Tour de France bikes: Simon Geschke's De Rosa Merak 2022
We take a closer look at the current polka dot jersey wearer's super bike
After the explosive stages in the Alps, Cofidis' Simon Geschke is still wearing the polka-dot jersey at the Tour de France
The 36-year-old German, who finished the Alpe d'Huez stage in 85th position (27 minutes down to Tom Pidcock), still leads the KOM classification by four points on Louis Meintjes and seven on Jonas Vingegaard.
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Here we take a closer look at his De Rosa Merak 2022.
The only references to the polka-dot jerseys on Geschke's bike are the matching Look Kléo pedals and Wahoo Bolt unit. Apart from these details, the bike didn't get full-on customisation as we have seen on other occasions. Are the team expecting that Simon Geschke's time in the jersey may come to an end soon?
De Rosa's iconic logo is maintained on the down tube, with its unmistakable heart fitted into the letter O of the logo.
Geschke's weapon of choice is fitted with a top-of-the-range Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset (12 speeds, 54 x 39 in the front) and SRM 9 spider power meter. The Campagnolo power meter sold on the SRM website typically features a Campy crank, and the Italian brand manufactures its power meters in Vicenza.
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However, Geschke's – on his configuration – features an SRM Origin THM Carbon crank (lighter and stiffer), which is usually used in the SRM Origin Road power meter configuration. In this way, Geschke's has got the best of the two worlds putting together the best from Campagnolo and SRM.
In terms of wheels and tyres, the Merak used by Geschke is here photographed with what looks like Corima's WS+ 47 wheels with rim-brake original design (their go-to for hilly terrain) and Michelin Power Cup tubular. We're maybe biased and old school, but you can't beat the look of a tub.
The Merak is then finished with a Vision Metron 5D ACR integrated cockpit (which is not horizontally cut, but features a curve in the front of the handlebars), and what looks like a Selle Italia SLR Boost Kit Carbonio saddle – although it is not yet available on their website.
