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First look at Tyler Hamilton's Time Trial Bike
By Ian Melvin
Jul 1, 2004, 13:05
Just a few days before the first rider is due to roll down the start ramp of the Tour de France prologue time trial, BMC, the official bike sponsor of the Swiss based Team Phonak, has unveiled their new secret weapon which they hope will help Tyler Hamilton in this year’s race. “Because seconds can often mean the difference between victory and defeat in the Tour de France, BMC has spared no expense in making the best materials available to Hamilton and Co,” BMC’s Bruno Berchtold told Roadcycling.com.
It's a lean, mean power machine! Look out for Tyler "Courageous Captain" Hamilton riding it to victory in the Tour de France prologue and time trials.
Production of these frames was undertaken by a carefully chosen Swiss partner with plenty of experience having previously worked with a well-known Swiss Formula 1 team.
It is likely that the 100% carbon-fiber monocoque will be used in three stages of the event. The 6.1 km Prologue time trial, the 64.5 km stage 4 Team Time Trial between Cambrai and Arras and finally in the penultimate stage, the 55 km individual time trial at Besancon. Berchtold confirmed that he does not expect Hamilton to use the bike in the L’Alpe d’Huez mountain time trial.
Better get a mechanic holding an advanced degree. Wow!
Nothing has been left to chance on the bike. Even the fork drop out and derailleur cage are constructed from carbon-fiber. Due to the revolutionary design of the frame, BMC has been able to custom build each bike for each individual member of the team. “the seat post is no longer really a post but a component of the frame and is cut to fit. Its special design also allows us to make individual adjustments to the length,” said Berchtold.
The total weight for the frame, fork and stem is 1,450 grams.
Built-in room for a pizza slice behind the cockpit? Very nice.
Will the new time trial bike help Tyler Hamilton win the prologue and shave off important seconds in the time trials? Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com to find out! For more Tour info, check out Roadcycling.com's Tour de France section.
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There's only one way -- and it's forward! Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com to see how fast Tyler goes!
