A Belgian team riding bikes bearing the name of Belgium’s greatest ever cyclist – or, rather, the greatest ever cyclist. It’s an obvious fit.
The Cannibal’s Eddy Merckx Cycles brand supply Belgian UCI ProContinental team Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, who were in town earlier this month for the Tour de Yorkshire on the flagship Eddy Merckx EMX-525.
Though it has been the team’s bike of choice since 2013, the aggressive, angular tube profiles still make the EMX-525 a real head-turner today.
Check out Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise neo-pro Amaury Capiot’s machine in the photo gallery below.
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Eddy Merckx EMX-525
The Eddy Merckx EMX-525 has been ridden by the Topsport Vlaanderen team since it was first launched in 2013. Claimed to be the 'best balanced bike in the world', the EMX-525 is made from 'ultra light and stiff' CL+ 300 3K carbon fibre. The angular tube profiles make the EMX-525 one of the most distinctive bikes in the peloton.
Asymmetric
Perhaps the most striking feature of the bike are the asymmetric, kinked chain and seatstays. Eddy Merckx Cycles claim this design offers 'the ultimate power transfer'. Capiot's bike is dressed in Shimano Dura-Ace components.
525
The angular tube profiles continue throughout the bike. The seattube adopts an aerodynamic design which Eddy Merckx Cycles say also boosts rigidity. The 525 refers to Eddy Merckx's career tally of race wins. No pressure, lads.
Aero II
The huge tapered headtube of the EMX-525 meets the 'Aero II' fork, which neatly integrates into the downtube.
Neo-pro
The bike we spotted belonged to 21-year-old neo pro Amaury Capiot, a young Belgian rider who has shown his potential in one-day races when he raced at junior level.
Perch
Capiot's perch of choice is the Prologo Scratch Pro T2.0. The saddle sits on the EMX-525's proprietary seatpost.
Cockpit
An alloy Deda Elementi Zero 100 Performance stem clamps the Deda Elementi handlebar, wrapped in Prologo's grippy bar tape. While most pro riders have their stem slammed, Capiot has plenty of spacers in place.
Round and round
Rotor's round NoQ 53-39t chainrings and the Spanish firm's crank-based power meter, the 3D+ Power LT, are called into action.
Hoops
Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise use Fast Forward wheels, with their race hoops being the FFWD F4R/F6R, wrapped in Vittoria's Corsa SC tubular tyres. The Dutch wheels are swapped out for FFWD F4R-C alloy/clincher hoops for training rides, wrapped in Vittoria's Diamante Pro tyres.
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