grumpier.mike wrote:
Ron_Burgundy wrote:
mcmetal wrote:
pk1 wrote:
always interesting the bikes those who have the choice choose (even when under some level of pressure from sponsors). if the poster boy for the new venge is not riding it then that is a very bad look!
mollema has i think been riding the new madone at times - very rare for a GC contender to ride an aero frame but then the new madone would be the only aero frame that can be built up within the UCI weight limit.
but then, see this post from specialized themselves recommending tarmac for every stage in the 2nd week of the tour and prevail as the helmet most days too. yes, its a hilly week but there are several stages in there where surely a venge (old or new) would be the bike of choice if you believe even half of the marketing. haven't seen an equivalent overview for the first week.
Looks to me like on stage 15, Sagan switched from his old Venge to the new one toward the end. Perhaps the geometry is different and he doesn't like riding the new one for long periods of time yet. Clearly he wanted the new one for the sprint.
He started with the Tarmac, and most likely switched to the new Venge for sponsorship obligations in the event that he got a stage victory and all the associated press.
Man are you clinical. Specialized seems to let riders pick whatever they like. They just provide them with the information on the best choice. Notice that Tony Martin still uses his TT3 helmet about half the time and his Shimano bars on his Shiv. Contador almost exclusively rides a Tarmac (he rode a Venge in the really hilly TT at one of the grand tours ). Sagan was on a Tarmac and old Venge today. Cavendish was on a Tarmac on one of the mountain stages last week.
Years ago pretty much everyone on Gerosteiner rode their Walser TT bike when the Transition was available. My guess is the ultra narrow frame on the Transition was too soft for the PorTour guys. I know Specialized made custom seat post and added something like 2-300 grams of carbon to the frames the pros used.
I don't know exactly why Sagan would ride the old Venge today. It could be something like a lack of familiarity and he knew he would be really pushing the limits on the descents. It could also be that the brakes have a different feel from the Shimano's he is used to.
How is saying their team might consider publicity cynical? I realized he actually switched to the old venge so my point is moot anyways, but i think teams take some of these issues into account. I am actually a general fan of specialized, i own a Transition, Crux, and about to purchase a Venge so no dislike at all. My take home point is that if Sagan gets a W i am sure specialized would prefer to get a nice picture of him winning on the new Venge for marketing, but seems he is almost 100% on the old venge or tarmac.