Richard Groenendaal's Team Rabobank Colnago C50 Cross

Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Serious cyclo-cross

By Tim Maloney

Beefy rear triangle of Colnago C50 cross Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Integrated carbon fibre bar & stem Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Gronendaal checks out the latest shades Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Close-up of Spooky prototype cantilever brakes. Photo ©: Tim Maloney

At 35, Richard Marinus Anthonius Groenendaal is one of the most experienced professional cyclo-cross riders around. Always a mainstay of the Rabobank team, Groenendaal has a World Championship ('99-'00) three World Cup titles ('97-'98, '00-'01, '03-'04) and two Superprestige overall titles in his palmares during a career spanning twelve years. In his home country of the Netherlands, Groenendaal has won an impressive total of 14 national cyclo-cross championships.

Known as a perfectionist in his training and with his equipment, Groenendaal burst on the worldwide 'cross scene over fifteen years ago when he took the Junior World Championship in 1989. The solid Dutch rider from Den Bosch has ridden for Rabobank for almost his entire career - which means that his team bicycle has been Colnago, who has sponsored Rabobank for over a decade.

Although Groenendaal was tied up with his Rudy Project sponsor representative checking out new shades from the Treviso based eyewear firm, his mechanic, cyclocross legend and owner of Dugast tires let Cyclingnews take a close look at Groenendaal's Team Rabobank Colnago C50 Cross. It's different from a road C50, with beefier, larger section tubes in Colnago's patented star shape and a heavy-duty rear triangle and fork with cantilever brake bosses - essential for cyclocross. The rear wishbone and chain/seatstays of Groenendaal's C50 Cross are purpose built for the cyclocross model, as is the fork.

Team component sponsor PRO, designed and marketed by Shimano, provides a sweet pair of integrated carbon fibre handlebars and headset. Although he isn't a tall man, Groenendaal uses 175mm cranks for extra power when he needs it in the mud and on those steep inclines.

Photos

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com

• Gronendaal's mechanic Richard Neuhaus shows Cyclingnews the tricks of the trade: to stop carbon fibre threadless aheadset forks from slipping, add sticky grease used for automobike valves
• Gronendaal checks out the latest shades from Rabobank team sponsor Rudy Project
• Team Rabobank Colnago C50 Cross of Richard Groenendaal
• Beefy rear triangle of Colnago C50 cross
• Integrated carbon fibre bar & stem from PRO for Gronendaal
• Dugast cyclocross tubulars, the Rolls Royce of bicycle tires
• Head tube closeup of Colnago C50 cross with PRO headset
• Monobox-type bottom bracket on Colnago C50 cross is unique to this model Colnago
• Close-up of Spooky prototype cantilever brakes. Note: ribs on Colnago fork for extra stiffness

Full specification

Frame: Colnago C50 Cross high modulus carbon fibre
Fork: Colnago Star Cross high modulus carbon fibre
Colour: Rabobank Team

Critical measurements
C of BB to C of seat tube: 540mm
C of BB to T of seat tube: 560mm
C of BB to T of seat: 730mm
Top tube length: 550mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars: 560mm

Cranks: Shimano Dura-Ace FC-7800, 175mm, 42/46
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-7800
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-7800
Brakes: Spooky Carbon Fibre Cantilever Prototype w.L.E.A. system
Levers: Shimano Dura-Ace ST-7800
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-7800

Wheels: Shimano Dura Ace carbon fibre tubular
Tyres: Dugast Cross tubulars 32mm wide

Bar & Stem: PRO Integrated cabon fibre 42cm (c-c)
Headset: PRO Non-Integrated

Pedals: Shimano MTB
Seat post: Colnago Carbon Fibre
Saddle: Selle San Marco Aspide

Total bike weight: 7.2kg/ 15.8lbs