by Ricoh Riott
With an impressive solo win at the Valkenburg World Cup over the weekend, Eva Lechner followed up on a strong second-place finish at the season’s first World Cup at CrossVegas. Now in first place in the overall standings the Italian National Champion is showing some outstanding form for this early in the season.
The setup from Las Vegas profiled here seems to be working for Lechner, with only minor changes made for muddier conditions in the Netherlands. With a lugged carbon rear triangle and a distinctive curved section at the seat cluster, designed for better shouldering, the Colnago Cross Prestige isn’t easily mistaken for any other frame. While fellow Colnago rider Wout Van Aert opts for traditional cantilever brakes Lechner runs Shimano’s R785 Di2 STI levers to control matching hydraulic disc brakes with 140mm IceTech rotors. Electronic shifting and hydraulic brake lines allow for some very clean internal routing, with the usual top tube-mounted cables conspicuously absent.
No chain catcher on Lechner's race machine. Di2 cables neatly appear just where they're needed for the Dura-Ace 9070 front derailleur and external battery. © Cyclocross Magazine
The nearly complete Dura-Ace Di2 9070 group is finished with 9000-series cranks, shod in 48-39t rings, and prototype Shimano SPD pedals that look to further improve mud clearance. Shimano also supplies the distinctive disc-specific wheels we’ve seen before on Katerina Nash’s bike, sporting a unique asymmetrical design in an all-new tubular rim. Dugast Small Bird 32c tubulars round out a striking set of hoops.
Eva Lechner ran Dugast Small Bird 32c tubular tires on prototype Shimano wheels for the first World Cup race in Las Vegas. © Cyclocross Magazine
At the controls, black bartape wraps a set of Pro Vibe 7S handlebars to match the Pro XCR alloy stem. Lechner is supported by a Selle Italia SLR carbon-railed saddle sitting atop a Pro Vibe 7S seatpost with a head and clamp that differ from the current production model.
