Neilson Powless's LAB71 SuperSix Evo for De Ronde

Two hundred and seventy three point four kilometers of Flemish roads await the American on Sunday. Rattling over cobblestones and sprinting into corners and around roundabouts and traffic furniture, and pushing up climbs lined with tens of thousands of partying Belgian fans, he’s determined to show the world that he is a complete bike racer. The Tour of Flanders is cycling’s ultimate test.

It’s the ultimate test for equipment too. Neilson will race his Cannondale LAB 71 SuperSix EVO at De Ronde. It is the supreme road-racing machine. Cannondale’s engineers spared nothing when they were designing the LAB71 edition. Neilson’s SuperSix EVO frameset is made of Series 0 carbon, Cannondale’s lightest, most advanced carbon construction ever, sculpted for aerodynamic efficiency. Don’t think its feathery weight equates to a compromise in strength. On the cobbles, Neilson will show just how robust his LAB71 SuperSix EVO is.

That is true of his wheelset too. Neilson will ride Vision’s ultralight Metron 45 SL tubeless wheels at Flanders. Ultrafast and stable in the wind, they were handbuilt in Italy and feature Vision’s new PRS hub system, which engages much faster than previous designs. That immediate power transfer could make the difference when Neilson’s rivals launch their explosive attacks. With Wahoo SPEEDPLAY pedals, 54/40 FSA chainrings and an 11-36 cassette, he’ll turn his power into thrust on the flat and up Belgium’s steepest cobbled climbs.

Neilson will ride 30mm Vittoria Corsa Pro tubeless tires with Air-Liners at Flanders. Extensive testing with our performance team determined that these are the best option for the classics. Supple on the cobbles, they provide great traction in the corners and roll fast over Flanders’ concrete and asphalt roads. AirLiners provide extra assurance. If he does flat, Neilson will have the equivalent of a couple bars of pressure in his tires to keep him rolling until the team car arrives to give him a new wheel. In the chaos that is the Tour of Flanders, that could keep him in the game.

Neilson’s Flanders machine is just as ambitious as he is. His Prologo Dimension 143 saddle will go the distance. Prologo’s handlebar tape will give him a sure grip—even if it’s raining.

At the end of the day, he’ll check his Wahoo. The data from his power2max powermeter will show that Flanders was one of the hardest races of the year. Right now, Neilson’s thoughts are only focused on one set of numbers though: the numbers on the results sheet. He is on a mission.

Here are the full specs for his LAB71 Cannondale SuperSix Evo.