EF Schooling-EasyPost has had a combined begin to this yr’s Tour de France. On stage 3, Richard Carapaz took the Maillot Jaune nonetheless, the next day because the route took the peloton over the Col du Galibier he misplaced time to his GC rivals placing him exterior the highest 20 and greater than 5 minutes again.
With the crew’s hopes for a GC podium trying to be over, it’s now time for the stage looking to start. One rider who may have a eager eye on crossing the ending line along with his arms within the air is 27-year-old Neilson Powless.
Powless is able to pulling one thing out of the bag when the going will get powerful. He comes into his personal in attritional, punchy races. The second and third weeks of the Tour will present the proper launchpad for the American to leap in an early transfer and look to carry off the peloton to say a maiden victory on the French Grand Tour.
The bike he hopes to hold him to stage victory is Cannondale’s SuperSix Evo, which carries a Lab71 paint job. Launched in March 2023, Lab71 is the end result of Cannondale’s greatest supplies and expertise. The Lab71 bikes share the identical silhouette as the usual SuperSix Evo and Hello-Mod framesets, however use the model’s Ultralight Sequence 0 carbon fibre that’s each stiffer and lighter than that discovered within the different fashions.
Apparently, nonetheless, for causes unknown, EF Schooling EasyPost race aboard the Hello-Mod model of the body.
Cannondale makes two highway race bikes with the SuperSix joined by the SystemSix aero bike nonetheless, EF Schooling Straightforward-Publish have adopted a one-bike technique for the reason that Lab 71’s launch, largely because it appears the SystemSix has been successfully mothballed lately.
The daring paint job is like nothing else throughout the peloton and definitely divides opinion. One factor is for positive, it is a exhausting bike to overlook even contained in the mele of the peloton. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
Though the bars may look to be from crew sponsor Imaginative and prescient they’re truly made in collaboration with Momodesign and are Cannondale’s personal SystemBar R-One. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
There may be nothing out of the peculiar for Powless on the drivetrain entrance with an ordinary 54/40 tooth FSA Ok-Drive chainset fitted to his bike. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
As a Shimano-sponsored crew, Powless makes use of the 11-34 tooth Dura-Ace cassette which presents the widest unfold of gears for the Japanese model’s flagship groupset. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
At 183cm Powless makes use of what could possibly be thought of comparatively brief cranks at 170mm in size. Nonetheless we’re seeing riders trending to shorter cranks in latest seasons. This permits riders to pedal at the next cadence and is barely extra aerodynamic, plus has advantages for knee well being. Given Powless has been combating patellar tendonitis this season this can be the rationale for the shorter cranks slightly than any aero features. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
Powless makes use of Speedplay Zero Aero pedals that substitute one facet of the pedal with a dimpled aero-fairing that easily interfaces with the cleat. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
28mm Vittoria Corsa Professional tubeless tyres are mounted to Imaginative and prescient Metron 60 SL wheels. These wheels have a 33mm exterior rim width to optimise them to be used with higher-volume tyres. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
The Prologo Nago Evo saddle is without doubt one of the few saddles within the peloton that doesn’t have a stress aid cut-out as a substitute retaining a extra conventional design with energetic density foam. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
The race transponder is roofed by what seems to be a piece of latex internal tube consistent with the bike’s pink aesthetic. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
Sitting in entrance of the Cannondale built-in cockpit is a Wahoo Elemnt ROAM laptop. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
The Muc-Off tubeless values utilized by the crew add a pleasant ending splash of pink. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
Recording Powless’ information is the FSA Ok-Drive Workforce Powerbox spider-based energy meter. Its place on the spider permits for left and proper leg measurements to be taken. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
Sitting on the seat keep of the body is Powless’ title sticker along with his nationwide flag subsequent to it, a pleasant professional completion that is extra for the mechanics than the riders. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
K3 makes an entire vary of quantity holders for race bikes, with this small plastic holder made particularly to match the aero-profile seat tube of the SuperSix. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
Coming in at 7.8kg Powless’ bike is a full kilo over the UCI minimal weight restrict. It may not be the lightest bike within the Tour however it’s definitely probably the most vibrant. (Picture credit score: Josh Croxton)
The most recent race content material, interviews, options, opinions and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!