From the pit: Cyclocross world champion Wout Van Aert’s Felt F FRDx
Understated and classy ride for the two-time world champion
Reigning World Champion Wout Van Aert arrives in Wisconsin after a forgettable race in Iowa City. The Belgian will be looking for a better result at the Waterloo stop of the UCI cyclocross World Cup. Regardless of the results, Van Aert will look resplendent in his world champion’s kit, astride his tastefully appointed Felt FRDx.
The hydraulic version of the eTap shifters are quite bulbous.
Van Aert is running standard 46/36 gearing, no 1x for eTap, for now.
No wires or clutch here.
Van Aert is running 140 rotors front and rear.
As the World Champion, Van Aert’s Felt is equipped with the still rare hydraulic eTap group. Like many European riders, he is also running a traditional set up with two chain rings and front derailleur, in a standard 46/36 gearing, with an 11-28 cassette. Interestingly the six foot tall Belgian is running a relatively short 172.5 mm crank arms.
Van Aert Zipp Speed SL stem is 110mm long.
All that post showing is because Van Aert's saddle height is 79cm long from bb to top of saddle.
Van Aert uses Prologo's extra grippy CPC saddle.
Van Aer rolls on Dugast Typhoon, lusted after by every cross racer out there for there suppleness.
The Zipp 202 gets a similar understated rainbow stripes as the frame.
Just a small hit of rainbow, to let you know the champ is here.
Van Aert favours the Time ATAC XC12 for his pedals.
Lots of clearance for mud here.
As SRAM’s wheel and component arm, the rest of the finishing kit are supplied by Zipp naturally. Carbon bar, stem and post are all from the top end Speed SL line. Van Aert seems to favour the lower profile disc 202 from Zipp. The 202 are glued up with Dugast’s versatile Typhoon. Despite the dry and dusty conditions, the technical nature of the course is steering most of pros toward something with some bite, rather than pure file treads, which are super fast but also lack grip in corners.
