The Spring Classics are in full swing in Belgium this week, with both Bruges-de-Panne and the E3 Saxo Classic serving as preludes to Ghent-Wevelgem, followed by the Tour of Flanders' cobbled monuments a week later be done.
The Cobblestone Classic is unlike any other race on the calendar and requires a different approach to bike setup and equipment. Almost every team had wide tires on display, with some teams pushing the boundaries of what was possible. It wasn't just tires on display this week, some teams were also trying out prototype equipment.
Proton helmets have received widespread attention in recent weeks, with both Ineos Grenadiers and EF Education-EasyPost debuting an as-yet-unreleased road helmet that blends a traditional aero road helmet with a time trial-specific helmet. I did. Recently, Visma-Lease a Bike introduced the all-new TT Helmet and it certainly got people talking.
If this week is anything to go by, it's that this is just the beginning of a new wave of aero-optimized helmets. Ahead of the Women's Classic Brugge-de-Panne, the entire EF Education-Cannondale team was seen wearing unreleased helmets.
Tire width has been steadily increasing, and this is even more noticeable in the cobblestone races of Northern Europe. It is common for teams to use his 28mm tires in most races these days, taking full advantage of their low rolling resistance, good puncture protection, and low tire pressure.
At the E3 Saxo Classic, 28mm was the narrowest tire used, with one exception (Team Flanders Baloise). Less than half the field was using his 28mm, with most teams settling on his 30mm. This would have been unthinkable just a few seasons ago, apart from some riders from Ineos Grenadiers and Astana Kzakstan, who were seen using 32mm tires.
The Uno-X Mobility team showcased prototype technology in the form of a new aero cockpit from team sponsor Dare at the Classic Bruges de Panne and the E3 Saxo Classic. Details regarding the specifics of the bar were not revealed on the ground, but it was confirmed that it would be faster than the integrated cockpit the team currently uses, and was developed with input from the team. . The new bar's interesting profile appears to take full advantage of the relaxed regulations on equipment design that came into force last year.
Towards the end of 2023, the UCI has announced that it will crack down on the inward rotation of brake levers by riders in the eternal pursuit of improved aerodynamics. The reason behind this was one of safety concerns as the lever was not designed to be used in such a configuration and access to the brakes could be blocked. In early 2024, the UCI took the issue seriously at the Tour Down Under, with UCI officials seen measuring riders' lever positions. Since then, things seem to be heading in a more relaxed direction with many riders still sporting turn-in levers before this week's race.
Uno-X Mobility wasn't the only company showing off prototype technology this week. Both the men's and women's Riddle Trek teams were seen using Pirelli's new tires marked 'Prototype'. The new tires were developed with feedback from teams and riders. The new tires are claimed to be 28mm wide when fitted to the team's Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 rims, but in reality he's much closer to 30mm.
The E3 Saxo Classic is often seen as a rehearsal for the Tour of Flanders, which features parkour that includes many of the same roads as its sibling Monument. Fred Wright is hoping to improve on his position at last year's Tour of Flanders, where he finished in the top 10. As the reigning British National Champion, his team bike has been transformed into a full National Champion with Union Flag motifs on the top tube and seat tube.
The new edition of the 2024 Pro Proton is the bike used by TotalEnergies, where Peter Sagan made the switch from Specialized after retiring from road racing last year. In 2024, the team will be riding Enve's Melee.
Although it's a well-known brand among cycling enthusiasts, it's typically associated with carbon wheelsets rather than frames. Enve has good reason for this, as he just entered frame manufacturing in 2021. Everything from the frame to the bars and wheels is provided by the American brand, and this is definitely one of his more popular bikes.
One-bye is becoming more and more widely adopted among the peloton, at least for the four WorldTour teams sponsored by SRAM. Before Wednesday's Classic Brugge-de-Panne, the entire Team Movistar appeared to be using a single-ring setup, as did Bora-Hansgrohe. Given One Buy's history, it's safe to assume that had they raced, so would Visma Lease-A-Bike, which was not raced.
The cobbled mountains of Belgium were on the menu for Friday's E3 Saxo Classic, with all teams reverting to more traditional 2-by sets, thanks to the ease of setup of the SRAM Red groupset. This is the evidence. Being completely wireless means that all you need to do to switch configurations is swap out the chainset and reinstall the front derailleur.
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