For the second year in a row, cyclocross racer Wout van Aert has secured a victory at the CrossVegas UCI World Cup race. Last year he conquered the course aboard an older model of the Prestige, however for 2016 he returned with an updated bike to dominate the field. In 2015, van Aert took the win by 23 seconds over fellow Belgian and legendary ‘cross racer Sven Nys. Oddly enough, van Aert clinched the 2016 win by the same margin.
Wout van Aert's CrossVegas 2016-winning Colnago Prestige. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
The Colnago Prestige cyclocross frame is steadily becoming the most frequent bike delivering pro men to the top of the podium, winning three of the past four CrossVegas races, with Nys winning on the older model in 2013. Only this year, the frame is completely redesigned, with some of the changes including removal of the iconic but oddly-placed shoulder support, shedding grams, and going to 12mm thru axle front and rear. The bike also got an updated geometry, according to Colnago, somewhat shedding the traditional European geometry of high bottom brackets, but the company does not publish full geometry charts.
Riding for the Crelan-Vastgoedservice team, van Aert took a win at the Trek CXC Cup last week, and with the Jingle Cross World Cup just a few days away, he’ll certainly be looking to extend his undefeated U.S. streak over the last two years.
We caught up with van Aert before the race after his course inspection. The World Champion told us he has his Dugast Typhoon 33s pressure set to 1.55 bar (22.5 psi) up front, and 1.7 bar (24.7 psi) for the rear for the thick grass carpet at the Desert Breeze complex. The aforementioned Dugast Typhoons are glued to Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels with 140mm Centerline rotors front and rear.
Van Aert ran Andre Dugast Typhoon 33c tubulars with roughly 22.5 psi in the front and 24.7 psi in the rear. Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels were the wheel of choice. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
The all carbon bike is setup with wireless SRAM Red eTAP HydroHC hydraulic levers shifting 46/36 double rings on the SRAM RED crank with a Quarq power meter. Our early rides on SRAM's eTap electronic wireless drivetrain suggest that it should have no problem shifting on demand during a cyclocross race's many speed and terrain fluctuations, and van Aert's victory seemed to validate this.
Wout van Aert's CrossVegas 2016 winning Colnago Prestige featured a Quarq Red power meter and 36/46 chainrings. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
SRAM eTAP's first UCI Cyclocross World Cup on Wout van Aert's CrossVegas 2016 winning Colnago Prestige. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
The SRAM RED HydroHC flat mount brake calipers retain a physical connection to the levers via internally-run hoses through the massive square sectioned down tube. The calipers are based on SRAM's MTB Level caliper, and come stock with organic pads.
SRAM RED HydroHC flat mount calipers are based on the company's SRAM Level mtb brakes. 140mm rotors deliver the stopping power. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
The stem and seatpost are Zipp SL Speed carbon, but the handlebar is the venerable Zipp Service Course SL 70 alloy model. The seatpost is topped with a ProLogo saddle. An Ekip seatpost clamp serves as a marker for seatpost height, but also prevents the post from slipping.
A Zipp SL Speed carbon stem and Service Course SL70 aluminum bar make for a light yet reliable setup. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
Van Aert stays connected to the bike with Time ATAC XC 12 pedals with Ti spindles and a carbon body, a relative rarity for a European cyclocross racer when most ride Shimano SPD.
Full photo gallery below the specs. See all of our 2016 CrossVegas and 2016 Interbike content.
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Wout van Aert’s CrossVegas Winning 2017 Colnago Prestige Spec Highlights:
Frame: Colnago Prestige, Carbon
Fork: Colnago, carbon
Shifter/Brake Levers: SRAM RED HRD eTap Hydro HC
Brake Calipers: SRAM Red HydroHC, flat mount
Rotors: SRAM Centerline, 140mm
Rear Derailleur: SRAM Red eTap
Front Derailleur: SRAM Red eTap
Crankset: SRAM RED Quarq
Chainring(s): SRAM, 46/36
Cassette: SRAM 1190, 11-28t
Stem: Zipp SL Speed, carbon
Handlebar: Zipp Service Course SL 70, aluminum
Seatpost: Zipp SL Speed, carbon
Saddle: ProLogo
Wheels: Zipp 303 Firecrest tubulars
Hubs: Zipp 77/177
Tires: Andre Dugast Typhoon 700x33c tubulars
More info: colnago.com
2016 Wout van Aert's 2016 CrossVegas-Winning Colnago Prestige Cyclocross Bike Photo Gallery:
The Ekip seatpost clamp works well to mark seat height, although it reportedly helps prevent seatpost slipping too. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
