Omega Pharma-Lotto riders have their choice of bikes from team sponsor Canyon and despite the being the stiffest and lightest in the range, some of them have chosen the instead - including new Belgian national champion Philippe Gil🅠bert.

True, the Aeroad CF's presumably lower drag may theoretically be faster in some situations. As compared to the Ultimate CF form, the Aeroad sports a slimmed down head tube, deeper and narrower-profile tubing through the down tube, seatꦬ stays, and fork blades, plus generally smoother lines throughout. 🔯According to one of the team mechanics, though, most of the converts simply cite that bike's softer ride to ease the burden of long days in the saddle.

back at the team camp in January. Gilbert now gets not one, but two custom painted frames with a racy checkerboard motif that plays off of his "Fast Phil" moniker - one in the black, red, and yellow hues of Belgium and another in a more subdued black, silver, and light blue.

Components have been upgrad🔜ed, too, from the previous Campagnolo Record 11 groups to the full-blown Super Record version on both bikes, plus SRM's new Campagnolo-compatible power meter on Gilbert's primary machine. Key items of note include the twin dual-pivot brake calipers for more stopping power - most Campagnolo-equipped bikes use a single-pivot rear brake - and a more durable steel and titanium-cogged rear cassette instead of the standard full-titanium Super Record cluster.

Gilbert has even jumped on the most recent pro-🐻level upgrade bandwagon on his primary bike, which has now been fitted with a still-exotic Berner carbon fiber rear derailleur cage with hugely oversized upper and lower pull🎃eys that supposedly decrease drivetrain friction.

Omega Pharma-Lotto team riders have their choice of a number of Mavic wheels, too, and Gilbert's🐭 bikes were both equipped with the company's light, speedy, and versatile Cosmic Carbone Ultimate, all wrapped with 22mm-wide Continental Competition Pro Limited Allroundtubulars. Ritchey again provides the classic-bend carbon bar and carbon-wrapped forged aluminum stem, seating duties are handled by Selle Italia's comparatively cushy Flite TT Team Edition saddle, and Look supplies its KéO Blade pedals.

Finishing things off are a pair of Tacx Tao Carbon bottle cages, a custom chain watcher that mounts in between the seat tube and water bottle cage, SRM's Power Control 7 computer head (not pictured), and a Cane Creek hea🦩dset with custom Acros top caps.

Total weight for Gilbert's primary bike as pictured is 7.02kg 🤡(15.48lb).

Frame: Canyon Aeroad CF, 56cm
Fork: Canyon Aeroblade SL, 44mm rake
Headset: Cane Creek integrated, tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/4in
Stem: Ritchey WCS Carbon 4-Axis, 12cm x -6°
Handlebars: Ritchey WCS Classic, 42cm (c-c)
Tape/grips: Ritchey cork
Front brake: Campagnolo Super Record D-Skeleton, dual-pivot w/ Mavic carbon-specific pads by SwissStop
Rear brake: Campagnolo Super Record D-Skeleton, dual-pivot w/ Mavic carbon-specific pads by SwissStop
Brake levers: Campagnolo Super Record Ergopower Ultra-Shift 11s
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record 11s
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record 11s w/ Berner cage
Shift levers: Campagnolo Super Record Ergopower Ultra-Shift 11s
Cassette: Campagnolo Record 11s, 11-25T
Chain: Campagnolo Record 11s
Crankset: SRM Campagnolo Super Record, 172.5mm, 53/39T
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Ultra-Torque OS-Fit
Pedals: Look KéO Blade
Wheelset: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate
Front tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited Allround tubular, 22mm
Rear tire: Continental Competition Pro Limited Allround tubular, 22mm
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite TT Team Edition
Seat post: Canyon VCLS Aero Post
Bottle cages: Tacx Tao Carbon (2)
Computer: SRM Power Control 7
Other accessories: custom chain catcher

Critical measurements:

Rider's height: 1.79m (5' 10")
Rider's weight: 72kg (159lb)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 780mm
Saddle setback (ask mechanic): 75mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 552mm
Seat tube length, c-c: 520mm
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 587mm
Saddle-to-bar drop (vertical): 115mm
Head tube length: 150mm
Top tube length: 560mm
Total bicycle weight: 7.02kg (15.48lb)