Bytagand the publication "PROS – Deforming to perform: the Specialized of Deceuninck – Quick-Step and Bora – Hansgrohe for Paris-Roubaix"
The Queen of the Classics is being held this Sunday on a completely unusual date due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This late date will play an important role in the race conditions since it will be the 1st wet or very wet edition since 2002 and the victory of Johan Museeuw. On the equipment side, Specialized will try to make it three.
Photos: Specialized
Another notable fact and still one of the consequences of the health conditions, the previous edition of the race took place in April 2019, i.e. 2 and a half years ago.
However, teams with a Flemish soul remain very motivated at the end of the season. At their head, most of the teams flying the Belgian flag.
2 particularly motivated teams will be at the start from Compiègne and have spent the last two days in intense reconbirths on the cobblestones of the North: Bora-Hansgrohe led by Peter Sagan, winner in 2018, and the reigning champions, Deceuninck – Quick-Step (via Philippe Gilbert in 2019, now at Lotto-Soudal).
Since its introduction to the market, the Specialized Roubaix frame has equipped seven winners, and at the last edition in 2019, five of the top ten used this frame, including the winner himself as mentioned above.
The framework uses several technologies including the system Future Shock 2.0 housed in the fork (20 mm travel), a special design at the level of the saddle clamp and the Pavé seat post allowing to absorb vibrations and shocks. For the American brand, these suspension systems demonstrate that Deform to perform is a path to victory.
The Roubaix attempts to find a balance between aerodynamics, lightness and deformation. Its tube shapes FreeFoil are inspired by the Venge and have been validated in the wind tunnel, the frame itself being more aerodynamic than the Tarmac SL6. A design Rider-First Engineered ensures constant rigidity and deformation, even with increasing size. As for the weight, it remains under 900 grams (size 56 cm).
On the race, it will be the first time that the technology Future Shock housed in the fork is used on a wet Paris-Roubaix. The frame designers expect this feature to bring even more advantagestagIt is still only for the same event which would have been contested on dry land.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step has completed all of the reconbirths on Turbo tires and Roval Rapide CLX wheels. Moreover, tubulars are losing ground at the highest level, so much so that since 2020, all of the team's victories have been acquired with Turbo tires. For Paris-Roubaix, it will use Turbo Coton 28 mm "l'Enfer du Nord".
