Mathieu van der Poel’s Canyon Inflite CF SLX

04.01.2024

Alpecin Cycling got a close look at the Canyon Inflite CF SLX of professional cyclist Mathieu van der Poel during the Cyclocross race in Mol, examining the world champion’s bike in detail.

The current Cyclocross world champion has a total of five identical bikes. During the race in Mol, the Alpecin-Deceuninck professional had four of them with him, using three of them for the competition while warming up on one. As the course was sandy and not muddy, he did not have to change his bike during the race.

There is nothing particularly unusual about Mathieu van der Poel’s bike. Nothing has been “milled away” or tuned on the pedals. Anyone can put together a bike like his.

Only standard parts are used, from the frame to the drive train, brakes, and pedals. There are two exceptions. Firstly, he uses a personalized Selle Italia Flight Boost Mathieu van der Poel Edition saddle, which is also available for purchase in the same design. Secondly, he uses a Shimano Dura-Ace crankset with a chainring combination of 46 and 39 teeth, which is not commercially available.

The Canyon Inflite CF SLX

ComponentModel
FrameCanyon Inflite CF SLX, size L
ForkCanyon FK0114 CF Disc
BrakesShimano Dura-Ace BR-R 9270 / RT-CL900, 140 mm
Brake/Shift LeversShimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270, 12-speed
Front DerailleurShimano Dura Ace FD-R9250 Di2
Rear DerailleurShimano Dura Ace Di2 RD-R9250
CassetteShimano Dura Ace CS-R9200 e.g. 11/30
ChainShimano CN-M9100
CranksetShimano Dura Ace FC-R9200, 46/39 mm, 172.5 mm
WheelsetShimano Dura Ace C 50
TiresDugast, 33 mm – model varies depending on terrain. On sand, Pipisquallo
CockpitCanyon Aerocockpit CF Pro, CP 0015, 410 mm (handlebar), 120 mm (stem)
SeatpostCanyon S13 VCLS CF
SaddleSelle Italia Flight Boost Mathieu van der Poel Edition
PedalsShimano XTR SPD PD M9100

Frame

The basis for Mathieu van der Poel’s Cyclocross bike is the Canyon Inflite CF SLX frame. This frame is specially designed in the world champion’s look on the top tube and seat stays and has the typical Inflite bend. Van der Poel rides the frame in size L, which corresponds to a frame height of 59. The frame is completed with the new Canyon FK0114 CF Disc fork, which is also used in the Inflite CFR model.

Cockpit

The Canyon Aerocockpit CF Pro CP 0015 is installed on Mathieu van der Poel’s Inflite. The handlebar width can be individually adjusted in a range of 390 millimeters to 430 millimeters. Van der Poel uses a width of 410 millimeters with a stem length of 120 millimeters.

Tyres and wheels

Van der Poel uses tubular tires from Dugast on his bike. These handmade tires from the Netherlands are glued onto Shimano’s aerodynamic C50 wheelset with a rim height of 50 millimeters. This ensures that the tire does not slip off the rim even at very low air pressure in the curve. At the “Sand Race” in Mol, van der Poel rode a 33-millimeter-wide Pipisquallo from Dugast, which was inflated to 1.3 bar at the front and 1.4 bar at the rear.

Brakes

The brake-shift lever combination on the cockpit, as well as the brake calipers and discs, all come from Shimano’s current Dura Ace Di2 groupset. However, Mathieu van der Poel does not use the classic disc combination – consisting of 160 millimeters at the front and 140 millimeters at the rear – but also uses the smaller disc at the front. Possible explanation: Since he brakes very little and rides smoothly, the higher braking force or the overly aggressive response caused by the larger disc could be counterproductive for his riding style.

Drive Unit

The new twelve-speed Shimano Dura Ace Di2 groupset is mounted on van der Poel’s Inflite. Notable features: no power meter and the crankset with the closely spaced chainrings of 46 and 39 teeth is reserved for professionals only. He also has a Dura Ace cassette installed at the rear. In Mol, he shifted with 11-30.

Saddle and seat post

The Dutchman sits on a personalized Selle Italia Flight Boost – the Mathieu van der Poel Edition. The saddle is built on a carbon frame and a saddle shell made of a carbon-nylon mix – and weighs only 162 grams. The saddle is mounted on Canyon’s S13 VCLS CF seat post. This model is made entirely of carbon and has a variable setback of 15 to 35 millimeters.

Pedal

The only parts that do not come from a road bike are the Shimano XTR mountain bike pedals. They are also standard models. The only tuning option: in winter frosty conditions, some de-icer is added to the binding so that snow and ice do not freeze and hinder entry.

Images © Felix Homann / Alpecin Cycling