Iban Mayo's Saunier Duval-Prodir Scott Addict Limited

	James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

Too light for the UCI

By James Huang

Basque climbing sensation Iban Mayo has certainly had more than his fair share of ups and downs during his career, both literally and figuratively. Mayo was a revelation in the 2003 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, captured a glorious Tour de France stage victory atop l'Alpe d'Huez shortly afterwards, then dominated over Lance Armstrong in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré the following year. Sadly, though, his performance mysteriously faltered in spectacular fashion since then yet he has remained at the forefront of the sport, at least in terms of expectations.

After six seasons with the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, Mayo made what has proven to be a reinvigorating move to Saunier Duval-Prodir for 2007 and has barely looked back since then. The change in scenery apparently removed much of the homegrown pressure to perform and allowed the enigmatic personality to clear his head and refocus his efforts on being one of cycling's best ascenders.

Although Mayo still has yet to fully recapture his past glory, he is performing better than he has in years with a fresh outlook on his career, a reenergized set of legs, and a heart that has rekindled its love for the sport. In this year's TdF, Mayo displayed some of his old form with two strong days in the Alps that included a second place finish in Tignes. Things didn't go quite as well in the Pyrenees, but Mayo's improvement is both encouraging and inspiring nonetheless.

Along with the new team came a new sponsor and a new bicycle in Scott Bicycles and its featherweight Addict Limited. At just 1.76m (5'9") tall and 65kg (143lb), Mayo is unsurprisingly keen on reducing mass to the absolute minimum and his new machine easily satisfies that requirement with near-100% carbon fiber construction (including the dropouts, housing stops, and front derailleur tab), a new Integrated Molding Process construction technique, and integrated seat mast (although the jury is still out on whether or not that really saves any weight in comparison to a conventional setup).

As far as the UCI is concerned, though, Mayo's new bicycle perhaps satisfies his weight wants and needs a bit too well: his bike was just 6.6kg (14.6lb) on the day we looked at it, undercutting the governing body's mandated 6.8kg minimum allowable weight by a full 200g . Still, his Scott Addict Limited was swathed with a rather standard build that included a SRAM Force group, new R-SYS tubular wheels from Mavic, Ritchey Carbon Evolution handlebar and aluminum WCS 4-Axis stem, fi'zi:k Arione saddle, and Time RXS Carbon Titan pedals. Later in the first week, team mechanics even upgraded his machine with unmarked SRAM Red DoubleTap levers and a BlackBox ceramic bearing-equipped bottom bracket which made it even lighter.

Surely the frame's claimed weight of just 953g (2.10lb, with integrated post, but without seat cap) doesn't help, nor does its rather diminutive 49cm frame size. In Mayo's case, Saunier Duval-Prodir team mechanics must add mass to the bike to make the bike legal, and in all likelihood none of that additional weight has any significant effect on the bike's safety or reliability. Scott helps, too, by offsetting some of the Addict Limited's ethereal mass with a thick coat of gleaming white paint and custom graphics in preparation for what it hopes will be Mayo's grand return to the TdF (paint is surprisingly heavy!).

It is indeed ironic that teams struggled in years past to shed grams from its riders' machines but are now putting in almost as much effort to make them heavier. Arguments presented by Scott, Cannondale, and other lightweight notables have fallen on deaf ears at the UCI so far but it can only be a matter of time before some sort of change is made. At the very least, Mayo's bike stands as a strong testament to just how easily that 6.8kg figure is reached, and also makes a firm case that the rule is now even more antiquated than ever.

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Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Iban Mayo hopes to return to his days of glory with his new Saunier Duval-Prodir team and his new Scott Addict Limited bicycle.
• The Basque flag follows wherever Mayo goes.
• The Scott Addict Limited includes an integrated seat post.
• Custom paint and graphics adorn Mayo's TdF rig.
• The full-carbon fork blends gracefully into the integrated head tube.
• The oversized bottom bracket helps transmit power efficiently into the ground.
• Elite bottles and cages keep Mayo hydrated.
• Team sponsor SRAM provides its Force group. Mayo was spotted with preproduction Red levers later on in the Tour.
• The Addict Limited is nearly 100% carbon fiber , right down to the front derailleur mount.
• SRAM also provides its Force rear derailleur.
• There are no compact chainrings to be found here.
• SRAM Force handles the stopping duties as well , while Polar's wireless transmitter lets Mayo know how fast he's going.
• Mayo uses Ritchey's new Carbon Evolution handlebar.
• The Ritchey Carbon Evolution uses a unique anatomic bend.
• Mayo is using Mavic's new R-SYS tubular wheelset with carbon fiber spokes.
• The rear wheel includes an offset spoke bed to even out the spoke tension.
• A novel 'Tracomp' ring braces against the head of the spoke to allow them to work in compression.
• Driveside spokes are still made of Mavic's Zicral aluminum alloy.
• Hutchinson supplies the team with its tubular tires.
• The Time RXS Carbon Titan is Mayo's pedal of choice.
• fi'zi:k has quickly gained a solid foothold in the ProTour.
• A simple bit of stainless steel is all that is required to hold Mayo's race number.
• Iban Mayo , ready to return to the spotlight.

Full specification

Frame: Scott Addict Limited
Fork: Scott Addict

Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.76m (5'9"); Weight: 65kg (143lb)
Seat tube length, c-c: 440mm
Seat tube length, c-t: n/a
Top tube length: 520mm
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 720mm
Saddle nose tip to C of bars: 548mm
C of front hub to top of bars: 515mm

Bottom bracket: SRAM Force GXP
Cranks: SRAM Force, 172.5mm, 39/53T
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7801 with KMC master link
Front derailleur: SRAM Force
Rear derailleur: SRAM Force
Brakes: SRAM Force
Levers: SRAM Force
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7800, 11-23T

Wheelset: Mavic R-SYS tubular
Tyres: Hutchinson tubular

Bars: Ritchey Carbon Evolution, 42cm (c-c)
Stem: Ritchey WCS 4AXIS, 110mm x -17°
Headset: Ritchey WCS Press Fit
Tape/grip: fi'zi:k bar:tape

Pedals: Time RXS Carbon Titan
Seat post: n/a
Saddle: fi'zi:k Arione
Bottle cages: Elite Pase Macia
Computer: Polar CS400

Total bike weight: 6.6kg (14.6lb)