There was a wealth of options again and one Aussie in particular stood out as an obvious choice. Cameron Meyer is a man of the moment. On the bike he’s a picture of perfection. When he speaks, he’s gracious and interesting. He’s only 22 but it seems as though the West Australian who won three gold medals at the recent track cycling world championships has been around forever. In 2009, the year of his professional debut with the Garmin team, he won gold in his pet event and 12 months later promptly retained the points race crown.

And in Copenhagen this March he won again and again.  Each time he lined up, he would later step up on the podium to collect another rainbow jersey. Three races, three titles.

He is one of a kind. Meyer is a rare talent who is destined to get better with age and you can read about his conquests – on his own and with a team – in an interview starting on page 98. It won’t be long before he makes the cover.

Recognition of achievement is littered throughout this issue. We traverse the globe to bring you stories of racing action and spend countless hours in the workshop scrutinising bicycles and components to provide informed reviews to help you when it comes time for your next cycling investment.

The sport is alive at the moment and we’ve made it through the opening stanza of the 2010 season relatively unscathed by doping controversy. Complacency, however, is a dangerous thing in the fight against drugs. On page 122, Rob Rixon looks at the science behind keeping growth hormone for those who need it and making sure those who abuse it get caught.

In the meantime, we honour another maestro with the cover. Fabian Cancellara was the right choice: he too is a champion with many admirable traits. On Easter Sunday he stomped over a wall in Flanders, crushing the hopes of locals but displaying talent that can be universally admired. Bravo Fabu!

ROB ARNOLD

Click here to watch see the ‘Promo Video’!

Sample pages

Collar features non-stretch material. Fits true to size. 100% cotton and proudly Made in Australia

Our Australian made, short-sleeved T-shirt, cut for a relaxed comfortable fit in our soft cotton jersey features the bold screen print of a stylised front-on view.

A study funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Anti-Doping Research Program and run by leading hGH researcher, Jennifer Wallace, will be kicking-off in 2010. Participants will need to be male and aged between 21 and 40, they must also ride around four times per week and be generally fit and healthy.

Subjects will be receiving hGH so elite riders are inelligable and the duration of the study is six weeks. Only dedicated, responsible applicants will be considered and each will get a free VO2max test and body composition analysis.

If you’re serious about clean sport, contact Jennifer Wallace at jenn.wallace@optusnet.com.au.

Sample - First two pages of seven pages.

The Wattbike has been developed with British Cycling’s coaches and scientists to:

• Replicate the sensation of real cycling

• Be the world’s first factory calibrated indoor bike made specifically for cyclists

• Deliver accurate and consistent performance feedback

• Provide technique feedback on force and power delivery throughout your pedal stroke

Wattbike features include: direct feedback of all performance data through the Wattbike Performance Computer, ability to extend monitoring capacity with powerful Wattbike Expert Software loaded on your computer, unique dual braking system that recreates feel of riding on the flats and climbing, full adjustability for virtually every riding position, easy manoeuvrability, vast data collection — power (in Watts), cadence, speed, distance, heart rate, left/right pedal stroke efficiency… and much more!

Unlike some other teams Sky opted to run carbon tubular rims on the cobbles, as opposed to the classics-standard Ambrosio Nemesis rims of many teams. Seen here with locally made FMB Roubaix tires, the British team has been running the boutique handmade tires in all the classics racing so far this year.

The cobbled classics see many mechanics build up their bikes with chain catchers to avoid problems on the bumps or after crashes. Here we see the set-up of this years winner Fabian Cancellara.  Whereas a few years back we saw many homemade solutions, now the most common are K-edge or Deda dog-fangs if the seat tube is compatible.

At the startline in Bruges FDJ’s Lapierre’s bikes looked very well sorted; with a few running Dura-ace rims with Hutchinson tubeless tires, these were the only bikes spotted in the race not running tubular tires.  All the Lapierre bikes were running Shimano Di-2 and with matching Fizik saddles.

A new Pinarello was spotted amongst the team bikes on display at the start. Although not used by any of the riders during the Tour of Flandres, two bikes seem to have been accidently left on the roof of one of the Team Sky Jaguars. With a familar front end and a completely new rear not much was gleaned from any of the Sky mechanics present. However, look out for an announcement on this new ‘Roubaix’ style bike before the big race.

No sign of a name for the new Pinarello (unless it’s KOBH), but definately a distinctive new rear end on the bike that rumour has it will be ridden by the team at Roubaix.

Front end looks a little like a Dogma, but closer inspection reveals something an absence of the distinctive wavy Onda fork.

Lots of different brake pads on all the team bikes for the tough Flanders conditions.  Here Saxo were running Swiss Stop yellow rear pads front and rear, in other places I saw different combinations of front and rear pads. All of them would have been very worn by the end of a damp and variable day.

Alloy frames from Canyon for some Omega-Lotto riders.  Gilbert’s bike was quite a sight, but I felt too sick from looking at it to get a good shot of it.

On this bike it looks like Mavic R-Sys with Continental tires, the bike behind is sporting a set of Nemesis and Gilbert’s bike was running Ksyrium SL when he finished in 3rd.  Garmin were also running R-sys on some bikes and Cosmic SL on others.  An alloy breaking surface would definitely be an advantage on the some of the tricky descents of the race.

Lots of nice classics build details on Niki Terpstra’s Milram Focus.  Ambriosio Nemsis rims in team colours - instead of the usual Lightweights, Sram TT rings to handle his extra power, lots of thick grease on the chain to protect it from the damp conditions and even an extra rubber piece on the front derailieur to protect the cable from mud.  Great details and preparation.

Milram blue Speedplays and TT Red rings. Also notice rubber on cable…

All the Cervelo test team bikes were S3 fames except for Roger Hammond, who was their highest finisher in 7th and on an R3SL.  Expect to see the whole team on R3 SL next weekend, execpt maybe a couple of riders on the longer wheelbase RS.

New Time I-click and Rotor cranks for Footon.  I can remember when Time sponsored two teams with frames… now it’s just pedals for two teams. Notice the thick white grease on the chain, it was very wet at the start but did dry out during the day.

Skil-Shimano is a low budget team with big aspirations.  Here we see the more traditional way of remembering the cobbled sections and length on display on the top tube of one of the teams Koga. Each climb and name is marked, hopefully the rider got to enjoy each of them on the way to Ninove.

All photos and text: Toby Shingleton

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