{"id":52964,"date":"2023-08-12T17:00:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T15:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=742679"},"modified":"2023-08-12T17:35:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T15:35:36","slug":"cecilie-uttrup-ludwigs-lapierre-xelius-sl-strikes-the-eye-with-lightning-paint-scheme-and-pro-only-build","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/cecilie-uttrup-ludwigs-lapierre-xelius-sl-strikes-the-eye-with-lightning-paint-scheme-and-pro-only-build\/","title":{"rendered":"Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig\u2019s Lapierre Xelius SL strikes the eye with lightning paint scheme and pro-only build"},"content":{"rendered":"

Danish rider goes for World Championships glory on electrifying custom Xelius road bike <\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 12 August 2023 at 15:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig will ride this custom Lapierre Xelius SL at tomorrow\u2019s UCI World Champion Women\u2019s 154km road race in Glasgow, Scotland.<\/p>\n

Released in 2021, the third-generation Xelius SL<\/a> is the French brand\u2019s all-round road bike. It\u2019s inspired by the Aircode DRS<\/a>, the brand\u2019s aero road bike<\/a> with improved aerodynamics, cleaner cable routing and more aggressive geometry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Easily the most striking feature of the frame is its triple-triangle-esque design, where the seatstays begin 9cm in front of the junction of top tube and seatstay, bypassing the seat tube.<\/p>\n

\"3D<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The 3D Tubular Concept was first introduced on Lapierre\u2019s road bikes in 2015.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Lapierre calls this the \u20183D Tubular Concept\u2019 and claims improved compliance because vibrations can be dispersed via the top tube, in tandem with the skinny 27.2mm-diameter seatpost<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That paintjob\u2026<\/h2>\n
\"Cecilie<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Just look at the airbrushing work.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Let\u2019s not beat around the bush \u2013 you\u2019re all here for what is possibly the most striking paintjob this season.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s cycling champion has her own bespoke design with nods to her Danish heritage and spirited personality.<\/p>\n

The metallic red frame fades into a gloss maroon at the rear end and base of the fork blades. Contrasting white Lapierre branding and sponsor graphics stand out from the red backdrop.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The contrasting white logos are a sensible choice.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Airbrushed white and blue lightning bolts explode from the head tube into the down tube, top tube and fork blades. This will have been a seriously labour-intensive job for the sprayer, requiring tons of masking.<\/p>\n

On the top face of the top tube is a graphic with Thor\u2019s hammer, Mj\u00f6lnir, emerging from a cloud with a lightning strike underneath it. Forget a boring old name sticker,\u00a0 Ludwig has her full name painted around the graphic.<\/p>\n

\"Top<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Forget name stickers, this is what you should aspire to have on your bike.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Another neat touch is the Danish flag, crafted to resemble a Viking sword with lightning emanating from its sharp blade in front of the integrated seat-clamp wedge.<\/p>\n

Lapierre says the graphic is also in reference to Ludwig\u2019s first title, when she became Danish champion in 2022.<\/p>\n

A Shimano-heavy build with what looks like a custom bar-stem<\/h2>\n
\"Shimano<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The bike gets a Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 electronic groupset.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Fittingly for a pro, the bike wears a top-flight Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200<\/a> groupset with a matching power meter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Japanese brand is also on wheel duties with its Dura-Ace C50s. The carbon wheels are claimed to weigh 1,532g and sport a conservative 21mm internal rim width<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Shimano<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The C50s is a good all-rounder option.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Continental Grand Prix GP5000 S TR tyres<\/a> are set up tubeless on the wheels, although the width is curiously blacked out in permanent marker. Given the Xelius SL has a tyre clearance of up to 32mm, we suspect they are 28mm rather than 25, otherwise there would be a cavernous amount of room around them.<\/p>\n

\"Shimano<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
We reckon Ludwig is running 28mm tyres.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The own-brand, integrated bar-stem completely hides the Di2 wires and hoses, which are then fed through a proprietary Acros headset cover.<\/p>\n

\"Lapierre<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s one small headset spacer beneath the integrated bar-stem.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This is an interesting spec choice because off-the-shelf Xelius SL bikes come with a separate bar and stem combo, with the exception of the hard-to-come-by Symbiosis Edition.<\/p>\n

The Lapierre Combo UD Carbon bar-stem is also only available in 40 and 42cm widths and we\u2019re led to believe Ludwig is running a narrower 38cm bar.<\/p>\n

\"Cecilie<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A French fancy?<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A Prologo Dimension 143 saddle is installed on the own-brand, inline carbon seatpost and is mounted quite far forward so Ludwig can achieve an aggressive position. Prologo also supplies the matching black Onetouch Neutro handlebar tape<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The build is rounded out with Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 pedals, Elite bottle cages and a K-Edge computer mount.<\/p>\n

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig\u2019s Lapierre Xelius SL specs<\/h2>\n
\"Cecilie<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A top-end but functional spec list.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
  • Frameset:<\/strong> Lapierre Xelius SL<\/li>\n
  • Wheels:<\/strong> Shimano Dura-Ace C50<\/li>\n
  • Tyres:<\/strong> Continental GP5000 S TR<\/li>\n
  • Handlebar\/stem:<\/strong> Lapierre Combo UD Carbon<\/li>\n
  • Rear derailleur:<\/strong> Shimano Dura-Ace R9250<\/li>\n
  • Front derailleur:<\/strong> Shimano Dura-Ace R9250<\/li>\n
  • Crankset:<\/strong> Shimano Dura-Ace R9200-P (with power meter)<\/li>\n
  • Shifters:<\/strong> Shimano Dura-Ace R9270<\/li>\n
  • Seatpost:<\/strong> Lapierre carbon light, 27.2mm<\/li>\n
  • Saddle:<\/strong> Prologo Dimension 143<\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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