Roubaix roads push cycling’s limits

Paris-Roubaix is a competition that breaks things. Wheels. Bones. And yet, it is one of Trek-Segafredo’s favorite races of the year.

As the parcours traces its way north into France’s most treacherous cobbles, the challenge presented to road cyclists is unlike any other race. Racers in Paris-Roubaix know they and their gear will not be the same when the day is done.

“Paris-Roubaix is hell. It’s a race of attrition for the riders but also for the equipment,” said Trek-Segafredo’s Technical Manager Matt Shriver.

That is why Trek-Segafredo rides a bike designed specifically for these conditions, the Domane. We live for the moment our Domanes hit the narrow, humped Roubaix roads.

The 118th Paris-Roubaix was originally scheduled for this Sunday but postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. That means our specially prepared Domanes are sparkling clean and in storage.

But the 2020 Domanes did make it out on the rough Roubaix roads once earlier this year, as we did our reconnaissance ride.

This is the 9th Classics season for the Domane, which was designed specifically for Roubaix race conditions.

“In Paris-Roubaix, there are high speeds for 250 km and a nervous peloton winding through narrow roads and villages along with 55 kilometers of racing on rough cobblestones” Shriver explained. “The speeds riders reach are high considering the rough cobbles and the impacts are severe. Add to this the possibility of rain, wind and snow and you get a race where the limits of rider and machine are tested.”

It is a test Fabian Cancellara already knew well when he began riding for Trek in 2011. Almost as soon as he walked through the door, Cancellara began working with Trek staff to create a bike better suited to Paris-Roubaix conditions.

“Every race for our team is an opportunity for Trek to collaborate with riders to create better bikes and equipment. In the case of Paris Roubaix there was a demand from the Classics Team for a bike that was faster and smoother on the rough sections of the course but still handled and performed like an aggressive road bike,” Shriver explained. “That was the beginning of IsoSpeed.”

The IsoSpeed technology is unique and it challenges the traditional design of a bicycle frame. In order to maintain the diamond-shaped frameset geometry, the Domane avoids the more common ways to lessen road impact such as suspension systems or a vibration damper.

Instead, the Domane’s IsoSpeed technology “decouples” the seat tube from the top tube, allowing the seat tube to flex with the forces of the road.

And Paris-Roubaix roads bring a lot of force. Trek’s Performance Research Lab went as far as creating a special treadmill surface simulating the deep grooves of Arenberg Forest cobbles in order to better prepare equipment for the race.

“Paris-Roubaix is the one race each year that hours of time goes into planning and testing as well as engineering resources. Planning for every scenario to make sure our riders have the best equipment for the conditions,” Shriver said. “Providing increased comfort over the bumpy cobbles with the Domane’s design made riders faster and increased their endurance.”

With Cancellara’s feedback built into the frame, Trek launched the new Domane bike in 2012. When Cancellara took it to Paris-Roubaix for the first time in 2013, he rode to victory powered by IsoSpeed.

Since then, the Domane continues to evolve, and the design continues to be directly shaped by racer feedback.

“The Domane is still an endurance road bike but it now incorporates more aerodynamics because the riders need this to save on faster sections,” Shriver said. “The Domane also has improved tire clearance. Wider tires offer lower rolling resistance and overall faster racing package on the cobblestones where the race selection is typically made.”

Earlier this year, World Champion Mads Pedersen test rode the latest Domane on Paris-Roubaix cobbles. He reflected on why he likes such a tough race.

“With almost 60km on cobbles that’s the most spectacular part of the race,” Pedersen said about Paris-Roubaix. “What I like is that you have to think about your equipment and that it will make it to the finish line, not just through the first half. So, you have to think about which part of the cobbles you use, where you ride and make sure you don’t do stupid moves that could cause a puncture. It’s not just about being strong, you also have to use your head to ride in the right places.”

For the recon ride, was an appropriately dreary day that simulated the usual race conditions. Rain splattered Pedersen as he rode more than 60 km of the course in near freezing temperatures with a 9 mile per hour wind.

Impervious to the conditions, Pedersen rode without gloves and flew over the infamous cobbles while Shriver drove just behind to get real time feedback about the bike’s performance.

“This is my favorite Domane yet,” Pedersen commented. “This one is an aero racing machine.” The Domane he test rode was painted in Project One’s Prismatic Pearl scheme, which shimmered every color of the rainbow to match his jersey.

“The Domane is an incredible endurance road bike that gives the rider a competitive advantage but also ended up giving customers a smoother riding endurance road bike as well,” Shriver said.

The Domane is a bike that represents all of the potential of Trek Factory Racing brought to life: the world’s best cyclists helping develop a better riding bike for everyone.