After racing on Colnago bicycles for more than a decade, reigning Cyclo-Cross World Champion Sven Nys officially switched sponsorship on Wednesday to Trek. The Waterloo, Wisconsin, brand used the occasion to launch its new cross platform, the , which borrows the company鈥檚 Iso-Speed decoupler technology from its successful endurance road bike, the Domane.
The design places a pivot point at the junction of the seat tube and top tube that allows the seat to flex downward and backward for added comfort. It has proven highly successful on the road, where Fabian Cancellara used the technology to clean up at the Spring Classics last year. The feature should be welcome in the cross scene, as well, because the added compliance should allow riders to continue producing power on rough terrain when others might be unable to do so.
The Boone鈥檚 raked forward fork is also borrowed from the Domane, and the bike gets internal and fully sealed cable routings throughout to keep the lines clear from the inevitable mud and grit of cross racing. The bike鈥檚 geometry is identical to the , Trek鈥檚 less expensive aluminum cross bike. The Boone will come in five models ranging from $2,800 to $6,300.
Nys wasted no time in demonstrating the bike鈥檚 prowess, . Trek鈥檚 top women cross racer, World Cup leader Katie Compton, also rode the new Boone and also delivered the company a victory.