Eli Iserbyt is one of the biggest names in cyclocross. At 23 years old, he has already amassed an impressive list of victories.
Iserbyt’s short career in the elite ranks has already been successful, with two European Championship victories. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
This year, the European Champion made the trip to the United States for the first three World Cups, where we took a closer look at his Ridley X-Night SL that won both the World Cup Waterloo and the Iowa City World Cup.
We’ve looked at his winning Ridley from the 2019 World Cup Waterloo, and also at the Superprestige Gavere in 2018. A few things have changed in the seasons since then. Let’s take a look!
Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt’s frame is the same size 48 Ridley X-Night SL that he’s been using for the past several seasons.
The Ridley X-Night SL has less mud clearance than many modern bikes. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
As the current European Champion, he does have a special blue band paint scheme that sets his bike apart from the rest of the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal livery, although his second bike is a more familiar black and red. As in 2019, both his bikes feature the team motto “fight to the finish” on the top tube.
Iserbyt’s seatpost features 20mm of setback. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Like his Pauwels Sauzen teammates, Iserbyt uses Shimano Dura-Ace components, but just like Marianne Vos and her Waterloo-winning prototype Cervelo, it’s 11-speed, not the new 12-speed group that has been announced.
Iserbyt’s hoods point slightly up, something many cyclocross racers prefer. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The last few seasons we have seen him using a 1x setup, but this season both the Belgian’s bikes featured Shimano Dura-Ace cranksets with pro-only 46/39 chainrings in place of the single ring rotor crank he used in the past.
46/39 chainrings are not available to the general public. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Interestingly, he used M-9100 pedals in 2019, but was on older M-9000 pedals this time around.
Interestingly, Iserbyt has reverted to older M9000 pedals. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Touch points were another place Iserbyt has made some adjustments. Rather than the Forza handlebar he used in the past, Iserbyt has opted for a Deda Superzero carbon bar.
The Superzero handlebar has a flattened top section. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt switched to a Deda handlebar since we last checked his bike. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The Superzero features a flattened top section, which Iserbyt has left untaped. He’s complemented the new bar with a matching Deda Zero 100 stem.
While Iserbyt’s Deda Superzero seatpost is the same he’s used in years prior, he’s swapped his Forza saddle in favor of an S-Works level Power Mimic.
“Fight to the finish” is Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal’s team motto. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The X-Night top tube is slightly ovalized for ease of shouldering. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The European Champion’s bike has seen some action, as evidenced by the paint. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The Superzero handlebar has a flattened top section. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt’s S-Works Mimic saddle features a softer upper material than the original. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The X-Night SL has replaceable thru axle threads. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Like many Euro pros, Iserbyt does not use a clutch-equipped derailleur. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt previously used 1x drivetrains, but had a front derailleur installed in Waterloo. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
46/39 chainrings are not available to the general public. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Changing conditions in Waterloo made for muddy racing. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt’s second bike was equipped with a computer mount. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt’s short stature makes headset spacers unnecessary. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The S-Works Mimic saddle features carbon rails.Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt’s seatpost features 20mm of setback. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Iserbyt switched to the Rhino mud tire as conditions deteriorated. Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Eli Iserbyt’s World Cup Waterloo-winning Ridley X-Night cyclocross bike. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Eli Iserbyt’s Ridley X-Night SL Disc Cyclocross Bike Specs:
Frame: X-Night SL Disc, 48cm, 24-30T HM/HR Unidirectional Carbon, post mount disc, 12mm thru-axle
Fork: Oryx SL Disc, post mount disc, 12mm thru-axle
Shift/Brake Levers: Shimano Dura-Ace ST-R9170
Brake Calipers: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170
Rotors: Shimano MT900, 140mm
Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace, 46/39 chainrings
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace RD-R9150 Di2
Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace FD-R9150 Di2
Wheelset: DT Swiss CRC 1100 Spline 38 T carbon tubulars
Tires: A Dugast tubulars, 700c x 33mm (Typhoon in Iowa City, Rhino and Typhoon in Waterloo)
Stem: Deda Zero 100
Handlebar: Deda Superzero, carbon, flat top
Saddle: S-Works Power Mimic, carbon rails
Seatpost: Dada Elementi Superzero, carbon, 20mm offset
Pedals: Shimano XTR PD-M9000 SPD
More info: ridley-bikes.com
Our 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup coverage, led by Dave Mable and Courtenay McFadden, is brought to you by Bike Rags Apparel with additional support from BikeIowa.
