World champion speaks to F1 drivers Hamilton and Button about S-Works Venge machine
At the end of a season where he took a number of top wins using the Specialized S-Works + McLaren Venge, world road race champion Mark Cavendish recently visited the new McLaren Production Centre in Woking. Together with British Prime Minster David Cameron, the Manxman was a guest of the Formula 1 company, and was shown around by the McLaren Group’s Chairman and CEO, Ron Dennis.
Also present were McLaren F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, the 2008 and 2009 world champions. Both build their racing fitness by riding bikes made by the Specialized company, and spoke to Cavendish about his S-Works + McLaren Venge, his season and pro racing.
Cavendish began working with the company when it collaborated with Specialized in developing the Venge. He said that McLaren’s input was crucial to the success of the project. “[It brought] attention to detail, I think,” he said, talking about how it helped develop the bike. “Look at Formula 1, you look at all the little details that go into everything. To bring McLaren in is incredible.”
Cavendish’s new contract with the Sky Procycling team means that he will have to switch to another machine next year, but it’s clear that he has been very pleased by his time on the Venge. When he was finalising his contract for next season, there were reports that he wanted to continue using the same brand.
He told Button and Hamilton about some of the things which he liked about the machine. “It's quite embarrassing for me to stand here and say little things like that are big for aerodynamics on a bike,” Cavendish said, referring to the fact that the battery for the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting system is tucked away in the frame.
“It was never thought of before, and it has been incredible working here with the (McLaren) guys and the guys at Specialized and seeing how this bike's evolved. Obviously, I won the green jersey in the Tour de France this year, and the world championships on it. So the results can just speak for themselves…”
The Briton is aiming to take big results next year in the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Olympic Games.
Click on the images below for bigger pictures...