We're continuing our look at the bikes piloted to the top step of the 2016 Cyclocross National Championships podium last week with the rig Texan Tristan Uhl used to win the Men's Singlespeed title last week.
You can see all the 2016 Nationals-winning bikes (and the 2015 Nationals winning bikes here) including a unique Campagnolo-equipped Orbea, a multi-speed Giant TCX and a junior's Anthony Clark-Themed Squid.
Take a look below at the bike that let Uhl put in one of the fastest lap times of the week in Asheville.
A National Championship jersey for Tristan Uhl. 2016 National Championships. © R. Riott / Cyclocross Magazine
Last year, Austin saw hometown hero Tristan Uhl fall just short of the storybook ending with a fourth place finish in the Men's Singlespeed race under the shade of Zilker Park's Heritage Trees. This year, Uhl wasn't going to be denied as he rode to the front of the race and then left everyone in the 152-rider field in his dust at the half way mark. Winning the Men's Singlespeed was well withing Uhl's capabilities, especially on the technical Biltmore course. For his winning ride, he was aboard a mostly stock Giant TCX Advanced Pro 1.
When asked if he had made any modifications, Uhl said "not really. It's the stock di2 build. I just unplugged the derailleur and took the cassette off." © Cyclocross Magazine
Giant's proven TCX frame is becoming a more commonplace sight on cyclocross courses. Even last week at Nationals, Before Uhl took his title aboard his 2015 singlespeed conversion model, the Master Men's 50-54 title was taken by Victor Shelon riding a 2014 TCX frameset. Of course, the bike has proven iteself many times over under the likes of Lars van der Haar and Marianne Vos.
Uhl can relive the glory at his liesure thanks to his bar-mounted GoPro. © Cyclocross Magazine
Uhl's build, while mostly stock, does in fact have some modifications aside from the singlespeed conversion. Many riders have preferred saddles and Uhl runs a Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow model on this bike. He also runs a Kogel bottom bracket on the stock Rotor crank. And to keep the memories alive, Uhl raced with a bar-mounted GoPro.
Uhl spun Rotor 3D road cranks mated to a Kogel bottom bracket. © Cyclocross Magazine
When running the same bike in the Elite Men's race, Tristan was able to fully take advantage of the stock Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain build. Of course, in the singlespeed race, the Ultegra Di2 rear derailleur was nothing more than a chain tensioner, if perhaps one of the more expensive ones on course.
The Ultegra Di2 rear derailluer doubles as a chain tensioner for singlespeed duties. © Cyclocross Magazine
The 40x19 gear that Uhl ran proved plenty to both attack the field and the up and down nature of the course on the Biltmore Estate.
"I definitely felt like I was cracking more and more each lap, the course is just so hard," Uhl said in his post race interview. Uhl didn't appear to show the effects of racing for the win, nor did his bike.
Photo gallery below the spec highlights. See our growing list of 2016 Cyclocross National Championship bikes here.
Tristan Uhl’s Men's Singlespeed-Winning Giant TCX Specs:
Frame: Giant TCX Advanced Pro 1
Fork: Giant Composite 15 mm thru axle
Shifter/Brake Levers: Shimano RS785
Brake Calipers: Shimano RS785, Hydraulic disc, 140mm
Rotors: Shimano 140mm
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2, Electronic (unplugged)
Cassette: Origin8 singlespeed spacers, 19 tooth cog
Front Derailleur: N/A
Crankset: ROTOR 3D30, 40 tooth NOQX1 ring w/ Giant 1x Chainguide
Pedals: Shimano M980/9000 SPD
Stem: Giant Contact SL, OverDrive 2
Handlebar: Giant Contact SL, 31.8mm
Seatpost: Giant D-Fuse SL, Composite
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow
Tires: Vittoria XL Tubular, 700x32c
More info: http://www.giant-bicycles.com
Tristan Uhl's Men's Singlespeed National Championship-Winning Giant TCX Photo Gallery:
Shimano XTR pedals kept Uhl on the bike when he wasn’t tripoding around the Biltmore’s steep off camber turns. © Cyclocross Magazine
