Bike Profile: Tom Meeusen’s U.S. World Cup Canyon Inflite CF SLX

Tom Meeusen is well known for his prowess as a bike handler. The bunny hop world record holder has been a teammate of current World Champion Mathieu Van Der Poel since 2017.

Unlike Van Der Poel, who was participating in the UCI Road World Championships, Meeusen and countryman Gianni Vermeersch (who was also a temporary privateer) made the trip to start in America’s World Cups.

Tom Meeusen worked the pits for Gianni Vermeersch during the hot and muggy Jingle Cross C1. © Cyclocross Magazine

We took the opportunity to get a closer look at the Belgian’s Canyon Inflite CF SLX he had to largely tend to himself during the trip.

Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Meeusen rides for the Corendon-Circus team and uses the same Canyon Inflite CF frame as his teammate Mathieu Van Der Poel. Well, not quite the same frame. The 5'9" Meeusen rides a Size Small. The former BMXer has gotten used to riding smaller bikes.

At 5'9" Tom Meeusen rides a small Inflite. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

The frame, which we reviewed last year, is noteworthy for its distinctive seat cluster which provides a larger main triangle without limiting seatpost extension.  The fork is Canyon's carbon One-One-Four full carbon fork.

The Inflite has plenty of space in its fork for mud. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Corendon-Circus is a Shimano team, and Meeusen uses flagship Dura-Ace R9100 components. At Jingle Cross, his bike was equipped with a 2x11 drivetrain with pro-only 46/39 chain rings.

Dura-Ace cyclocross rings are pro only, but the 39t inner ring is even more rare. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

In the back, an R9100 rear derailleur moved an HG-901 XTR chain across the cassette. Unlike Teammate Van Der Poel, Meeusen was stuck with product XTR M9100 SPD pedals and not mud-clearing prototypes. Life is tough in the pack.

No prototype pedals for Meeusen as he ran Shimano XTR M9100 SPDs. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Shimano also provides wheels to Corendon-Circus, with rolling stock in the form of Dura-Ace C40 carbon tubulars. For the conditions at the Jingle Cross World Cup, Meeusen chose Dugast’s mixed condition Typhoon tread.

Dutch tire manufacturer Dugast is known for producing a supple casing. In Iowa, Meeusen used the mixed condition Typhoon. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

The Inflite, like many Canyon bikes, uses a 1 ¼” steerer tube, which limits the choices available for stems. Meeusen chose one of several Canyon H11 offerings, which gave the reach of a 120mm stem and a 41cm compact bar. Interestingly, Van Der Poel rides a much larger bike but uses the same width bar and a centimeter shorter stem.

Canyon handlebars route cables in grooves on the bottom of the bar and are intended to be left without tape on the tops. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Canyon also provided a seatpost, the Canyon VCLS CF. It measures 27.2mm and offers variable setback from 15mm to 35mm. Meeusen mounted a sponsor correct Selle Italia Flite series saddle with carbon rails. He also utilized bar tape from the Italian brand, even though Canyon offers its own gel tape.

Canyon's included seat post offers variable setback from 15-35mm. Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflight CF SLX. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

For a closer look at Meeusens Inflite CF, see the photo gallery and specs below.

Photo Gallery: Tom Meeusen's Canyon Inflite CF SLX