{"id":62180,"date":"2024-04-05T16:23:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T14:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a3f6adbf-a827-4ae3-9623-22a49d939e46"},"modified":"2024-04-05T16:59:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T14:59:38","slug":"a-gravel-bike-for-paris-roubaix-israel-premier-tech-to-use-factor-ostro-gravel-at-the-hell-of-the-north","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/a-gravel-bike-for-paris-roubaix-israel-premier-tech-to-use-factor-ostro-gravel-at-the-hell-of-the-north\/","title":{"rendered":"A gravel bike for Paris-Roubaix? Israel-Premier Tech to use Factor Ostro Gravel at the Hell of the North"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is a gravel bike the answer to Paris-Roubaix’s mud-caked cobbles? <\/p>

By George Scott\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 05 April 2024 at 14:23 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The Israel-Premier Tech team will use Factor\u2019s Ostro Gravel at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, with riders spotted on the gravel race bike during a pre-race recon of the infamous Arenberg sector.<\/p>

With 29 cobbled sectors, Paris-Roubaix places a unique demand on riders and their equipment \u2013 and Israel-Premier Tech will switch from the usual race-day bike, the new Factor Ostro VAM<\/a>, as a result.<\/p>

In years past, the Hell of the North has seen a complete equipment overhaul<\/a>. Endurance road bikes, cross-top brakes, sponsor-incorrect tyres, cantilever brakes and 32-spoke wheels were all common before Mat Hayman\u2019s breakthrough win aboard the Scott Foil<\/a> aero bike in 2016.<\/p>

Hayman\u2019s victory signalled a new tech era at Paris-Roubaix<\/a>. With disc-equipped road bikes offering generous tyre clearances compared to traditional rim brake bikes, there’s now little reason for riders to switch to a Roubaix-specific machine.<\/p>

Israel-Premier Tech will buck that trend, though.<\/p>

From Unbound to Paris-Roubaix<\/h2>
Israel-Premier Tech will use the Factor Ostro Gravel for the 2024 edition of Paris-Roubaix. – Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Ostro Gravel was launched in September 2022<\/a>, designed as a thoroughbred gravel race bike<\/a> for top-tier events such as Unbound \u2013 and now, it seems, Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>

It has an aero-shaped frame, race-focussed geometry and clearance for 45c gravel tyres<\/a>, though the Israel-Premier Tech team won\u2019t be taking full advantage of that room at Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>

\"Israel
The team has been spotted on Factor’s gravel race bike during recon rides. – Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>

We\u2019re waiting on confirmation on the team\u2019s tyre choice for Sunday\u2019s Monument, but the team appears to be using Continental\u2019s Grand Prix 5000S TR tubeless tyre<\/a> on recon rides.<\/p>

The GP5000 S TR is available in a maximum width of 32c, which is the same as the available tyre clearance on the Ostro VAM aero bike.<\/p>

\"Pascal
The Factor Ostro VAM aero bike is Israel-Premier Tech’s usual race-day ride. – Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>

So why the switch to the Ostro Gravel? An extremely wet spring in northern Europe could see Sunday\u2019s race contested over slick, mud-caked cobblestones.<\/p>

The team could be looking to avoid any issues with mud clearance \u2013 or they could be using a tyre even wider than the 32c Continental rubber typically available to the public. It could, of course, also be a move to prompt pre-race column inches.<\/p>

We\u2019ve asked Israel-Premier Tech for clarification and will update this story when we know more.<\/p>