Pro Bike Gallery: Fabian Cancellara’s Trek Madone RSL

Fabian Cancellara rides a special race team version of the Madone, and is still using mechanical shifting.

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Fabian Cancellara never rode the old Madone, preferring to stick to a special, hyper-aggressive version of the Domane for its improved comfort. But when Trek moved the ISOspeed Decoupler tech found on the Domane to the new aero Madone, Cancellara came right along with it. The RSL model, which stands for Race Shop Limited, is the team’s version, with a more aggressive fit. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The Segafredo deal happened just as the season was ramping up, and so temporary stickers had to be made for team frames. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Cancellara rides with an SRM power meter and the company’s relatively new PC8 computer. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Cancellara is famous for his love of mechanical shifting. He’s never raced on Di2, and that continues this year. His bike is built with Shimano Dura Ace 9000 mechanical. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Bontrager, a Trek subsidiary, doesn’t even make this saddle anymore. But what Fabian wants, Fabian gets. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The last time center-pull brakes made their way into the pro peloton, they were terrible. These, thankfully, are not. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The Madone’s integrated front end improves aerodynamics. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Those are most certainly not the stock Madone handlebars, which feature a slender curve through the drops. Cancellara likes this ergonomic style, with a flat section in the middle of the drops. Trek doesn’t sell these bars, though, and he’s the only rider on the team who uses them. They’re custom, which takes a bit of extra effort since the Madone’s bars are integrated into its stem. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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In order to tuck the front brake’s cable stop into the head tube, Trek had to build little flaps that open up when the wheel is turned. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Looks complicated, but the concept behind the Madone’s integrated stem/steerer contraption is basically the same as it is on your bike. It just uses its own special headset spacers. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Cancellara’s seat height, just under 79cm, is marked on the semi-integrated seatpost. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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This little portal can be used to house a Di2 junction box or a microadjuster for mechanical systems. Cancellara is utilizing the latter. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Cancellara’s standard 53/39t Dura Ace SRM. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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No wires, just cables. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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This plastic cage is called the Bat Cage. It’s $15 and is the cage of choice for the Trek team, thanks to its secure hold on bottles. Mechanics add small rubber rings to the cage to further increase grip. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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The ISOspeed Decoupler allows the seat tube to flex independently of the top tube and seat stays, improving comfort. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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RSL = Race Shop Limited, the more aggressive frames used by the team. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Light, but not super light, at 7.59kg, or 16.73lbs. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 tubular wheels and Veloflex Roubaix 25mm tires grace Cancellara’s Madone. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

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