Romain Bardet flies under the radar of the GC favorites, but he's undeniably a contender. He'll make his case on this Factor 02. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
Romain Bardet flies under the radar of the GC favorites, but he’s undeniably a contender. He’ll make his case on this Factor 02. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
In order to have a chance to win the Tour de France, Bardet will most certainly need to heed his top tube’s advice.Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
Factor is a relative unknown among bike brands at the Tour, though its founders have a professional racing pedigree. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
The seatpost clamping system is hidden in much the same fashion as the recently-replaced Specialized Tarmac SL5. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
The O2’s lines are sleek and mostly traditional, with little aero shaping to speak of. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
Bardet chose an 11-28 cassette for the mostly-rolling stage 2. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
Up front, Bardet’s pushing 53/39 gearing mated to an SRM power meter. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
The O2’s BB386 is fairly stout, ideal for plenty of pedaling response in the mountains. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
The O2 looks wicket fast with those Mavic Comete Pro Carbon SL wheels wrapped in Mavic rubber. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
Easily the most ubiquitous saddle in the pro peloton, Bardet’s sitting on a Fizik Arione. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
While he’s not running a new Dura-Ace crank, the rest of the drivetrain is the updated Di2 system from Shimano. (No hydro disc brakes here, unsurprisingly.) Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
A sparse, no-nonsense cockpit works with Bardet’s style: keep it light, keep it simple, win on the climbs. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com
Bardet was tangled up in a crash late in stage 2, so he’ll have to fight his way up the GC standings when the race heads south toward the mountains. Photo: Dan Cavallari | VeloNews.com