Update: We take another look at Mathieu van der Poel’s new cyclocross bike that he’ll be riding in the 2015 Cyclocross World Championships.
Judging from Mathieu van der Poel’s new STEVENS, Cammo is not dead as some might suggest. Van der Poel’s model is but one of the BKCP-Powerplus bikes of 2015 that will sport a unique paint job for the team.
by Christine Vardaros
As of January 1st, 2015 BKCP-Powerplus switches from Colnago to Germany-Based STEVENS Bikes. They will be equipped with STEVENS’ top of the line cross bike called the Super Prestige built of super lightweight high performance carbon.
The team includes standout U23 rider Mathieu van der Poel (current U23 NL Champion/2012-2013 Junior World Champion), Philipp Walsleben (current German Champion/2009 U23 World Champion), Wietse Bosmans (2012 U23 Belgian Champion), Vincent Baestaens, David Van der Poel (2013 U23 NL Champion), and Lubomír Petruš (former junior Czech Republic and European Champion) . Joining Mathieu on the U23 squad is Daan Hoeybergs and Adam Toupalik (2013 & 2014 Junior Czech Republic Champion).
The bikes’ first appearance will be in GP Sven Nys Baal on 1 January. There you can check out all the new bikes but Mathieu’s. His will be on display in Leuven 4 January, where the whole team will be present.
STEVENS chose to partner with BKCP-Powerplus as they believe in the growth of cyclocross and clearly see the value of investing more in the sport. For over a year now, STEVENS has backed Corendon – Kwadro cycling team to include top riders like Martin Bina, Bart Aernouts, Hendrik Sweeck, Julien Taramarcaz, and Radomir Simunek, Laurens Sweeck and Marcel Meisen. Partnering with BKCP-Powerplus is the next logical step in growing with the sport.
Custom signature frames are being supplied to Mathieu van der Poel and Walsleben. STEVENS Brand Manager Volker Dohrmann explains, ” In addition to the German flag representing Walsleben’s National title, his bike will have a “Walze” (road roller – a vehicle used to compact soil, pavement, concrete) to represent this nickname of his. For Mathieu van der Poel, a camouflage paint with the colors of Holland is used. The name “Sniper” on the top tube refers to race tactics this Dutchman has mastered at such a young age. He is very accurate and calculating in choosing just the right moment for his decisive attacks while remaining very calm and controlled on the outside.”
Van der Poel: “The Sniper,” a name coming from his collective appearance while race yet still knowing the right time to pull the trigger for an attack.
Accessorizing their STEVENS Super Prestige frames are the new Shimano DI2 Dura Ace kits including their disc brakes. While Mathieu has already been riding discs, it will be new for brother David and Walsleben. But disc brakes on STEVENS bikes is far from novel since they have been equipping their cyclocross racing bikes – the Carbon Team model – with disc brakes since August 2010, when they originally displayed it at Eurobike. Former World Champion Hanka Kupfernagel was the first to bring a disc-brake equipped STEVENS bike to the top international events.
While the team is not yet officially on STEVENS bikes yet, Walsleben did have a chance to take the bike for a private spin yesterday. “The bikes ride and feel very fast . I look forward doing my next races on STEVENS again!” exclaims Walsleben who has previously raced STEVENS bike a few years back.
In April, their partner team of Enertherm-BKCP including current European and Belgian Champion Sanne Cant and the junior contingent makes the switch to STEVENS. Cant’s custom paint job will be determined after Belgian Championships later this month where she may extend her Belgian title and will have to choose her theme between her two titles.
STEVENS Enertherm-BKCP Team Bike Highlights:
Frame: STEVENS Super Prestige Disc (w/o integrated seatpost)
Fork: Full Carbon Cross SL 1.5” Taper Disc
Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace R785 hydraulic Di2 levers
Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 9070
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 9070
Cranks: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 11-speed
Pedals: Undisclosed, Possibly Shimano XTR M9000
Wheels: Shimano WH-9000-C35-TU
Tires: N/A (Currently most display models have road tubulars on them)
Brakes: Shimano BR-RS785 Hydraulic Disc Calipers
Saddle: PRO Turnix
Handlebars: PRO Vibe 7S / Stealth EVO
MSRP: 4,299.00 € (built with Ritchey Integrated Seatpost and Ultegra Di2)
More information: stevensbikes.de
STEVENS Enertherm-BKCP Team Bike Photo Gallery:
Wietse Bosmans’ model is the newly released version of the standard team bike colors and components for Enertherm-BKCP
We will be seeing all of the BKCP-Powerplus bikes of 2015 in action at the Sven Nys race tomorrow, with the exception of Mathieu van der Poel, who will not be competing with the Elite Men
Philipp Walsleben’s BKCP-Powerplus bike will match his kit, primarily white with the colors as the German National Champion.
The Walze on the top tube of the STEVENS BKCP-Powerplus bike comes from Walsleben’s nickname, translated as the Steamroller.
