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EF Education First-Drapac’s Cannondale Synapse Disc for Paris-Roubaix

American team chooses disc brakes and Cannondale's endurance frame for a day in hell

Cannondale Synapse Disc Roubaix

Cannondale Synapse Disc Roubaix

Team EF Education First-Drapac are gearing up for the 2018 edition of Paris-Roubaix. The Hell of the North always sees teams utilize gear specifically designed for tackling the rough pavé of Northern France. The American UCI team of Sep Vanmarke will be riding the Cannondale Synapse Disc at this year’s edition.

“It’s the holy grail. The Arenberg Forest. The trenches. I call it my favorite race,” said American Taylor Phinney. “It’s hard to call something your favorite race when it destroys you every single time, but that’s cycling isn’t it.”

While no frame is capable of totally dampening the cobblestones, the Synapse Disc provides marginal improvements in comfort with a carefully considered geometry and Save technology intended to make the road feel a little smoother. More control is afforded by the disc brakes.

Cannondale Synapse Disc Roubaix
The Synapse disc in action at a wet and muddy edition of Strade Bianche.

Last year, Sebastian Langeveld finished third behind Greg Van Avermaet and Zdenek Stybar. “Roubaix is the toughest Monument and the one with the most history. They call it the Hell of the North for a reason. It’s a race beyond compare. I have good memories from the race already with a couple time top 10 and last year one of the highlights of my career with the third place, standing there on the podium, entering the velodrome to sprint for the win,” Langeveld said. “That’s one of the memories that will always stay with me. I‘m really looking forward to Sunday. From now on, everything is focused on that.”

Canadian Cycling Magazine recently reviewed a Synapse Disc and concluded it successfully, “balanced comfort and performance.” For a unique race like Paris-Roubaix this is balance is certainly a contributing factor the entire EF Education First-Drapac team has chosen to ride the Synapse Disc at the upcoming race.

Perhaps the team’s most likely contender for a podium position is Sep Vanmarke. “For me, it’s the cobbles. They’re different from the ones in Belgium and the roads are only used once every year. It’s a special thing.”

Cannondale Synapse Disc Roubaix

The Synapse Hi-MOD Team Edition is equipped with Shimano’s Dura Ace Di2 hydraulic disc brake groupset, the FSA K-Force Carbon Nano handlebars,  FSA stems and Vision Metron wheelsets.

EF Education-First roster for 2018 Paris-Roubaix:

Matti Breschel (Denmark)
Mitch Docker (Australia)
Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands)
Taylor Phinney (U.S.)
Tom Scully (New Zealand)
Tom Van Asbroeck (Belgium)
Sep Vanmarcke (Belgium)