The 121st version of the boys’s Paris-Roubaix was ripped up by none aside from Mathieu van der Poel on Sunday, as he made an audacious transfer, breaking away from the lead group with 60 kilometers nonetheless remaining. From the second of his assault, the writing was on the wall, and his hole continued to balloon out to a profitable margin of three minutes.
Within the girls’s race, world champion Lotte Kopecky sprinted from a bunch of six favourites, giving strategy to a way more thrilling finale.
Nonetheless, not the entire credit score goes to the rider in Paris-Roubaix. Know-how performs a vital function within the Hell of the North, and as such, innovation can really form the race.
Yearly, groups try to harness new developments and applied sciences to navigate the cobbled terrain. So, what have been the standout tech developments of the 2024 Paris-Roubaix?
Gravel bikes aren’t match for the cobbles
In years passed by, Paris-Roubaix introduced an entire host of various, progressive bike setups. Group Sky’s Pinarello Dogma K8 again in 2015, and the Specialised Roubaix are each examples the place riders have used particular body know-how to assist fight the savage stones. We believed these days to be gone, with bikes such because the Merida Reacto aero bike – ridden to victory by Sonny Colbrelli in 2021 – capable of sort out the terrain.
Nonetheless, some squads are nonetheless trying to tech exterior of the highway racing norm for beneficial properties. Working example: Group Israel Premier Tech opted for the Issue Ostro Gravel as an alternative of the normal Issue Ostro Vam highway race bike. Based on experiences, the crew outfitted their bikes with comparatively extensive 34c Continental GP5000 S TR tyres.
(Picture credit score: Future (Will Jones))
The rational right here was to attempt to capitalise on the Ostro Gravel’s wider tyre clearance, and barely slacker geometry, which ought to in principle at the very least deal with higher over the more durable sectors, offering a bonus. Nonetheless, their highest-placed rider completed over 7 minutes behind the winner, touchdown in thirty first place.
There are doubtless a couple of issues at play right here, not least the geometry. Professional riders spend numerous hours in a really exact place on the bike, it is tough to copy that when switching to a brand new body, which may result in a slightly alien really feel. Arguably, had the climate been a lot worse, the choice might need performed within the gravel bike’s favour, with extra room for mud clearance – however as many groups confirmed, in 2024 you possibly can construct a wonderfully succesful setup utilizing a typical highway bike.
Dinner plate chainrings… clearly
No tech roundup can be full and not using a good outdated sport of spot the most important chainring – maybe what’s extra stunning although, is that the prize goes to one of many youngest riders within the subject.
Josh Tarling of Ineos Grenadiers used an enormous, 62t chainring on Sunday to sort out the flat parcours of Paris-Roubaix. His bike featured a 1x set-up, which, together with the bigger chainring, ought to have allowed him to spend extra time in the midst of the cassette, thus rising chain effectivity because of a straighter chain line.
Different groups additionally went for bigger chainrings than common. A UAE Group Emirates mechanic revealed that a few of their riders have been utilizing “a giant, 55t chainring”, whereas EF-Schooling EasyPost’s Alberto Bettiol went for a 56t, versus his common 54t.
(Picture credit score: Future (Will Jones))
To cease the chain from falling off this carbon dinner plate, Ineos mechanics put in a Ok-edge chain catcher to Tarling’s bike. Ultimately, although, the Welshman’s day led to a disgruntled disqualification, after race commissaries determined he had held on to a bottle at his crew automobile for too lengthy.
Aero bikes rule the roost
The pattern dominating the paddock was, undeniably, a choice for outright aero bikes. In actual fact, Uno-X rider Alexander Kristoff made waves by selecting a prototype aero bike from crew sponsor Dare. Rumored to be dubbed the Velocity Ace, this bike seems to be extremely aggressive, that includes a remarkably deep head tube that takes full benefit of the newest UCI regulation modifications.
(Picture credit score: Future (Will Jones))
This choice for aero bikes was echoed all through the boys’s peloton, the place riders leaned in direction of them every time attainable. Nonetheless, the ladies’s peloton introduced a barely completely different image, with a wider array of motorcycle selections. Some opted for the endurance centered Trek Domane over the aero Madone, whereas others favored the all-rounder Canyon Final over the wind dishonest Aeroad.
It is evident that the present wave of endurance bikes, together with the Specialised Roubaix, not holds sway within the realm of the cobbled classics. Maybe the body has turn into too compliant, or possibly aero bikes have developed to the purpose the place they will excel even on probably the most difficult parcours. Our perspective suggests it is doubtless a mixture of each elements.
32mm tyres
Whereas purists might argue that 32mm rubber ought to solely be ridden in gran fondos, we predict it is affordable to take a position that the bikes touchdown on the rostrum owe their success to a easy issue: their compatibility with wider tyres.
Maybe that is the only most influential facet shaping the flexibility of recent highway bikes. Notably, the popular tyre dimension inside the peloton was 32c, with just a few groups deviating from this norm.
(Picture credit score: Future (Will Jones))
Some riders, together with British champ Fred Wright opted for wider rubber nonetheless, cramming 35mm Continental GP5000 AS TR tyres into his Merida Reacto. “Aside from that, it is fairly normal Roubaix stuff,” his Bahrain Victorious mechanic instructed Biking Weekly.
Lidl-Trek additionally stood out, working the brand new prototype Pirelli tyres.
(Picture credit score: Future (Will Jones))
Regardless of being labeled as 32mm extensive, when paired with the brand new Bontrager Aeolus Professional 49V gravel wheels, they measured up at 34.5mm. This beneficiant tire quantity doubtless allowed Mads Pederson to run decrease stress and keep a considerable contact patch on the cobbles.
Good approach wins races – and saves your fingers
Have a look across the beginning space for Paris-Roubaix, and you will find an entire host of hand-saving measures put in place by riders and crew workers to attempt to save the pores and skin on the palms of the riders.
This 12 months, some groups, like UAE Group Emirates and EF-Schooling Cannondale, used Prologo’s new bar tape, outfitted with particular tendrils for higher grip. Double-wrapped handlebar tape, thicker gloves, and even taped wrists have been all additionally among the many hacks used on race day, however some riders select to maintain it easy.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Each Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock bravely attacked Sunday’s race with no gloves, displaying everybody that approach, above all else, is the first issue. The cyclocross pairing proved that you would be able to hack across the cobbles for 5 hours and barely undergo a blemish to your palms.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
There actually is a knack to using cobbles. The place your place, weight, cadence alternative, and pedal smoothness all change how the bike reacts beneath you – clearly one thing that these two cyclocross world champions have gotten right down to a T.
