Pro bike: Romain Bardet's Factor O2 (video)

We take a closer look at Frenchman Romain Bardet's Factor O2, the bike he's been riding on in 2017

Here we have the stunning looking Factor O2, as ridden by Frenchman and Tour de France podium finisher Romain Bardet.

The Ag2r La Mondiale rider rides a custom painted white and blue frame, made totally unique for him.

Interestingly, Bardet is something of a bike frame connoisseur, and one day hopes to have his own brand, stamped with his own RB logo.

The Bardet way of life

He also has something of an unusual taste for his bar setup, which he twists so that the drops point upwards.

According to the Frenchman, it allows him to maximise his power output. Both his bars and his 130mm stem are provided by Black Inc.

As we've seen with a lot of WorldTour bikes, Bardet also uses a mishmash of drive chain components. His front and rear derailleur's are Shimano's Dura-Ace 9150 models, but his chainset is the older Dura-Ace model, presumably so he can accommodate his SRM power meter.

Bardet uses a lot of Ceramic Speed components

Flat days will see the climber using 53/39 chainrings and an 11-28 cassette. However, if things start heading uphill, he'll swap in a 36 little ring and step the cassette up to a 30t largest sprocket.

Ag2r La Mondiale are sponsored by Mavic, so on flatter days he'll run the deeper and more aero Mavic Cometes, but on the hilly days, when weight and handling are a priority he'll run the shallower Mavic Cosmics.

Slightly tilted drops to help his power output

Bardet, alongside Fabio Aru and Rigoberto Urán, was one of Chris Froome's main challengers for the overall lead at the Tour de France, with his Ag2r La Mondiale team-mates riding aggressively, and the Frenchman used them to spring board his audacious attacks.

His mantra of "take the risk or lose the chance" has certainly been ringing true.

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