Mark Cavendish wins Scheldeprijs on Specialized's new McLaren Venge and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Image 1 of 72
Mark Cavendish was the only rider on HTC-Highroad to use the new Specialized McLaren Venge in Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 2 of 72
Deda provides the Sky team with matching stems. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 3 of 72
Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) prefers Selle Italia's old-school Turbomatic saddle. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 4 of 72
Magic markers are a pro mechanic's best friends. The "Continental" logo is blacked out on Robbie McEwen's (RadioShack) tubular tires. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 5 of 72
Robbie McEwen's Trek Madone is tucked in among the rest of his RadioShack teammates' bike prior to the start of Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 6 of 72
RadioShack's Robbie McEwen mixes the stiffness of his time trial outer chainring with the light weight of SRAM's standard titanium-caged front derailleur. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 7 of 72
RadioShack sprinter Robbie McEwen is using SRAM's S900 crank instead of the standard Red model. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 8 of 72
A SRAM PG-1070 cassette is fitted to the back end of Robbie McEwen's (RadioShack) Trek Madone. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 9 of 72
Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) used Bontrager's RXL carbon cages for Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 10 of 72
Robbie McEwen (RadioShack) tilts his bars down but mounts the levers up high. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 11 of 72
Ben King (RadioShack) is using Bontrager's new Affinity RXL saddle. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 12 of 72
US national champion Ben King of Team RadioShack gets his own custom red, white, and blue Trek Madone this season. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 13 of 72
Ben King (RadioShack) gets white hoods and tape to go along with his US national champion theme. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 14 of 72
Not many riders get a signature line of components. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 15 of 72
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) has switched to Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 but interestingly, he's not using the company's new sprint shifters. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 16 of 72
From the looks of things, Specialized makes different sets of seatpost head hardware to suit various saddle rail shapes. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 17 of 72
A closer look at the tidy seatpost clamp on the Specialized McLaren Venge. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 18 of 72
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) is using a fi'zi:k Arione CX saddle with braided carbon fiber rails. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 19 of 72
There's just the tiniest hint of a spacer tucked beneath Robbie McEwen's (RadioShack) Bontrager Race XXX Lite carbon fiber stem. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 20 of 72
A bit of electrical tape keeps the valve from rattling inside this Bontrager deep carbon rim. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 21 of 72
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 sprint shifters are fitted to the drops of Edvald Boasson Hagen's (Sky) Deda handlebars. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 22 of 72
Sky team mechanics mark the saddle height with a handy sticker. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 23 of 72
Prologo general manager Paolo Mion says the new Scratch Pro TR will feature triple density foam and a triple stiffness shell with tuned flex for extra comfort. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 24 of 72
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) raced Scheldeprijs on a new saddle from team sponsor Prologo. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 25 of 72
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) used Veloflex tubulars mounted on 50mm-deep Shimano carbon wheels for Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 26 of 72
The rear end of Sky's Pinarello Dogmas are unmistakably curvy. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 27 of 72
It's unclear whether these ribs curling from the top tube to the down tube offer any structural advantage to Sky's Pinarello Dogmas but they certainly are eye catching. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 28 of 72
It goes without saying that the Sky team is well equipped - on a number of fronts. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 29 of 72
Sky mechanics put the Token chain watchers to double duty - helping to keep the chain from falling to the inside but also acting as a handy guide for the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 wire. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 30 of 72
There's no mistaking these shapes as anything but a Pinarello. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 31 of 72
Like an increasing number of pros, Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen both trains and races with a power meter. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 32 of 72
The extra bit of tape seems mostly unnecessary on Edvald Boasson Hagen's (Sky) computer mount, though perhaps it may prevent the mount from slipping downwards on rough ground. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 33 of 72
It's a tight fit for two bottles on Edvald Boasson Hagen's Sky Pinarello Dogma. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 34 of 72
Extra zip-ties keep the batteries from rattling on Sky team Pinarellos. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 35 of 72
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) prefers an anatomic-bend handlebar. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 36 of 72
Challenge is the official tire supplier to team RadioShack. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 37 of 72
HTC-Highroad team mechanics glued a small magnet right on the sidewall of Mark Cavendish's Zipp 808 rear wheel. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 38 of 72
Zipp's 188 rear hub features adjustable preload for HTC-Highroad's CeramicSpeed bearings. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 39 of 72
The Cervelo S3's internal routing is designed to tuck the derailleur housing in 'dirty air' behind the stem, leaving clean surfaces at the head tube and down tube around which air can flow. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 40 of 72
Tyler Farrar's (Garmin-Cervelo) Cervelo S3 lies in wait prior to the start of Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 41 of 72
Rotor is best known for its elliptical Q-Rings but Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) is using the round version instead. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 42 of 72
Stout Arundel Mandible carbon cages are fitted to Tyler Farrar's (Garmin-Cervelo) Cervelo S3. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 43 of 72
Tyler Farrar's (Garmin-Cervelo) handlebars are double wrapped in preparation for Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 44 of 72
This BMC rider wasn't taking any changes, opting for Easton's extra stiff and strong track handlebar. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 45 of 72
George Hincapie (BMC) uses fi'zi:k's Aliante Twin Flex saddle with k:ium rails. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 46 of 72
Diamond-treaded Continental tubulars are wrapped around Easton EC90 SL carbon wheels on George Hincapie's (BMC) bike. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 47 of 72
BMC incorporated specially shaped sections of the seat stays, chain stays, and even the seatpost to gain more vertical give on its SLR01 Team Machine. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 48 of 72
BMC captain George Hincapie used Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 group for his run at Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 49 of 72
BMC's SLR01 Team Machines look like standard-issue framesets at the start of Scheldeprijs but they're actually slightly tweaked for better performance on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 50 of 72
Paris-Roubaix versions of BMC's SLR01 fork use slightly longer blades to provide more tire clearance at the crown. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 51 of 72
Like many pros, George Hincapie (BMC) regularly races on an SRM power meter as he did at Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 52 of 72
George Hincapie (BMC) tackled Scheldeprijs with an Easton aluminum stem and bar wrapped with grippy fi'zi:k tape. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 53 of 72
In addition to being a few millimeters longer, the chain stays on BMC's Paris-Roubaix-tweaked SLR01 Team Machines are slightly scalloped around the tire for extra clearance. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 54 of 72
BMC's George Hincapie enjoying a lighthearted moment on the steps of the team bus before departing for the start of Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 55 of 72
As always, Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) is using a fi'zi:k Pave CX saddle. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 56 of 72
Mavic's Exalith sidewalls are said to provide better braking performance, especially in wet conditions. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 57 of 72
The Specialized McLaren Venge uses relatively slender seat stays but we're guessing it still considerably stiffer than the company's Tarmac SL3 or Roubaix SL3. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 58 of 72
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) put his new Specialized McLaren Venge to good use today, winning Scheldeprijs in a bunch sprint. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 59 of 72
The unique headset top cap on the Specialized McLaren Venge is designed to blend in seamless with the rest of the frame. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 60 of 72
The Specialized McLaren Venge uses a tapered head tube. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 61 of 72
Zipp's 404 carbon rim is wrapped with a Continental tubular tire on the front of Mark Cavendish's (HTC-Highroad) Specialized McLaren Venge. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 62 of 72
The front end of Mark Cavendish's (HTC-Highroad) Specialized McLaren Venge looks just plain angry. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 63 of 72
The tapered carbon fork on Mark Cavendish's (HTC-Highroad) Specialized McLaren Venge features aero-shaped blades. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 64 of 72
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) uses an extraordinarily massive stem on his Specialized McLaren Venge. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 65 of 72
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) ran a tight 11-21T cassette for Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 66 of 72
Even the brake bridge on Specialized's new Venge is crafted with an aero shape - peraps to minimal effect but visually impressive nonetheless. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 67 of 72
Mark Cavendish's (HTC-Highroad) new Specialized Venge aero road frame uses press-fit bottom bracket cups. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 68 of 72
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) runs his Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 levers high on the PRO handlebars. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 69 of 72
Mechanics employ a variety of tricks to quell rattling valve stems. Here, a Garmin-Cervelo mechanic has simply built up the diameter of the valve stem before mounting the tire. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 70 of 72
Garmin-Cervelo riders mostly use the team-issue Vittoria tires but Tyler Farrar was using blacked-out Veloflex rubber at Scheldeprijs. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 71 of 72
Garmin-Cervelo mechanic Geoff Brown secures the valve stem on Tyler Farrar's Cervelo S3 to keep it from rattling. (Image credit: James Huang)
Image 72 of 72
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) is using Shimano's groundbreaking Dura-Ace Di2 group. (Image credit: James Huang)
Specialized certainly knows how to launch a new bike.
Days after introducing the McLaren Venge aero road bike to the world, HTC-Highroad rider Matt Goss won Milan-San Remo and now Mark Cavendish won a crash-marred sprint victory at Scheldeprijs aboard a similar machine.
Unlike in Italy, where multiple Venges were in play under HTC-Highroad riders, Cavendish's bike clearly stood out in the start area in Antwerp among the rest of the team, who were still using standard S-Works Tarmac SL3 rigs covered in team-issue livery rather than the McLaren's matte black and neon orange hues.
Cavendish looks to have fully embraced the aero movement, too, supplementing his slippery Venge with an aggressive Zipp 808 rear wheel and a Zipp 404 front rim (laced to a Shimano Dura-Ace hub). Though the total bike weight isn't particularly groundbreaking at 7.64kg (16.84lb) – and this is after the finish with caked-on energy drink and all – the Scheldeprijs route isn't exactly a climber's paradise so it was almost certainly more important to reduce drag rather than mass today.
Cavendish is also now on Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 after at least two seasons on the mechanical version, but we're currently waiting for word from HTC-Highroad on exactly why he finally made the switch. Interestingly, 'Cav' hasn't taken advantage of Shimano's optional satellite sprint shifters, though.
A closer look at Tyler Farrar's new Garmin-Cervélo S3
Like Scheldeprijs winner Cavendish, Garmin-Cervélo sprinter Tyler Farrar also opted for a full-blown aero road bike in his quest for another victory in Schoten.
Farrar's version was built around Cervélo's second-generation S3 model, which is still based on the older SLC-SL in concept but revamped with slim R3-like seat stays for a much improved ride, more refined internal cable routing relative to the first-gen S3 for easier servicing and reduced friction, and ultra-fat chain stays for efficient power transfer – a critical feature for a sprinter.
Similarly, Farrar's bike was fitted with aero wheels front and rear, though the Belgian transplant (he's an American living in Gent) went slightly less aggressive in profile with 52mm-deep Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLRs. Unlike Cavendish's all-carbon Zipp rims, though, Farrar's Mavics use aluminium hoops with aero carbon caps plus bladed carbon spokes that run from one side of the rim to the other.
Consumers still can't purchase the tubular versions used by Farrar and the rest of Garmin-Cervélo, but the production versions do share the team's unique Exalith sidewalls, which supposedly provide stronger and more predictable braking (especially in the wet) by virtue of an aggressive machined-in texture and an extra-hard surface treatment that requires the use of special pads.
Farrar's bike also sported double-wrapped bar tape – apparently in preparation for Sunday's beating – Veloflex tubulars with blacked-out logos, a 3T bar and stem, Rotor's innovative 3D+ cranks, aluminum Shimano Dura-Ace pedals, the team's usual SRAM Red running gear, a Garmin Edge 500 computer, and the sprinter's trademark fi'zi:k Pavé CX saddle mounted atop an aero carbon seatpost.
Robbie McEwen's Trek Madone 6.9
Team RadioShack veteran sprinter Robbie McEwen was likely hoping for a repeat of 2002 – the last time he won Scheldeprijs – when he wound up his new Trek Madone 6.9 for the bunch sprint to the line.
McEwen's Madone was dressed with SRAM Red DoubleTap levers, derailleurs (including the standard titanium front cage), and brake callipers, plus the usual PG-1070 cassette favored by most pros. McEwen opted for SRAM's S900 crankset, though, with its carbon arms and alloy spider and beefed up with a solid time trial outer ring.
Trek component division Bontrager supplied most of the rest of the gear, including the new 50mm-deep wide-profile carbon tubular wheels, the Race XXX Lite carbon stem, Race Lite VR aluminum bar, Node computer, and Race X Lite carbon cages.
Rounding out the build are blacked-out Continental tires (the team's official tire sponsor is Challenge), a Selle Italia Turbomatic saddle, Look KéO Blade pedals, a Cane Creek tapered headset, and Gore Ride-On sealed derailleur cables and housing.
Also showing up in the RadioShack team pit area was US national champion Ben King's custom-painted red, white, and blue Madone. King's build was similar to McEwen's with the exception of a Bontrager Affinity saddle, Challenge tubular tires, the black version of SRAM's Red group, and SRAM S900 carbon cranks with an SRM power measuring chainring spider.
BMC uses Scheldeprijs for final shakeouts of specially modified Paris-Roubaix framesets
The Scheldeprijs parcours is essentially flat and almost completely free of cobbles yet its place on the racing calendar still makes it a prime final testing ground for bikes and equipment that will be used just four days later in Paris-Roubaix. The BMC team – as did others, we're sure – did just that, opting to run their modified SLR01 Team Machines prior to the real test on Sunday.
Changes are decidedly subtle and well in keeping with what we've seen from top-end teams in recent years. Slightly longer chain stays yield extra tire clearance out back for fatter rubber and less chance of clogging with mud, and without having to resort to long-reach brakes. The longer rear-center lends more relaxed and stable handling, too, while the inner surfaces of the chain stays have also been slightly scalloped around the tire for even more room out to the sides.
Up front, a modified fork with longer blades does the same thing, lending extra clearance beneath the crown and effectively increasing the rake slightly, which again provides less nervous steering on account of the longer front center but also maintains the overall weight balance between both wheels for predictable handling.
New Prologo Scratch saddle variant spotted on Sky team bikes
We've become well accustomed to seeing new, previously unannounced Prologo models at big races and Scheldeprijs has revealed yet another one, this time on the Pinarello Dogma of Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Boasson Hagen's new Prologo Scratch Pro TR appears to use the same fiber-reinforced nylon shell and general overall shape as other Scratch models but adds a deep and fairly broad channel running nearly the entire length of the saddle from front to rear to relieve pressure on soft tissue. Aside from the ill-fated Nago Pas, Prologo has mostly stayed away from design with channels and/or cutouts but this new model may signal a changing tide.
Prologo general manager Paolo Mion tells us Boasson Hagen's saddle is indeed a new model that was originally intended to be launched at Eurobike in August.
"This Scratch Pro TR is a prototype we created and developed for and with Boasson Hagen," he said. "It has the same philosophy of all Prologo saddles we develop – we start from a concept and then develop with the team or the great riders we have the pleasure to work with along with the sport-biomechanical university here in Italy before we put it on the market."
In addition to the central channel, the new Scratch Pro TR also gets Prologo's triple density foam padding and a triple stiffness hull for tuned flex. Mion says titanium railed versions will weigh 210-215g and Prologo will offer both 134mm and 143mm widths.
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy
