Pro bike: Rory Sutherland's Team Boardman Bikes AiR 9.8

The UCI's 6.8kg minimum weight has had a number of ancillary consequences on pro riders' machines aside from its original intentions. First, we saw the proliferation of power meters both for training and while racing, and then rim sections have gotten progressively deeper as riders looked to more useful places to add some extra mass.

Now that their eyes have been awakened to the benefits of aerodynamics, though - and as weights of other components continue to fall - aerodynamic road frames have steadily gained in popularity with UnitedHealthcare and star rider Rory Sutherland being among the latest to hop on the bandwagon.

Sutherland is on Boardman Bikes' latest AiR 9.8 chassis, whose shape was supposedly adapted from the company's flagship time trial rig. Aerodynamic tube profiles are used for the down tube, seat tube, and seatpost, and deep sections are also used for the fork blades and seat stays. Boardman uses particularly flat surfaces on the insides of the fork blades and stays, though, with the claim that that yields smoother airflow when the wheels are factored in - and especially when deep-section rims are used.

Speaking of wheels, UnitedHealthcare is somewhat unique in that the team uses fully hand-built rolling stock instead of factory pre-builds - and they're also primarily on vulcanized Maxxis clinchers, not tubulars. Enve Composites provides carbon rims of various depths, new lower-drag (and quieter-running) R45 hubs come from Chris King, and they're all laced together with Sapim's increasingly popular CX-Ray bladed spokes.

Chris King's latest road-specific R45 hubs have much less seal and ratchet drag than the company's standard hubs. Photo: James Huang

SRAM supplies the bulk of the running gear, including a complete Red group plus the company's S975 SRM power meter. Ritchey fills in most of the rest with its alloy WCS forged stem, semi-ergo WCS Curve alloy bar, and WCS saddle (pushed way back on the rails). Remaining tidbits include Gore Ride-On cables and housing, an AceCo K-Edge chain watcher, SwissStop brake pads, Speedplay Zero Stainless pedals, Arundel Dave-O carbon cages, and a Garmin Edge 500 computer.

While the UCI minimum weight rule may have inspired the pro peloton's move towards power meters and aerodynamic technology, it's worth noting that Sutherland's bike isn't actually right on the cusp of that limit, though. Actual weight as pictured is 7.56kg (16.67lb) - though any bit of extra mass certainly didn't seem to hold Sutherland back much during his impressive ascent of Sierra Road at the end of Stage 4.

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar.

Complete bike specifications:

Frame: Boardman Bikes AiR 9.8, size XL
Fork: Boardman Bikes AiR Ultralight UD
Headset: Ritchey WCS Carbon Press Fit tapered, 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in
Stem: Ritchey WCS 4-Axis, 13cm x -6°
Handlebars: Ritchey WCS Curve, 44cm (c-c)
Tape/grips: SRAM
Front brake: SRAM Red w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads
Rear brake: SRAM Red w/ SwissStop Yellow King pads
Brake levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap
Front derailleur: SRAM Red w/ steel cage
Rear derailleur: SRAM Red
Shift levers: SRAM Red DoubleTap
Cassette: SRAM OG-1090, 11-26T
Chain: SRAM PC-1091
Crankset: SRAM S975 SRM, 175mm, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: SRAM Red BB30 w/ Wheels Manufacturing adapters
Pedals: Speedplay Zero Stainless
Rims: Enve Composites 45 Clincher
Front hub: Chris King R45, 20h
Rear hub: Chris King R45, 24h
Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray w/ alloy nipples
Front tire: Maxxis Cormet, 700x23c
Rear tire: Maxxis Cormet, 700x23c
Saddle: Ritchey WCS
Seat post: cboardman Carbon AiR
Bottle cages: Arundel Dave-O (2)
Computer: Garmin Edge 500
Other accessories: AceCo K-Edge chain watcher, Gore Ride-On derailleur cables and housing

Critical measurements:

Rider's height: 1.88m (6' 2")
Rider's weight: 76.7kg (169lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 803mm
Saddle setback: 100mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 565mm
Seat tube length, c-c: 510mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 620mm
Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 93mm
Head tube length: 175mm
Top tube length: 585mm (horizontal)
Total bicycle weight: 7.56kg (16.67lb)

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