The Lidl-Trek team chooses gravel components for the Classics

The opening weekend of the classics on the cobbles is approaching with the Omloop Het Niewsblad race and, throughout the week, the roads of Flanders have been filled with professional cyclists recognizing the sections, allowing some details to be seen about the equipment that teams will use to deal with the cobblestones.

Some Lidl-Trek cyclists choose the SRAM Red XPLR 13-speed single chainring

It is a consensus that a single chainring provides a mechanical advantage when its use does not affect other aspects such as the available gear range or excessive jumps between gears. In fact, in recent years, it has not been uncommon to see cyclists from Visma-Lease a Bike or Lidl-Trek, teams that equip SRAM groups on their bikes, using this configuration in specific stages.

The launch a few months ago of the SRAM Red XPLR, the 13-speed single chainring group specifically oriented towards gravel, has provided greater versatility to the single chainring configuration to the point that, in the previews before the start of the classics, several Lidl-Trek cyclists have been seen using this group.

RECOMENDADO

This study suggests that cyclists do not need to go to the gym

Is the cheapest World Tour bike in the peloton? The Astana X-LAB AD9 goes on sale

The BMC Factory Racing team debuts a new image

MyCanyon arrives, the new bike customization program from Canyon

Total integration for the new BMC Teammachine SLR 2025

From Jenny Rissveds to Van der Poel, Canyon presents its XCO cyclists for 2025

The use of a single chainring in the cobbled classics offers all advantages for a professional cyclist as it minimizes mechanical problems, such as a chain drop at the most inopportune moment, which can ruin the race. In addition to this, the specific characteristics of the Red XPLR rear derailleur, designed with the full mount concept inherited from its mountain bike groups, means that the derailleur is directly attached to the frame by embracing the dropout on both sides. This, combined with an extremely robust design, makes the derailleur practically indestructible even if it suffers an impact in a fall.

To use the SRAM Red XPLR derailleur, the only requirement is that the bike has a UDH type derailleur hanger, the type of hanger that SRAM is turning into a standard. A requirement that the Trek Madone Gen8 used by Lidl-Trek cyclists meets.

The SRAM Red XPLR has a 10-46 cassette which, combined with a 53-tooth chainring, should provide enough development to tackle any of the Flemish walls. In fact, a 53x46 offers a shorter development than the 40x34 that Shimano-equipped cyclists have, and thanks to the 13 cogs, the jumps between gears are contained despite the width of the cassette.

Precisely the only drawback of using this configuration is precisely those 13 cogs, which can be a problem in case of a flat tire since the cyclist could only get a replacement from their team car as it is unlikely that neutral vehicles have cassettes of this type for a small number of riders.