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Gallery: Scheldeprijs tech in the pits

There's a wide range of tech choices for Wednesday's midweek Scheldeprijs race in Belgium.

April 6, 2016 Dan Cavallari

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Scheldeprijs — Some members of the Direct Énergie Cycling Team rode disc brake-equipped BH bikes at Scheldeprijs. Roompot was also on discs for the Wednesday race that falls between Flanders and Roubaix. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Only one Cannondale rider, Sebastian Langeveld, was spotted aboard the company’s endurance bike, the Synapse. Everyone else chose the SuperSix Evo. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Guess whose bike this is? The world champion colors adorn Peter Sagan’s Roval CLX 64 wheels before the midweek race. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Sagan rides a Specialized S-Works Roubaix to stay (generally) comfortable on the cobbles. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Always a crowd-pleaser, Sagan wheelied his way through the pits after rider check-in, much to the delight of his fans. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Still no sign of FSA’s drivetrain, but we did spot a few FSA chains on various bikes. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Mechanics wrap electrical tape around valve stems to help keep them from rattling while riders tackle the cobbles. There’s no mechanical issue with a valve rattling, but the noise just might drive the rider crazy. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — More creative use of electrical tape. Most teams used this method, though any rider onboard a Specialized likely used a Roval valve silencer instead. It’s essentially a piece of pre-cut tape that fits over the valve. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Trek – Segafredo riders chose an array of different bikes for Scheldeprijs. Some were on the brand new Domane SLR with IsoSpeed decouplers in both the front and the back, while others opted for the previous model Domane with just a rear IsoSpeed. Some even chose the much stiffer Madone, perhaps in preparation for a likely bunch sprint. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Double-wrapped bars were a common sight in the pits. Two layers of tape helps dampen vibrations from the chattery cobbles, but it also makes shifting a bit more difficult for riders who prefer sprint shifters. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — More creative use for electrical tape: a timing chip sits snugly against the fork blade of Andre Greipel’s Ridley Noah SL. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Matteo Trentin’s top tube provides a reminder of his past successes and a motivator for many more. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Trentin uses shift buttons on the tops of his bars, but rather than facing them inward to operate with his thumbs, they face outward for forefinger operation. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Belgian-born Sam Bennett of Bora – Argon 18 honors his Irish roots. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Carbon? Who needs it? Cannondale riders use Arundel titanium bottle cages, perhaps in an effort to prevent jettisoned water bottles as the cobbles vibrate their bikes. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Wouter Wippert’s Cannondale SuperSix Evo was outfitted with a Berner derailleur cage. The oversized pulleys are said to save several watts, though they do add some weight. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Alexander Kristoff’s Canyon was outfitted with several interesting parts, including this Shimano direct-mount brake with the branding removed. SRAM, Katusha’s parts sponsor, does not currently offer a direct-mount brake, and Canyon does not offer a version of the Aeroad that does not use direct-mount. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — More non-branded parts on Kristoff’s bike, this time what appear to be Rotor chainrings. Kristoff ran a stout 54-46 chainring combo for the flat Scheldeprijs course, coupled with an 11-25 cassette in the rear. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — Not a whole lot of difference between the small chainring and the big one. Kristoff is going to have to really mash the pedals. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

Scheldeprijs — For the second race in a row, Team Sky opted for the new, unreleased K8 instead of its rear-suspended K8-S. Unlike the K8-S, the K8 relies solely on frame flex to provide compliance. The flattened chain stays help dampen the cobble vibrations without adding lateral flex. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews

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