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Giro tech: Theo Eltink's Rabobank Colnago Extreme-C, May 22, 2006

How the peloton will cope with the savage slopes on offer in the third week is anyone's guess, but at Team Rabobank, Anthony Tan finds there's already plenty been done behind the scenes to make life up high as manageable as possible.

Extreme makeover

Theo Eltink's Colnago Extreme-C.
Photo ©: Anthony Tan

First tested under racing conditions in the L'Alpe d'Huez time trial at the 2004 Tour de France, then popularised by the exploits of Michael Rasmussen at last year's Tour, all members of Team Rabobank now place their behinds on top of Colnago's Extreme-C.

The first sub-1000 gram frame from Cambiago (in a medium sloping size), the Extreme-C uses round tubing throughout to keep the weight down, and to compensate for the slightly reduced stiffness, oversized chainstays as opposed to the HP stays seen on the Colnago C-50.

Rasmussen and a few others like Erik Dekker also have their frames unpainted in Rabo's traditional orange style, saving a further 100 grams or so. However, being 1.73 metres tall and weighing just 55 kilograms, 100 grams isn't going to stop Dutchman Theo Eltink following the best climbers come the high mountains - provided he's got the legs, of course!

Mechanic Bart Van Gog told Cyclingnews that just for the Giro, component supplier Shimano has made a special compact drivetrain for all the riders with 50/34 front chainrings (not seen in the photos), making it possible to run a 34x27 gear ratio for the savage slopes the peloton will encounter in the third week of the race. "Rasmussen has already climbed these mountains and advised us if we were to bring a 34 and 27, it should be okay, so that's when we talked to Shimano and they gave us the stuff we needed," he said.

Van Gog also mentioned that even though Shimano's WH-7801-Carbon wheels are still stickered with the label 'Prototype', they are in fact the finished product with no further changes to be made. But in addition to these, the team also has three sets of extra-light Shimano carbon wheels that are even lighter than the standard 1,310 gram offering (this claimed weight excludes the quick-release levers).

In his neo-pro year, Eltink finished 29th overall in the 2005 Giro. Although not under immense pressure, one year older and one year stronger, the now 24 year-old from Eindhoven is expected to go a little better this time round, and can take comfort in knowing he's got the equipment to tackle whatever stands in his way from here till Milano.

Shimano's WH-7801-Carbon wheels Photo ©: Anthony Tan

The downtube profile. Photo ©: Anthony Tan

Selle San Marco's Concor Light saddle. Photo ©: Anthony Tan

Clean as a whistle Photo ©: Anthony Tan

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews

• Theo Eltink's Colnago Extreme-C.
• One-piece carbon stem and handlebar from Dutch company PRO.
• A front-on profile of the integrated stem and bars.
• Colnago's Star carbon fork - a staple in the Colnago diet.
• Shimano's WH-7801-Carbon wheels have a 28mm rim depth with bladed spokes front and rear.
• Round tubes are used throughout to save weight.
• The downtube profile.
• The seat tube profile.
• Selle San Marco's Concor Light saddle.
• Beefy-looking seat stays.
• Clean as a whistle - mechanic Bart Van Gog says riders can choose from either an 11-25 or 11-27 rear cluster for the savage slopes the peloton will encounter in the third week of the race.