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TDU 2016 Tech: The Specialized Venge Vias of Tinkoff’s Adam Blythe

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Tinkoff is a Russian-registered professional cycling team with an interesting history. The team was managed under several different names and sponsors from 1999 to March of 2015 by former* Tour de France winner, Bjarne Riis. When prominent Russian businessman Oleg Tinkoff took ownership of the team in late 2013, relations became a little stressed between Mr Tinkoff and Mr Riis, with the latter parting company from Tinkoff in late March of 2015.

For the Tour Down Under of 2016, things are much rosier. Sean Yates, former top five place-getter at the 1994 edition of Paris Roubaix, arguably the most epic edition of the race, heads the team in Australia as Director Sportif. One of Sean’s charges is Adam Blythe, an English born road and track racing cyclist who joins Tinkoff in 2016, after spending 2015 with Australian outfit, Orica-GreenEDGE. Tinkoff ride Specialized bikes, and in the case of Adam, he is astride a brand spanking new Venge…

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If you haven’t caught it before, Specialized’s Venge Vias is arguably one of the most aero road bikes going in the pro peloton today.

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With Adam’s background as a track cyclist, it is apparent he enjoys a long and low position, which is extreme even among professionals, who are known for raising seatposts, slamming stems and stretching things out.

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Earlier in the week, I joined the team (mostly wheelsucking) for a relaxed training ride and caught this photo of Adam astride the Venge. Note his position and custom Nike shoes – only for certain professionals.

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The bike is aero, with nary a cable to be seen anywhere. While the team is running Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain, everything related to the system is hidden from sight.

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However, aero purists may frown upon the front wheel magnet and sensor pickup for the SRM PC8 power meter head unit.

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Not withstanding the differences in the standard Tinkoff team bike and the Venge, Adam’s bike is rolling Specialized’s 64mm deep CLX tubular wheelset.

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While Adam’s wheels are branded a little differently from consumer units, they also feature an extra wide set of tubulars, not so common at a race like the Tour Down Under.

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The Specialized Turbo cotton branded tires measure 28mm in width, something you’d expect to see at an event like Paris Roubaix. Whether these tires were just for training, or will be raced by Adam later in the week is another question. Whatever their intention, clearance is very tight around the rear brake as evidenced in the photo below!

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Adam’s seating requirements are handled by Prologo’s Nack saddle with the CPC vibration damping material, which also happens to be perfect for keeping one’s aggressive aero position stable and in place.

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The rest of Adam’s bike is standard Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed fare, with 53 / 39 chainrings on the crankset and an 11-25 cassette. The Tour Down Under has many tough climbs, but not so much that the professionals need to break out the compact cranksets. On the subject of cranksets, Tinkoff’s are all fitted with SRM’s latest power meter units.

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With Adam’s history as a track pursuiter, perhaps we’ll see him making an opportunistic move or two at the 2016 Tour Down Under? Whatever he does, he’ll be aboard one of the quickest rigs around – although I wouldn’t like to be the mechanic who installs all of those brake and electronic cables! Good luck Adam!

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Photos and article by Gravel Cyclist.
Jayson O’Mahoney is the Gravel Cyclist: A website about the Gravel Cycling Experience.

Team Tinkoff

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24 Comments
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cyclist101
8 years ago

That rear brake cable is an after-thought design. Every marketing pics out there featured the bike shot from the drive side. It made people think all cables were inside the frame.

Jonathan
Jonathan
8 years ago

Is that some sort of special adaptor for the PC8?

Pit
Pit
8 years ago

It’s growing on me a little. I like this one it looks more low and aggro.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
8 years ago

There’s enough room under that stem cap for a 1/8 oz of Colorado’s finest meds.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

The ugliest road bike on the market. Surely it’s great but I’m looking forward to seeing this vs. the Madone in the tunnel. That bike looks great and actually brakes. It doesn’t seem like Trek riders are afraid to ride the thing in the mountains or the rain.

fraser
fraser
8 years ago

@vegaveganpotter

the german roadbike magazine tour testet the Venge and Madone plus some other bikes (the new Scott Foil and the somewhat old Giant Propel) in the wind tunnel. And the Madone wins in a calculated race over 100km and 1000m in elevation by 50sec over the Venge. All on Zipp 404 clincher with 23mm Conti GP 4000 II with 200watts average power. The main reason is, that the Venge weights 800g (!!!) more than the Madone (both on DA Di2) and fails in the aerodynamics when the wind comes from the side. Plus: the brakes are not as good as they should be (the worst in the whole test).

The Venge is even beaten by the Felt AR FRD, the Cervelo S5, Canyon Aeroad, BMC Timemachine and the Giant Propel. Plus, the Giant Prpoel costs 3000€ less.

fraser
fraser
8 years ago

Ops, typo on your name. Sorry!

hollywood
hollywood
8 years ago

@fraser what was the purpose of testing at 1000m vs sea level?

Andrew
Andrew
8 years ago

They probably just need to set a benchmark somewhere I suppose…for air density?

Robo
Robo
8 years ago

the venge comes spec’d with better wheels than the 404 so that’s a bogus test anyway. Also, having ridden both, the brakes on the Venge are waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the madone. (however, they’re both kinda cruddy compared to a traditional setup.) the looks, however, are subjective. it’s growing on me but still not enough to spend money on one.

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Robo

The Madone you rode had to be set up poorly. They’re even better than average when set up properly. Nobody likes the braking on the Verge. I’ve heard very few complaints about a properly adjusted Madone

brattercakes
brattercakes
8 years ago

I’m sure its aero, but man… its kind of ugly.

Antipodean_eleven
8 years ago

… numbers for the average corporate MAMIL target market who takes it out on the Sunday group ride to talk about at the coffee shop.

rideifbikes
rideifbikes
8 years ago

i am also surprised that the rear brake cable is so exposed on the NDS, when it isn’t in the front. Seems like the rear would be easier to hide and the front would be trickier with the headset. Wouldn’t want to try to adjust that barrel adjuster mid ride…

Kirk Regarder
Kirk Regarder
8 years ago

Any reason the speed sensor magnet pickup on the fork isn’t pointed towards the back instead of towards the front? I see it installed like this a lot and was curious if there was a functional reason to point it forward like that

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago
Reply to  Kirk Regarder

It can cause problems the other way if there’s contact with a spoke. Still stupid to not have a rear sensor on an aero bike

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
8 years ago

The zoning in on the looks (over function) on this thread proves my hunch that most roadies are poseurs who, like Antipodeal_eleven points out, are in it for the coffee shop braggadocio, not getting results.

Regading the rear brake cable, they do not have installed according to the instruction guide for this bike. It’s a lot more inconspicuous when done by the book, although I would think that a pro team mechanic has a reason for doing things their way.

zoschi
8 years ago

@fraser: But in the tour magazin was not tested the Venge Vias!

ophir
ophir
8 years ago

@Kirk Regarder
when the speed sensor is pointed to the front it is less likely to get caught in the spokes

fraser
fraser
8 years ago

@hollywoood

My Bad. Not at 1000m over sea level, I meant over a course that climbs 1000m in total. I´m german, so sorry for my bad english. 🙁

Maza
Maza
8 years ago

@fraser how does the weight of the bike matter in a windtunnel test where it’s done purely aerodynamically

fraser
fraser
8 years ago

@Maza: They first tested the aerodynamics (where the Venge performed on a par with the Trek Madone when the wind comes directly from up front, wich is rarely the case. you always have more or less wind from the side.) and then they took that result and mangled it into a simulated 100km stage which climbs 1000m in total. On a flat stage weight does not matter, sure, but an a somewhat hilly stage it does.

@zoschi: They tested it in the magazine 1/2016. You can still get it. The new issue comes out this week.

Bikemark
Bikemark
8 years ago

Ugly, heavy, expensive and difficult to work on. There are two of these on permanent display at the local Specialized dealer. Not sure if that’s a reflection of the market or of people with sentiments similar to mine.

ChrisS.
ChrisS.
8 years ago

There is a disc version coming… beware.

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