Rainbow stripes come with perks. Like Wout van Aert's Colnago Prestige dressed in World Champion livery.
2016 World Champion Wout van Aert's Colnago Prestige. © Cyclocross Magazine
Van Aert's bike is akin to the one he used to open the World Cup series at Cross Vegas back in September. It's a familiar sight, at least on van Aert's bike, of a SRAM Red 22 set up and cantilever brakes, compared to the now more commonplace Force 1 drivetrains and hydraulic discs seen under other pro's. The seemingly old-school build makes his bike a standout.
The SRAM Red 22 kit includes the Red 22 Double Tap shifters, Red 22 rear derailleur, Red 22 Yaw front derailleur and the Red GXP crankset with a 46/36 chainring combination.
SRAM Red 22 Double Chainring crankset - a rarity among SRAM-sponsored riders. 2016 World Champion Wout van Aert's Colnago Prestige. © Cyclocross Magazine
Sticking with tradition, despite his young age, van Aert's cantilever brakes are from SRAM' subsidiary Avid and are the Shorty Ultimate model. They control the speed of his Zipp 303 tubular wheels, which are wrapped in Dugast rubber.
There was talk during the 2016 Cyclocross World Championships that van Aert was running a prototype tubeless Dugast tire. In fact, as he told us last Wednesday after Parkcross Meledgem, he wasn't running the new tubeless offering from Dugast during the wet conditions .
2016 World Champion Wout van Aert's Colnago Prestige rolls on Zipp's 303 tubulars. His Dugast tires received a special treatment. © Cyclocross Magazine
Van Aert's cockpit is also somewhat of a rarity in Elite-level international cyclocross, in that he runs an carbon integrated bar-stem unit, FSA's Plasma. FSA also supplies the carbon seatpost in the form of their SL-K model, on which sits van Aert's saddle of choice, Prologo's Scratch 2. Van Aert's pedals are also fairly rarely seen in the Elite ranks, the Time ATAC XC model.
The Elite Men's Podium (l-r) van der Haar, van Aert and Pauwels © Mircea Ghinea / Cyclocross Magazine
Wout van Aert's World Champion Scheme Colnago Prestige Spec Highlights:
Frame: Colnago Prestige carbon
Fork: Colnago Prestige carbon
Shifter/Brake Levers: SRAM Red 22
Brake Calipers: Avid Shorty Ultimate
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Res 22
Front Derailleur: SRAM Red 22
Crankset: SRAM Red GXP
Pedals: Time ATAC XC
Bar/Stem: FSA Plasma
Seatpost: FSA SL-K
Saddle: Prolog Scratch
Wheels: Zipp 303 tubular
Tires: A. Dugast Typhoon, 33mm
More info: www.colnago.com
Wout van Aert's World Champion Scheme Colnago Prestige Photo Gallery:
The Colnago Prestige’s iconic “shoulder rest,” arguably in the wrong position, has helped so many win in Europe. Note the fully sealed gear cables. 2016 World Champion Wout van Aert’s Colnago Prestige. © Cyclocross Magazine
