Pro Bike Gallery: Ferekalsi Debesay’s MTN-Qhubeka Trek Madone 7

A custom fork and a little help from up high highlight the former Eritrean time trial champion's Trek Madone

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Pro — MTN-Qhubeka’s Frekalsi Debesay tackled Wednesday’s Schedleprijs aboard his usual Trek Madone 7, beefed up with wider Schwalbe One tires (we measured 26mm). The rest of his setup was quite standard, with the exception of a modified brake mount on his fork. The Madone usually takes a dual-bolt front brake, but sponsor SRAM doesn’t make one, so the MTN bikes have a custom fork that is compatible with standard single-bolt road brakes. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Normal brake, custom fork. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Debesay, a former Eritrean national time trial champion, was looking for a bit of extra help on Wednesday. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Debesay is one of MTN’s Eritrean contingent. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — The team is intent on bringing African cycling into the world stage, and just got its first grand tour invite, for the Vuelta a Espana this fall. It is the first grand tour invite for any African team. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Debesay isn’t a big rider, as his 52cm Madone frame shows, but he is an excellent time trialist. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — The move to 11-speed as resulted in tighter gear ratios, meaning less change in cadence with each shift. When bikes were 10-speed, the 11-28 tooth cassette was reserved for climbing days. Now the ratios are tight enough on these wide cassettes that many pros, like Debesay, are simply riding the 11-28 every day, regarless of terrain. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Most teams switch to metal bottle cages for the cobbles. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Debesay rides on Selle Italia’s iconic Flite saddle. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

Pro — Zipp 303 Firecrest tubular wheels with Schwalbe One 26mm (measured) tires. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com

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Pro Bike Gallery: Ferekalsi Debesay’s MTN-Qhubeka Trek Madone 7

A custom fork and a little help from up high highlight the former Eritrean time trial champion's Trek Madone

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