Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, formerly known as MTN-Qhubeka, will be best remembered for a while thanks to their ground breaking 2015 season. With highlights like Daniel Teklehaimanot’s time in the polka dot jersey at the 2015 Tour de France, the first African cyclist to wear that jersey, and later, Steve Cumming’s Stage 14 Tour stage win, you could say 2015 was a breakout success.
Cervelo sponsored the team in 2015, and continues on for the 2016 season with bikes like this S5. This one will serve South African rider and 6th year pro Reinardt Janse van Rensburg. Read on for more on “Reinie’s” Cervelo S5…
Like several other team bikes we’ve featured from the 2016 Santos Tour Down Under, Dimension Data’s Cervelo S5s are fitted with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed electronic drivetrains. Differing from most of the other Shimano-equipped teams, Dimension Data is rolling carbon tubular wheelsets from well-known US-based carbon manufacturer Enve.
Dimension Data’s Enve wheelsets, with the subtle team-only stripes graphics carried over from their MTN days, roll on DT Swiss 240s hubs, renowned for their strength and reliability.
Team Dimension Data is yet another team aboard Continental’s Competition tubular tire, although Reinie’s bike is fitted with the regular consumer version in a 25mm width.
Just like Team Lampre Merida, Rotor provides the team’s cranksets, again fitted with low profile (2)INpower power metering tech. The Rotor INpower system tucks its electronics inside the bottom bracket spindle for left-side measurement, and just 60g additional weight. Reinie has non-Q Rotor 53/39 standard road chainrings on the less common 110BCD compact crankset.
Speedplay is still active in the pro peloton, and remains one of the most sought after road pedals for the adjustability. They provide the team with Zero pedals, and the stainless steel axle version here for Reinie.
Ceramic Speed provides goodies like bottom brackets and derailleur pulleys to the team, keeping everyone rolling fast and smooth.
In line with the Cervelo S5’s aerodynamic nature, Reinie’s bike continues that trend with his choice of a set of Enve SES handlebars.
Out front the bike gets one of Enve’s new Garmin mounts that cleanly attaches at either the top or bottom stem faceplate bolts, just with a longer set of hardware. It’s especially important with this giant flat top aero bar that offers little room for accessories to mount next to the stem.
Externally mounted Dura-Ace dual pivot rim brakes provide the Cervelo S5 with solid braking power.
The Cervelo P5 routes the rear brake cable through the top tube, keeping things nice and clean. Likewise, the Dimension Data mechanics do a pretty good job of keeping the Shimano Di2 wiring out of sight, too. Again, they stick with an external junction box and use some (so far unshrunk) heat-shrink tubing to guide the wiring along the rear brake housing until it hops inside the frame just behind the headset. It may be a bit less stealthy than the S5 intended with everything able to be routed inside integrated bars and stems, but keeps it all accessible for the mechanics at the end of the day.
Reinie’s seating requirements are taken care of by Fizik’s, deep cutout, carbon-railed Arione VSX saddle atop the teardrop S5 post.
At the time of writing, Stage One of the 2016 Tour Down Under has been run and done. While Team Dimension Data didn’t get the win today, there is still a lot more racing remaining, and plenty of opportunities for the lads to score a stage win.
Photos and article by Gravel Cyclist.
Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience.
