Tom Boonen's custom edition S-Works Venge
Exclusive images of the S-Works Venge bike Tom Boonen will ride during the 2015 season
While it might not be the bike Tom Boonen will ride when he vies for victory in the cobbled classics this year, as he generally opts to use and S-Works Tarmac or Roubaix in those races, this custom painted special edition 'Tornado Tom' Venge will be the bike the 34-year-old will use for most races this season. We took a chance to take a closer look at Boonen's custom painted aero machine.
>>> 2015 WorldTour team bikes guide
The first thing to note about Boonen's Venge is the sheer size of it. Standing at 6'4", the Belgian requires a 61cm top tube to fit his big frame, but uses the head tube of a 58cm equivalent in order to get as low as possible. The custom paint job is inspired is inspired by his nickname 'Tornado Tom' and is supposedly colour changing, so it looks different depending on how the light hits the bike.
>>> Mark Cavendish’s custom 2015 S-Works Venge
Boonen's setup is fairly standard throughout, but he uses a logn 140mm FSA SLK carbon stem to add to his reach, with some pretty narrow bars for his size at 42cm. Boonen uses a K-Edge out-front computer mount with a Garmin 500 head unit.
The tapered headtube on Boonen's Venge is sized and shaped specifically for aerodynamics. His Etixx- Quick -Step team have now switched to using Shimano components having used SRAM previously, which you can see with the use of Dura-Ace brakes. The switch away from the American components manufacturer also sees the team drop Zipp wheels, using Specialized's own Roval wheelsets for this season.
Etixx will use FSA chainsets for the 2015 season alongside the Shimano components. Here Boonen is using a 53/39t K-Force Light carbon chainset. Having used Look pedals last year, note that the team have switched to Shimano with Boonen's bike sporting Dura-Ace pedals.
>>> Michal Kwiatkowski’s custom painted Specialized S-Works Tarmac
Despite SRAM looking like it's about to produce its first electronic groupset, Boonen and his Etixx teammates have made the jump over to Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 electronic groupset for the 2015 season. At the time of shooting, Boonen was using an 11-28 cassette on the rear alongside his standard chainset.
Boonen's Venge was race ready when took a look at it, with a race number mount already on board.
Supposedly Boonen's Specialized Romin saddle comes with extra padding to suit his preference. Under that padding is a carbon-reinforced nylon shell mounted on carbon rails. The saddle sits atop the aerodynamic Specialized carbon seatpost.
Boonen will get smooth shifting upfront on the bike his currently riding in the Tour of Qatar, with the Di2 front mech.
The frame still sports remnants of the integrated cabling it would have had when the team was running SRAM Red last season. These have now been plugged as (thankfully for the mechanics) the integrated cabling is not longer needed.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
'Our costs are going up but customers can’t pay more': Community bike shops are making cycling affordable, but can they afford to keep the doors open?
Not-for-profit setups designed to make cycling accessible are feeling the pinch - but the communities they're designed to serve can keep them alive
By Isobel Duxfield Published
-
Small Cost, BIG Features | Is This Indoor Training Platform Worth The Switch?
icTrainer costs 9x less than the market leader but this indoor training platform is still jam packed with features
By Sponsored Published
-
Pro bike: Chris Lawless' Team Ineos Pinarello F12
Rim brakes and clinchers or tubulars for the British Tour de Yorkshire champion
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published
-
Pro bike: Dan Bigham's Ribble SL R
We take a look at the Huub Wattbike rider's 2020 rig
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published
-
Was Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s Tour performance all down to the team’s socks?
Were go-faster socks the secret of Alaphilippe's success?
By Paul Norman Published
-
New Specialized S-Works Shiv Disc time trial bike improves handling, shaves weight
Lighter, more agile time trial bike for more technical courses
By Paul Norman Published
-
Pro bike: Esteban Chaves’s Giro stage 19-winning Scott Addict RC
A look at the Colombian climber’s bike from the Giro d’Italia
By Paul Norman Published
-
Fabio Jakobsen won stage four of the Tour of California on Specialized’s tubeless tyres
Will the pros now start to switch to tubeless from tubs?
By Paul Norman Published
-
11 ways the pros modify their bikes for Paris-Roubaix
There's more to do than fit 28mm tyres when riding the cobbles, and professional riders and mechanics have plenty of tricks to improve comfort on the pavé.
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Peter Sagan riding Specialized Allez Sprint bike in the Tour Down Under Classic
An alloy machine with disc brakes and clincher tyres – whatever next?
By Paul Norman Published