Niels Albert’s Colnago Prestige

by Simon · 12/12/2012

Feature

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Niels Albert’s Colnago Prestige

Photos courtesy of Vince Halpern and Peter Cole

12th December 2012

Earlier in 2012 Niels Albert of the BKCP-Powerplus team became the cyclo-cross world champion at Koksijde in Belgium aboard his, then, brand new Colnago Prestige frame. To celebrate this victory he was obviously quickly mounted on World Champion liveried versions and has campaigned on those this season.

As is the way with the easy going nature of cyclo-cross, CycleTechReview.com managed to get up close to Albert’s bikes prior to the start of a World Cup race, coincidentally also held at Koksijde, in November and grab some snaps. Interestingly the Colnago Prestige ridden by Albert was developed with input from his great rival, Sven Nys.

Niels Albert warms up prior to the Koksijde Cross

World Champ rainbow stripes – least you forget – and name on the frame on the clever shouldering bridge between top and seat tube; a neat bit of innovation which typifies Colnago.

Whilst Niels warms-up on one bike in the background, his three other identical bikes wait for the oncoming carnage. The Colnago Prestige utilises a monocoque front triangle with lugged seat and chainstays.

Albert uses Shimano kit with PRO Vibe handlebars, stems and seatposts, plus Shimano XTR pedals. Dura-Ace C35 tubular wheels shod with Dugast tubulars are driven forward by Shimano’s electronic Di2 groupset, with custom cyclo-cross chainrings. Although on the bikes they offer to the public Colnago are throwing their hat firmly in the disc brake camp, in keeping with most continental pros, stopping power for Albert comes from TRP RevoX carbon rim brakes.

Being close to the North Sea, Koksijde is a mix of deep, soft sand dunes and muddy ‘meadow’ leading onto the airfield, at which point the riders get some brief respite on tarmac. Here Albert runs through one of the sections of deep, wet sand.

Albert rode hard all day but at the last had to concede defeat to another Colnago mounted rider, Belgian Champion Sven Nys, who recovered from mid-pack to catch Albert.

Late in the race, Albert was forced to run on this hill allowing Sven Nys, who showed incredible strength to ride the same section, to get the all important gap. Despite this Albert will take some small comfort from still heading the overall World Cup standings.