Stuart O'Grady's Team CSC Cervélo R3 Paris-Roubaix Special

	Photo ©: James Huang

Team CSC sticks with a proven formula

By James Huang

Not many riders get to wear this decal

The seat tube starts out at the bottom bracket

Team CSC mechanics definitely had a system

The Shimano Dura-Ace rear hub

O'Grady switched to a Prologo Scratch TR saddle this year.

…but the bend suggests they're more likely to be

While many other teams resorted to new, and often unorthodox, creations at this year's Paris-Roubaix, Team CSC went with a time-tested setup in its quest for a third consecutive cobblestone trophy. The team couldn't quite pull off the win in the end, but their only slightly modified Cervélo R3 machines proved themselves once again.

O'Grady's Cervélo R3 was a near carbon copy of the bike that carried him at last year's queen of the classics with only minor changes in componentry. Just as before, the frame's rear end was extended by 1cm to deliver a slightly smoother ride and more stable handling. Rake on the accompanying Alpha Q GS-10 fork was similarly increased to 50mm to retain overall weight balance front-to-rear but otherwise there were no special concessions made to increase tire clearances at either end.

Some of this consistency may have to do with the frame's built-in design attributes: the front triangle and chain stays are appropriately massive for snappy reflexes but, as always, the R3 seat stays are almost impossibly spindly for a smoother ride over the cobbles.

Much of last year's equipment carried over as well, including the traditional box-section tubular rims laced to standard Dura-Ace hubs front and rear with stainless steel spokes in a three-cross pattern. Nearly all of the remaining componentry wore the Dura-Ace badge as well, save for the carbon FSA carbon crankset, and Vittoria once again provided the corresponding 27mm-wide tubular rubber. Pedals were the familiar specially modified Zeros from Speedplay.

In fact, virtually nothing on O'Grady's bike was new relative to 2007. Lone exceptions included a new Scratch TR carbon-shelled saddle from Prologo and the ARX Team stem and Ergosum Pro bar from new sponsor 3T (although the shape of the latter bore a striking resemblance to O'Grady's FSA bar from last year).

Call it boring or unimaginative if you like but O'Grady's Cervélo was one of the lightest Paris-Roubaix bikes we handled; actual weight was just 7.5kg (16.5lb). Regardless, the results speak for themselves. O'Grady ended up in fifth place only nine months after his horrific crash at last year's Tour de France and 2006 Paris-Roubaix winner Fabian Cancellara continued his incredibly successful spring campaign only one step down from Quick Step's Tom Boonen.

Was CSC's Cervélo R3 rerun boring and imaginative? Perhaps, but it was also undeniably effective.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Stuart O'Grady's Paris-Roubaix machine was a specially built Cervélo R3 that was nearly identical to what he used last year.
• The rear end was approximately 1cm longer to yield a slightly softer ride and more stable handling.
• Increased fork rake offsets the longer chain stays to maintain overall fore-aft weight distribution. Otherwise, though, the frame was essentially stock.
• Cervélo's so-called 'squoval'-shaped down tube is claimed to maximize structural efficiency with minimal weight.
• The seat tube starts out at the bottom bracket with a similar profile but ends up round up top.
• The bottom end of the Cervélo R3 is impressively beefy to deliver good drivetrain response.
• Not surprisingly, the bottom bracket area is plenty stout.
• Massively oversized chain stays…
• …are matched to almost impossibly slim seat stays for a solid feel under power but a reasonably comfortable ride when the bumps come.
• Not many riders get to wear this decal on their top tube. This one had to be earned the hard way.
• Full-length brake housing is sealed from contaminants, although O'Grady didn't end up needing the protection in this year's surprisingly accommodating weather conditions.
• The team skipped over its usual Zipp carbo tubulars in favor of more traditional handbuilt wheels.
• The Shimano Dura-Ace rear hub may not be as sexy as those used in pre-built 'wheel systems' but it was clearly an effective tool nonetheless.
• Heads out or heads in? The debate rages on but Team CSC mechanics have clearly made their choice.
• O'Grady tackled the Paris-Roubaix cobbles on a pair of Ambrosio aluminum box-section tubular rims.
• 27mm-wide Vittoria tubulars offer far more security and comfort than more standard 22mm- or 23mm-wide options.
• O'Grady switched to a Prologo Scratch TR saddle this year.
• The saddle shell isn't just reinforced with bits of carbon ; it really is carbon fiber composite.
• The team swapped over to 3T for some of its componentry sponsorship this year.
• The bars are labeled as a 3T Ergosum Pro…
• …but the bend suggests they're more likely to be a rebadged sample of the FSA bar that O'Grady used last year.
• Standard Dura-Ace brake calipers front…
• …and rear are indicative of the relatively tight clearances but mud was a non-issue at this year's Paris-Roubaix.
• Standard Dura-Ace STI Dual Control levers control the action up front.
• FSA still supplies the team with cranksets.
• O'Grady's uniquely built Speedplay pedals omit the usual plastic bodies for better action in mud.
• Tacx Tao cages offered a secure hold on bottles as O'Grady passed over the cobbles.
• O'Grady's usual Sigma computer kept track as the kilometers ticked by.
• Team CSC mechanics definitely had a system for making sure every bike was properly prepped.
• Team CSC mechanic Roger Theel preps O'Grady's bike the day before the big event.

Full specification

Frame: Cervélo R3 Paris-Roubaix Special w/1cm chain stay extension
Fork: Alpha Q GS-10, 50mm rake

Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.76m (5' 9") ; Weight: 73kg (161lb)
Seat tube length, c-c: 470mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 515mm
Top tube length: 545mm
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 720mm
Saddle nose tip to C of bars: 570mm
C of front hub to top of bars: 555mm

Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7800
Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace BR-7800
Levers: Shimano Dura-Ace STI Dual Control ST-7800
Front derailleurs: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7800-F
Rear derailleurs: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7800-SS with FSA ceramic pulleys
Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7800, 11-23T
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-7801
Crankset: FSA SL-K Light, 172.5mm, 44/53T (labeled as FSA K-Force Light)
Bottom bracket: FSA MegaExo Ceramic

Rims: Ambrosio Nemesis tubular, 32h
Front hub: Shimano Dura-Ace HB-7800, 32h
Rear hub: Shimano Dura-Ace FH-7800, 32h
Spokes: DT Competition 14/15 double-butted, 3x lacing front and rear, alloy nipples
Tyres: Vittoria Pavé EVO-CG tubular, 27c

Bars: FSA Gossamer, 42cm (c-c) (labeled as 3T Ergosum Pro)
Stem: 3T ARX Team, 110mm x -6°
Headset: Cane Creek IS
Tape/grip: Double-layer Ritchey cork

Pedals: Speedplay Zero Stainless prototype
Seat post: FSA SL-K SB25
Saddle: Prologo Scratch TR
Bottle cages: Tacx Tao
Computer: Sigma 1106

Total bike weight: 7.5kg (16.5lb)