Tour de France Femmes 2022 pro bikes: Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig's Lapierre Xelius SL

Tour de France Femmes 2022 pro bikes: Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig's Lapierre Xelius SL

A closer look at the Danish champion's Tour de France Femmes stage winning bike

Photos: James Startt Tour de France Femmes Words: Richard Windsor

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has so far been a showcase of brilliant racing, with the women's peloton finally able to fight it out on the biggest stage in cycling.

One such moment of outstanding racing came on stage three, when Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig stormed past race leader Marianne Vos on the uphill finish in Épernay to take an emotional stage win.

The Dane had suffered a disastrous day before, losing significant time in the general classification as well as seeing her team-mate and another race favourite Marta Cavalli forced to abandon the race following a horrible crash.

As well as winning resplendent in her Danish national champion's jersey, Ludwig  was also riding the FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope Tour de France Femmes special edition Lapierre Xelius SL.

We managed to get hold of her bike ahead of the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes in Paris for a closer look at the setup she's using this week.

First off, aside from the Xelius' unique shape with the seatstays moulded further down the top tube, the most noticeable part of this bike is the carbon frame's colourway. 

The frame has a design specially created for the Tour de France Femmes, with the initials of each stage start and finish of the race colourfully emblazoned on various parts of the frame. The FDJ logo has had a splash of colour added it as well; the green and blue tint designed to represent sponsor Suez, a water, sanitation, and waste collection company.

Up front, Ludwig is using the Lapierre proprietary Combo UD carbon aero integrated stem and handlebars, covered with Prologo bar tape. 

She's using a K-Edge out-front mount and though her computer isn't pictured, she's been using one of the bigger head units Garmin has available, the 1030.

Unlike Marianne Vos' Tour de France Cervélo S5, Ludwig has had access to the latest 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 groupset, as you can see from the shifters and the drivetrain further back.

As a Shimano sponsored team, FDJ riders have no mix and match parts of their groupset, it's Dura-Ace across the board.

Ludwig is using a 52/36 chainset with built-in power meter up front and what looks like an 11-30 cassette at the rear.

The Lapierre carbon seat post is topped with a Dimension Nack saddle, Ludwig's seat of choice from sponsor Prologo.

As well as the groupset, Shimano also provides wheels for the team and Ludwig's choice on the flat Paris stage was the deeper Dura-Ace C60 wheels.

The wheels are shod with 28mm Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR tubeless wheels in the tan-wall edition, which we think look great.

Elsewhere Ludwig is using Shimano Dura-Ace pedals and has some sleek black and white Elite bottle cages that match the frame.

Photos: James Startt Tour de France Femmes Words: Richard Windsor

READ MORE

Vuelta a España 2024 team ratings: how did each squad perform in this year's race?

Vuelta a España 2024 team ratings: how did each squad perform in this year's race?

Analysing the winners and losers from the season's final Grand Tour

Read more
Roglified: The Vuelta is back in the hands of a familiar winner

Roglified: The Vuelta is back in the hands of a familiar winner

Despite a tactical misstep in the opening week, Primož Roglič did what he does so well: win the Vuelta a España

Read more
A missed opportunity? Roglič on the brink of Vuelta glory after final mountains stalemate

A missed opportunity? Roglič on the brink of Vuelta glory after final mountains stalemate

Despite the perfect parcours for a spectacular showdown and illness ripping through the race leader's team, the overall fight remains relatively unchanged at the Vuelta...

Read more
Vuelta a España 2024 stage 21 preview: the final time trial

Vuelta a España 2024 stage 21 preview: the final time trial

The race of truth concludes a gruelling three weeks in Spain

Read more
The end of O’Connor’s red reign - a tale of grit and determination

The end of O’Connor’s red reign - a tale of grit and determination

The Australian hands the red jersey back to Primož Roglič after a valiant Vuelta defense

Read more
Prolific and dominating: Roglič finally back in red at the Vuelta a España

Prolific and dominating: Roglič finally back in red at the Vuelta a España

The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider has a comfortable 1:54 on his rivals ahead of the race's final weekend

Read more

MEMBERSHIP

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Independent journalism, award winning content, exclusive perks.

Banner Image