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Pro Bike Check: World Champ Alban Lakata’s Canyon Lux CF

Austrian powerhouse Alban Lakata is often dubbed as ‘the Albanator’ and its not hard to see why! Hugely experienced and with success to match he is a formidable opponent on the XC Marathon stage, he is the reigning World Champion and will have the added incentive of racing draped in the rainbow stripes! Alban and team mate Kristian Hynek led for much of the Andalucia Bike Race before a battling final stage dropped them behind the Protek pairing, this will have only fueled the fire and they will now look to the Cape Epic for redemption! We got the opportunity to have a look at the Canyon Lux CF Alban pilots for the TOPEAK ERGON RACING TEAM:

Alban Lakata Action Shot 1
Alban in full race mode!
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 1
Alban runs a large Canyon Lux CF which weighs in at a tidy 10.2kg. The Lux rolls on 29″ wheels and has 100mm of travel front and rear.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 2
The progressive RockShox RS-1 fork is the perfect match, allowing Alban next level precision and feedback once equppied with SRAM’s ‘PREDICTIVE STEERING’ front hub! With a 100mm of travel, Alban runs no tokens and a medium-fast rebound.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 3
On the rear Alban runs a RockShox Monarch XX Shock, which is equppied with the XLoc Full Sprint lockout sytem which allows for on the fly adjustment.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 4
A comfortable cockpit is essential for the long and varied stages that Alban takes to.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 5
Decked out in carbon Canyon components, the V14 stem is 90mm in length and has an angle of -6 degrees, whilst the flat H20 bars are 690mm in length. The Lux usually features Canyon’s ‘Impact Protection’ buffers on the top tube. In the quest of weight saving these have been removed, you can see the neat little cover just down from the top of the head set. A spare tube has been neatly tucked away under the stem by team mechanic Peter.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 6
Alban uses a SRAM Grip Shift. An ERGON GS1 grip has been cut in half to ammodate for the grip shift and to ensure maximum comfort.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 7
SRAM Guide RSC brakes provide the stopping power with 160mm rotors front and back with the XLoc remote on the left hand side.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 8
A 400mm Tune Carbon seat post is paired to ERGON’s SMR3 Pro Carbon saddle. In case of any unfortunate flats Alban carries a CO2 inflator to minimize time loss.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 9
If you like to see some readings from the SRAM XX1 SRM Power meter cranks you can follow Alban on STRAVA! Alban switches between a 34T or 36T chain ring depending on the terrain of each race and clips into Crankbrothers Candy 11 pedals.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 10
A full SRAM XX1 drivetrain with a 10 – 42 cassette gives Alban the range he needs.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 11
2.2 Continental Race Kings at a pressure of 1.7 bar offer up the best compromise between grip and rolling resistance. Alban runs the slightly heavier ProTection casings to reduce the risk of flats.
Alban Lakata Bike Check Canyon Lux CF 12
Alban rolls on a set of SRAM Rise 60 wheels which feature a Hookless rim design which is lighter, stronger and better suited to the demands of XC racing.
Alban Lakata Action Shot 2
In action on the stages of Andalucia!

You can keep up to date with Alban’s racing by liking his Facebook-Page.

For more information on the bike and team he rides for head to Topeak Ergon Racing Team Website.

Words & Photos: Ross Bell

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