Speaking exclusively with Cyclingnews, former Tour de France Green Jersey winner, Baden Cooke, has outlined further details of Factor's step up to the WorldTour ranks in 2017.
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Announced earlier this month, AG2R La Mondiale will become the first WorldTour team to ride Factor Bikes. Emerging in 2009 out of composite specialists bf1systems, Factor made their name with the cutting edge designs FACTOR001 and the non-UCI legal Vis Vires. The 2014 season saw the development of Factor's first UCI legal frame designs and Baden Cooke purchased the brand from bf1systems.
Following a successful season with Pro Continental team ONE Pro Cycling, Factor's partnership with AG2R La Mondiale is a big moment for the young brand.
Corresponding via email, Cooke discussed the partnership: "We are very excited about our entry into the WorldTour. AG2R La Mondiale will be equipped with the Factor O2 bike that Romain Bardet has been testing for the last few months, and loves."
At 740g, the O2 frameset claims equal abilities in both the mountains and over cobbles, although following Bardet’s Tour de France podium earlier this year, we can speculate that AG2R La Mondiale will look to build on this year's success.
As well as the O2, the partnership will also see Factor's aerodynamic offering - the Factor ONE and ONE-S with a unique split-downtube. The 'Twin Vane' design equates to 'about one second per kilometre in savings' when travelling at 40km/h.
Cooke outlined the bikes will be equipped with Shimano shifting, Fizik saddles, Mavic wheels, Ceramic Speed bearings and oversized jockey wheels, SRM power meters and cutting-edge ee brakes.
Factor's time trial offering is the soon to be released 'SLICK'. David Millar, who helped with the development of the Factor ONE, responded with "Wow that is slick" when the model was unveiled and the name has stuck, detailed Cooke.
Cyclingnews will provide further images and details of all three models as soon as they become available.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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