms.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
A Chorus front derailleur is used here instead of Record.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan foregoes carbon in favor of aluminum for his Paris-Roubaix seatpost.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The usual Look KeO Carbon pedals will help Ballan power along the pavé.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Garmin GPS computers are suddenly everywhere in the pro peloton, presumably to help remind the riders of important upcoming sections.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
And yes, the Garmin Edge can even be configured to display in Italian!
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Ballan's spare bike differs in construction but is presumably similar in fit and handling.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The spare bike is also equipped with an alloy Record crank instead of the new carbon iteration.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
The spare bike's front derailleur includes a custom chain watcher.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
You can never have too many spare wheels when it comes to Paris-Roubaix.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
Some Lampre riders, such as Massimiliano Mori, will tackle Paris-Roubaix on steel bikes.
(Image credit: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com)
