Lapierre 2016 // Gaston ENG

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LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC OUR RIDERS AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME P.24

OVERVOLT EDEN PARK LAPIERRE’S FASHION MODEL P.44

TEAM FDJ

INTERVIEW WITH THIBAUT PINOT P.54

SUMMARY

GASTON #1

2016 Season

MORE THAN A BRAND, A NAME…

EN

PORTRAITS P - 26 LOÏC BRUNI P - 30 NICOLAS VOUILLOZ P - 46 LISA HÜTTHALER P - 48 CÉLINE GROS P - 54 THIBAUT PINOT P - 62 ARNAUD DEMARE P - 64 FRANCIS MOUREY

P - 04 A WELCOME FROM GILLES LAPIERRE P - 06 WHAT’S GASTON?!

P - 08 SAVOIR-FAIRE: FROM THE DRAWING BOARD TO THE STORE P - 10 THE LAPIERRE FAMILY P - 12 ULTIMATE

BIKE FOCUS

SO WATT…

NEW ZESTYS P - 32 THE LEGEND OF THE X-CONTROL P - 34 CROSS-COUNTRY P - 36 AIRCODE SL P - 56 ROADS FOR EVERYONE P - 66

OVERVOLT P - 14 THE OVERVOLT BRIGADE P - 16

LAPIERRE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE

MOUNTAIN BIKING P - 18 MOUNTAIN BIKING P - 20 EI-SHOCK AUTO P - 22 COMPETITIVE MOUNTAIN BIKING

TEAMS

P - 38 LAPIERRE, SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! P - 42 URBAN BIKES P - 44 OVERVOLT EDEN PARK

ROAD

TEAM LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC DH P - 24 TEAM LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC ENDURO P - 28 TEAM FDJ P - 52

LAPIERRE ROAD P - 50 AERO TECHNOLOGY P - 58 SL TECHNOLOGY P - 60

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A WELCOME FROM GILLES LAPIERRE

GASTON #1

2016 Season

INTRO Lapierre is my name and also my work. A business started by my grandfather Gaston Lapierre in 1946, passed down to my father and now myself. If he could see us today, I think that my grandfather would not only be proud of the company as it is today, but astonished by all we have achieved. We are honoring him with this first edition of Gaston!

We’re proud of our heritage, but constantly looking forward. Lapierre has seen a lot of changes since the early days selling bicycle parts. A rich history leading to where we are today, with cutting edge technology taking some of the world’s best riders to victory.

Competition is in our DNA. We started sponsoring competitive mountain biking in the 1980s and now have a team of athletes competing on the world circuit in DH, Enduro and XC racing. World Champions, World Cup winners, all helping to develop the mountain bikes available at your local Lapierre dealer.

10 times World Champion Nicolas Vouilloz is a key member of our R&D Team, bringing his exacting attention to detail to the full MTB range and pushing our engineers to constantly improve, he is largely responsible for the new Spicy, Zesty AM and Zesty XM. Since 2001 we have partnered with the FDJ professional race team. Our engineers’ close work with the riders and team mechanics has resulted in beautiful, efficient, race ready machines, tested by the very best in French cycling. A partnership that has seen our bicycles develop from our first prototype monocoque LP 0.9C seen at 2002’s Tour de France, to the brand new Aircode SL and Xelius SL, taking FDJ riders to victory in 2015.

But winning races isn’t everything, we want to win in quality terms too. With this in mind our head office and factory in Dijon has recently undergone certification for ISO 9001:2001. This is a strong sign of our commitment to quality, and the quality of our products. In the long term working practices will evolve throughout the entire organisation to ensure that ever higher standards of quality and customer care are met. This is our guarantee to you that Lapierre products will continue to be produced to the highest standards of quality.

There’s no doubt, my grandfather would be proud of us. I am proud.

Lapierre is more than a brand, it’s my name.

Gilles LAPIERRE

MD of Cycles Lapierre

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EN

WHAT’S GASTON?

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

*

* What’s

THE ORIGIN OF THE BRAND With each new year comes new challenges and new changes.

At Lapierre we are always looking ahead to the next adventure, but keeping an eye on the past. With this in mind we decided to change our traditional print catalogue to a more modern, magazine style format for 2016: available in print and digital.

With this step forward, we are also honouring our past. We have named this magazine after Gaston Lapierre, founder of Cycles Lapierre, and grandfather of current Managing Director, Gilles Lapierre.

Back in 1946 Gaston saw a bright future for bicycles, in the postwar period bikes were booming! He set up a business in Dijon, France, producing bicycles and selling spare parts. Since its modest beginning the business has grown exponentially under the leadership of his son, and since 1996 his grandson.

Throughout the many changes over the years, Cycles Lapierre has stayed true to the initial vision of Gaston: supplying the highest quality bicycles possible, all designed and developed in Dijon.

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Gaston?

SAVOIR-FAIRE: FROM THE DRAWING BOARD TO THE STORE!

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

FROM ITS DESIGN THROUGH TO BEING RIDDEN AWAY BY THE CUSTOMER, A NEW LAPIERRE CREATION UNDERGOES A NUMBER OF TRANSFORMATIONS, AS WE REVEAL ON A GUIDED TOUR OF OUR DIJON BASE.

THE DESIGN

1

2

THE PROTO TYPE

One or more prototypes are made and are tested with a view to approving the choices made during the design phase: technical innovations, materials, etc.

Our team of engineers and designers then embark on the creation of 3-D designs, where their expertise in a broad range of fields and materials such as carbon fibre and aluminium is vital when it comes to identifying which models to prototype and the directions each new product needs to take.

THE IDEA

Prototypes are modelled in two different ways: - Plastic modelling on a 3-D printer. The aim here is to check the shape, volume and functionality of each part.

- Prototyping with the final materials, leading to laboratory strength tests and the testing of frames in real conditions.

Behind every Lapierre bike there is a central, unifying idea: the desire to open cycling to as many people as possible, to help athletes in their quest for performance and also to respond to the specific demands of our customers.

While monitoring the needs of the market provides us with a source of inspiration, no less important is the feedback we get from athletes, users on the ground and our dedicated sales and store teams. Every department in the company has a contribution to make in this initial phase, when the first designs are sketched and a whole series of discussions help shape a more precise and specific vision.

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COM PLE TION

Lapierre takes great care with the way the bikes are finished. We put a lot of work into researching market trends in colours, design, finish and of course the part choice, to complete the bike.

The bicycle must respond to the customer’s needs for usage, robustness, longevity, performance and comfort.

The bicycle is now ready to go on sale.

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Once the moulds have been made, the unfinished frames are tested along with the quality and conformity of the model.

It is during this phase that moulds can be rectified if need be and final adjustments made in terms of geometry and stiffness.

The opinions of the athletes in Lapierre’s various teams are especially valuable when it comes to analysing how the products perform in extreme conditions.

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MANU FACTU RING TESTS ON THE GROUND

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This key phase involves the creation of the moulds for each part (the various tubes, chainstays and seatstays etc), a process that is identical to the initial project and in which consideration is given to the constraints posed by the materials used and to the frame as a whole and the parts to be added to it.

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THE LAPIERRE FAMILY

GASTON #1

2016 Season

DEPUIS 1946 MORE

THAN JUST

A FA M I LY C O M PA N Y Through the generations, Lapierre has stayed loyal to the family values shared and projected by a single name. From Gaston to Jacky and on to Gilles, Lapierre has made its name an indelible part of the history of cycling thanks to its spirit of adventure and competition, eye for detail and belief in the values of the sport.

The Lapierre family is also a group of people who work day in day out towards the success of the brand. From engineers to product managers, a team who work hand in hand to offer you the most effective technologies and, most importantly of all, your bike. From the marketing department to sales, we strive to make Lapierre’s products available to you in stores; and at trade shows and events we are there to help you test the bike of your dreams and make your choice. Playing a very important role, our production teams do everything in their power to ensure our bikes match your expectations.

Lapierre is also home to mountain bike and road teams who rack up kilometre after kilometre in the saddle and push our bikes to the very limit in an effort to show you that Lapierre is much more than just its products: it is a big family that works as one to bring you the bicycles of tomorrow.

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EN

LAPIERRE ULTIMATE PROGRAMME

GASTON #1

IMAGINE IT. CHOOSE IT. CREATE THE BIKE OF YOUR DREAMS. Because each cycle lover is unique, we have created the Lapierre Ultimate programme. Starting with the frame of your choice (Road or MTB), select each part to create your bike from A to Z. Your bike, created with your passion. With Lapierre Ultimate, it’s your choice.

EN

2016 Season

MTB

PRORACE

XR

ROAD AIRCODE SL

XELIUS SL

ZESTY AM

ZESTY XM

PULSIUM

TRUE LUXURY LIES IN CHOICE! In choosing your Lapierre Ultimate, you are not just buying a bike. You are buying the exclusivity to ride on a bike that suits you, that expresses your personality and corresponds to your needs. To be at one with your bike.

In selecting the Ultimate programme, you are choosing the best. The best of Lapierre expertise.

Thanks to the Ultimate programme, you can transform an exceptional frame into an amazing bike, by choosing your dream parts!

www.ultimate.lapierrebikes.com

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E O V R V L OVERVOLT

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

SWITCH TO A HIGHER GEAR! I’VE GO T

THE LE GS

OF A 2 0-YEA R-OLD AGAIN

There can be no doubt now, though, that this new category is creating an increasingly large niche for itself in the world of two wheelers. Not only are there more electric bikes on the market, but specific races are now being set up, components are becoming more specialised and motors more silent, while ranges are also increasing in size.

At Lapierre, we are moving with the times by expanding the Overvolt family. Fitted with Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano motors, the Overvolt Cross and Overvolt Shaper are just two of the new models that have arrived on the market.

I’M NOW DOING ROUTES I’D NEVER DREAMED OF DOING BEFORE

THERE ARE SURE TO BE YET MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN 2016

u o y e r u s Make ss them i m t ’ n o d

ILL. WHAT A THR ATING IT’S EXHILAR

These are just some of the reactions of people who have taken a ride on the Lapierre Overvolt, reactions that reveal just how much Lapierre’s electric bikes are doing to put the fun back into cycling.

When Lapierre launched its first Overvolt models two years ago, electric bikes were still in their infancy, with few parts manufacturers on the scene and more than a few sceptics putting forward all sort of views

ZY MICK FOR LA ANOTHER GIM

PEOPLE

IT’S NOT GOING TO WORK. WHO’D WANT A BIKE THAT WEIGHS 20KG?

MIGHT A S WELL B UY A

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– some well-reasoned, others less so – whenever e-bikes cropped up in conversation.

MOTORB IKE

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THE OVERVOLT BRIGADE

GASTON #1

EN

2016 Season

AN ELECTRICAL

REVOLUTION Lapierre has a brand new team to go with the Française des Jeux (FDJ) professional race team and the Downhill and Enduro racers that make up Team Lapierre Gravity Republic: the Overvolt Brigade!

Jean-Pierre Bruni

Claude Vergier

While the names of Bruni and Vergier might be synonymous with DH, what you might not know is that Jean-Pierre Bruni and Claude Vergier – the fathers of Team Lapierre Gravity Republic riders Loic and Loris – are e-biking pioneers and were among the first to take part in electric MTB events such as the Transvésubienne. Who else, but these two mountain bike legends to fly the flag for Lapierre in these exciting new competitions?

Racers, technicians and managers to boot: our riders have more than one string to their bows. As well as ambassadors, they also help test and develop the Overvolts of the future. Signing up for a win-win partnership, they play an active role in fine-tuning and developing these new machines. Their expert eye, top-level experience and vision of competitive mountain biking are all valuable assets that we will be able to draw on.

Clutching the handlebars of the Overvolt FS, they are ready to meet every challenge.

And with Nicolas Vouilloz for a neighbour and team mate, our racers need no second invitation to venture down the trails around Nice, a mountain biker’s paradise.

OVERVOLT FS • OST+ aluminium frame.

2015 WAS THE BRIGADE’S DEBUT AND THE START OF THE OVERVOLT ERA. YOU’LL BE SEEING A LOT OF THEM VERY, VERY SOON.

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• Frames designed for all-mountain riding.

• 140 or 170mm travel, depending on the version.

• Seven models available with a Bosch or Yamaha motor.

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MOUNTAIN BIKING

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

Mountain biking has become an integral part of our DNA since it burst on to the scene in the 1980s, offering a whole new way of exploring nature and the world around us, of meeting people, and of pushing ourselves to our physical and technical limits, and having fun at the same time.

* PIERRE-HENRI CAMI

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That pursuit for pleasure is an integral part of the Lapierre 2016 range, which features improved technology and more modern frames. If you’re in the market for performance, a new experience and adventure, then look no further than our mountain bikes. Lapierre’s athletes and engineers work tirelessly all year round in a bid to make our bikes even more efficient.

But they are not alone. Launched in 2015 and coinciding with some of the biggest MTB events, the Lapierre Test Tour gives amateur riders an ideal opportunity to get to know the bikes and the people behind Lapierre. Trail tests have never been so important to us in the development of our bikes and in our continuing quest for pleasure.

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INNOVATION MTB : EI-SHOCK AUTO

GASTON #1

1 COMPUTER placed on the side of the stem, with a control button and an LED light to indicate the mode chosen and the position of the shock

1 ACCELEROMETER

2016 Season

EN

Considered throughout the world as a revolution when it was launched in 2013, our intelligent suspension system, e:i Shock, has evolved. Redesigned and optimised for 2015, it gave birth to e:i Shock Auto, which is one of the most important innovations of our MTB range.

HOW DOES IT WORK ?

The principle of e:i Shock stays the same: The Shock is driven by electronics, taking into account the terrain and pedaling cadence.

The e:i Shock Auto system is made up of several components :

on the stem 1 ROCKSHOX MONARCH RT3 RELAY shock with motor

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM

SENSORS

MAXIMUM REACTIVITY :

INPUTS

It takes just one tenth of a second for the information to be sent from the three captors to the computer, and onto the shock (the time taken for the back wheel to arrive at the position of the front wheel when travelling at 36 km/h). Ultra-fast, the rear suspension adapts to the terrain covered by the front wheel in record time.

If a large obstacle is detected by the fork accelerometers, the shock opens instantaneously, before the rear wheel reaches the obstacle.

1 CYCLINDRICAL BATTERY 25h autonomy

1 CAPTOR FOR PEDALING CADENCE

RESULT: You can concentrate 100% on riding and your bike performs optimally !

on the bottom bracket

3 MODES FOR 4 SITUATIONS No pedaling

OPEN

Pedaling + Big bumps

1 ACCELEROMETER on the fork

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OPEN

Pedaling + Little bumps

MEDIUM

Pedaling + No bumps

LOCKED

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COMPETITIVE MOUNTAIN BIKING

GASTON #1

2016 Season

ThE

QUEsT HoLY

L r ai G The laws of competition are tough, uncompromising, unforgiving and sometimes unfair, as any athlete will tell you. And yet, it is competition that pushes racers and their bikes to the very limit. It is competition that reveals your strong points and weaknesses and which pushes you to keep on striving for more, to create the ultimate bike. Competition has always been the driving force behind Lapierre’s products. Competition provides our inspiration and our desire to create the very best performing bikes.

Ten-time world downhill MTB champion Nicolas Vouilloz is a case in point. Still competing at the highest level in the Enduro World Series, and famed among his peers for his set-up skills, he plays a key role in the development of Lapierre’s ranges, working in the R&D office alongside engineers and product managers.

Nicolas had a central part to play in developing the Lapierre DH bike. The result of close collaboration between riders and Lapierre engineers, the DH is a technological masterpiece. Scoring a World Cup win on its very first outing and hailed by the cycling press, the Lapierre DH is now helping Loic Bruni, Loris Vergier and Finn Iles to reach the very top of their discipline. If there is one sport that acts as a showcase for bike technology, it is downhill MTB, and it is no surprise that Team Lapierre Gravity Republic ended the 2014 season atop the UCI team rankings. Whether it’s DH, Enduro, XC … in all disciplines, the pursuit of excellence is a never ending story…

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EN

TEAM LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC DH

GASTON #1

2016 Season

The two partners in crime have now welcomed newcomer Finn Iles, a name some of you might already be familiar with. Finn won last year’s Official Whip-Off World Championships at Crankworx Whistler, at the age of just 15; stealing the title from under the noses of the planet’s leading riders and securing the kind of win that looks good in anyone’s career record. At Lapierre he is now rubbing shoulders with two of the world’s fastest riders.

d l r o W e Th ot is N !

H g u o n E

WHO COULD ASK FOR MORE?

While the names of Loic Bruni, Loris Vergier and Finn Iles might sound familiar to you, the fact is that the average age of Team Lapierre Gravity Republic’s riders is not even 20.

Rarely has a team of young rippers created such a buzz. Bruni is already an old hand at the age of 21, which just goes to show. Talented and mature with it, he commands a lot of respect in the paddock, as his opponents, team-mates and supporters will tell you. Lolo makes everything look easy. On his Lapierre DH, he flew to victory in the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill and took the lead in the 2015 World Cup standings in the opening round on the holy ground of Lourdes. Talk about leading from the front.

Keeping him close company is Loris Vergier. The two are inseparable and have been close friends since their childhood days. Still together after all this time, they are now in the same playground as the big boys. After a dream 2014 season in which he took the French national title and the Junior Downhill World Cup and World Championship crowns, Loris has a gift for striking at the right time.

Modest, fast and a quick thinker, he has what it takes to become one of the fastest downhillers on the planet.

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EN

INTERVIEW WITH LOIC BRUNI

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

GTN.

You’ve often played the role of the new kid on the block. How does it feel to be one half of a winning duo with Loris? There’s not too much pressure on you?

Supe iRE Brown

LB.

No. I know Loris inside out so there are no worries. I’ve always had very good, healthy relationships with my team-mates. With the team being a little bit smaller these days, you do feel more like the centre of attention, which makes for a bit more pressure, though it’s still manageable.

GTN.

How involved were you in the design of the new Lapierre DH? Does it offer a genuine edge?

LB.

We were involved in discussions about the development of the new bike right from the start. Our mechanic Jack was involved from start to finish and was in a position to ask for a frame and system that suited us. We worked really hard on the telemetry, which is a definite plus point, and tried out dozens and dozens of different settings to help create a bike that’s got a huge amount of potential.

And we’re going to carry on working on it because this is just the start of its story.

It’s definitely going to give us an edge and we’re lucky that it’s turned out exactly how we imagined it would. If the manufacturer hadn’t gone for it, then it would have all been for nothing. Both sides have to be committed to it. Even if you train for hours and hours, if your bike is not as good as it could be, then you’re never going to know where you’ve lost time, no matter how hard you try. In this sense, I know that everyone’s given it all they have.

A rising star of the international DH scene, Loic Bruni is not your average rider. A very young entrant to the World Cup circuit, the winner of countless titles (among them the French Championship and the Junior World Cup and World Championship crowns) and lauded by the best riders on the circuit, Bruni is the new standard bearer of French DH. We caught up with him as he starts the 2015 season.

GASTON

GTN.

What are your expectations, ambitions, plans and dreams for the coming seasons?

The team’s nearly all French. Is that an advantage?

LOÏC BRUNI

LB.

I’m looking to keep on improving, and enjoying it, just as I’ve been doing since I started out. I’ve got some great, and not so great memories that will always stay with me. I’m not solely focusing on winning things, but on not having regrets. For the next three years I’m also looking to give it my all in races like the World Championships.

More than anything else, though, I’m hoping to continue working with a good team, which is the case right now. Our team manager Laurent gives us all we need to go out and achieve our goals. Having such a good team makes life easier.

Yes and no. Yes, because it’s easier to communicate and the culture is the same, but sometimes that can mean that the team looks a little closed off to others, and it means we don’t work on our English. Then you’ve got old friends like Blenki (Sam Blenkinsop), who’s great to have around, and others who bring a little less to a team in my opinion. I know Loris really well, so there’s no problem there.

GTN.

Just a quick word on Finn, the latest arrival in the gang. He’s the king of the whip, isn’t he?

How does it feel to have a little Canadian in the team?

GTN.

LB.

You’ve spent four years at Lapierre, which makes you something of a veteran. What memories stand out for you most?

He does some amazing whips and he’s got a lot of style on the bike. And he’s cool too, and always ready to go and ride. He takes me back to when I came on board and he reminds me of myself a few years ago. Though we’re different, I try to do what Blenki and Cam (Cole) did for me. We spent a few months in New Zealand with him and we’re good mates already. He’s easy-going and he likes a joke, so it all looks good. On top of all that we’ve now got a good guide for Whistler!

LB.

Yes, time really flies by. I’ve honestly got so many good memories, even of the times when I’ve fallen, like at Leogang in 2014. The atmosphere in the team is so great, though, that even that weekend stands out for me.

Then there’s the wins I’ve had, like the France Championships in Auron in 2013, which was my first year as an elite rider, and my first World Cup podium in Windham in 2012, where I had so much fun with everyone. It makes me happy just to sit here and think about it.

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TEAM LAPIERRE GRAVITY REPUBLIC ENDURO

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

This year he’s joined on the Enduro World Series by Adrien Dailly. The US Cagnes rider is hoping to confirm his excellent results obtained in 2014 in the junior category: winner of 2 rounds of the Enduro World Series (Valloire and Finale Ligure), winner of the Alpe d’Huez and the Réunion Megavalanche. He is racing this year in the U21 category, and got the 2015 season off to a great start with a win at the very first round of the EWS!

NICE AND SPICY! The Enduro competition is heated! Every year the standard pushes up and up, and this year Lapierre has a stronger team to compete.

Living MTB legend and 10 times World Champion, Nicolas Vouilloz has been an integral Lapierre R&D member since 2003 and still competes in the highest level of Enduro racing. Plagued by injury in 2014, he’s been training hard all winter and got the 2015 season off to a good start, with a very respectable 6th place in the first EWS and wins in local races in France.

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INTERVIEW NICOLAS VOUILLOZ

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

GTN.

Tell us more about how you work with the engineers in Lapierre’s R&D team.

KinG

NICO.

I come up with ideas about what changes need to be made to the geometry and the feeling of the bike. They have developed a special software for me so I can work on this. They then take my ideas and turn them into reality. When we get to the stage of prototypes being developed, my role as tester kicks in. It’s real team work.

GTN.

What still motivates you every morning to create a better bike?

NICO.

I have a great life, and I enjoy my work. I’ve always loved tweaking my bike, so it will ride faster and better, and now I get to do it for the full Lapierre MTB range! It’s obviously different when I’m working on a Trail or XC product, to working on the Spicy, But the same principles apply. If it’s not quite right, I just can’t leave it alone!

GETTING HOT AND SPICY WITH NICO VOUILLOZ !

GTN.

You have e:i Shock on your bike, do you find it a useful tool for racing?

The Spicy is much more than just part of the Lapierre range. It’s Nicolas Vouilloz’s race machine. This bike is the one that is put through the toughest scrutiny by the master himself, as he hones every detail to help him ride faster.

NICO.

We thought we’d have a quick catch up with Nico to find out exactly how he goes about developing a bike.

GTN.

It’s the future! The new pared down version, e:i Shock Auto is even better. It just simplifies everything and you don’t have to think.

What is your point of view on all these young riders at Lapierre (Bruni, Vergier, Dailly)? Do you give them advice often?

GASTON

Nico, it’s not been long since you last tweaked the Spicy, why did you decide to rework it again so soon?

NICO.

The Enduro races are getting tougher and tougher. I wanted a longer travel Spicy, with geometry also adapted, that is better suited to the speeds and technical trails we are now tackling. This new version of the Spicy is a real Enduro machine, that I think is the best steed to help me win.

NICO.

Lapierre has a great history of taking young riders and building them into something big. These guys are the future of our sport. I give them advice, but I don’t know if they always listen!

GTN.

Do you think the bike is only designed for Enduro Racing? Or could it appeal to non-racers?

NICO.

No it’s a bike that’s suitable for lots of riders. It’s for anyone who wants to ride technical trails and wants a bike that will push them to ride harder.

GTN.

When you started work on this latest evolution of the Spicy, what were the first elements you addressed?

NICO.

We knew from the start that we wanted to increase the travel, but keep it efficient when pedaling. To do this we kept the OST+ suspension system, but played around with different settings. We adjusted the pivot point position for a better suspension curve. We also adjusted the geometry to be better suited to today’s style of riding and racing.

The longer reach, the shorter seat tube, and slacker head angle really improve the handling.

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RADICAL NEW ZESTYS

GASTON #1

2016 Season

ZESTY AM

OST+ suspension for better comfort and pedaling efficiency.

ZESTY XM

A new pivot point position for a better suspension curve.

New progressive geometry: longer reach and shorter seat tube.

e:i Shock Auto compatible.

Greater tyre clearance and slimmed down rear triangle.

Carbon or Aluminium Supreme 6.

150mm (Zesty AM) or 120mm (Zesty XM) travel.

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EN

THE LEGEND OF THE X-CONTROL

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

g N AGi

e W n i Fine like

X-CONTROL

A legend isn’t created in a day and nor is fine wine. Lapierre’s grand cru is the X-Control, a bike that has aged gracefully and only improved with time. The secret to its survival is that it has withstood the ravages of time, though some would say it has done rather better than that, having remained at the cutting edge of technology in meeting new standards.

The X-Control cannot hide its roots. Like all Lapierre’s cross-country bikes, it rides fast and far, though there’s more to it than that. Boasting a light and easy-to-handle frame, an efficient and comfortable suspension system and modern bike geometry tailored to perfection to 27.5-inch wheels, the X-Control has nothing left to prove. A longtime hit with amateur riders, it remains as popular as it has always been. Available in both aluminium and carbon fibre, the X-Control is all you need to escape on your favourite weekend trails.

Lapierre’s patented FPS suspension system was unveiled in 2001.

Now known as the FPS+, it has been continually upgraded over the years, just like our beloved X-Control. With its anti-kickback system, virtual pivot point and optimised shock settings, the FPS+ suspension is as efficient as it is fun to ride.

THE LEGEND CONTINUES

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CROSSCOUNTRY

GASTON #1

Pure

e c N A M r o f R Pe XR

EN

2016 Season

Whenever MTB lovers ride together, you can rest assured that there will come a time when they want to take each other on. It’s hard to say why, though it’s that selfsame quest for performance and success that is the hallmark of a crosscountry mountain bike. Lightweight, stiffness, performance and efficiency are just some of the things that competitors look for in a bike, qualities that have helped Lapierre score a host of wins and podium finishes since making our competitive XC debut in the 1990s. French, European and World Championship titles, a list to which can be added several World Cup wins since the launch of the Lapierre ProRace 29’’ in 2011. Still very much a popular part of its crosscountry bikes, Lapierre’s big wheels enable riders to push their limits further. Now a benchmark in XC-Marathon, the XR29 is a bike that can munch up the miles like no other. Completely revamped in 2015, the ProRace, which comes with both 27.5 and 29-inch wheels, will make the purists purr with delight and help you put your opponents in their place. Mount this steed, and you’ll feel the speed every racer yearns for.

WHICH ONE’S FOR YOU ?

It might surprise you to learn that French pole-vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, the current world record holder and reigning Olympic champion, does a lot of his training on a Lapierre mountain bike. When he’s not pounding down the track, Lavillenie likes nothing better than to hit Auvergne’s mountain trails on his XR 729, an integral part of his training schedule for more than two years now.

PRORACE

“It’s an incredible bike,” he said. “I love it because it helps me round off my physical conditioning and it changes my mindset a little bit, lets me see something else apart from an athletics track.” Fiercely competitive, ambitious and very much attached to their roots, the champion athlete and his Lapierre XR 729 were made for each other.

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LAPIERRE, SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

GASTON #1

THERE’S A BIKE FOR EVERY ONE

2016 Season

A tandem is the ideal way to share the fun of cycling with family and friends. As a tandem specialist, Lapierre has for many years now offered three tandems with exclusive geometries that cater for all tastes.

Complete with an all-new frame and 27.5-inch wheels offering more in the way of ground clearance as well as increased stability and even more excitement, the MTB Tandem gives you the means to take on steep paths and tracks without fear.

If you’re looking to rack up kilometres at full speed, then the Road Tandem is the two-seater for you. If you’re looking to get out and about and do a little bit of exploring at your own pace, then, the Touring Tandem is the one to choose.

While Lapierre is perhaps best known for its competition models, used by Team FDJ and Team Lapierre Gravity Republic, it also makes bikes that cater for every taste and every level of expertise. Notably, the Raid range, which is ideal for beginners and riders looking to improve their MTB skills while enjoying the best that Lapierre technology has to offer and the sheer pleasure of riding a Lapierre mountain bike.

The Raid range has been given a very painstaking makeover for 2016. Featuring an entirely revamped frame, it will comprise seven versions in 27.5-inch wheels, not to mention a whole new look, carefully-chosen parts and no fewer than five frame sizes for the men’s models and four for the women. As well as offering a lot of fun, a new Raid bike won’t burn a hole in your pocket either!

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EN

LAPIERRE, SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

GASTON #1

2016 Season

KIDS When you’re a child, there are few things more frustrating than not having a real mountain bike like mum and dad. That’s why Lapierre has come up with the Kids range of bikes possessing all the know-how, flair for design and reliability you’ve come to expect of us.

The Kids range comprises three bikes with geometry and features adapted to little ones.

The 24-inch Froggy and the 20- and 24-inch ProRace bikes have been designed to show children that MTB is not just a sport for grown-ups and to enable them to follow in their parents’ tracks on trails and in bike parks, and even get their first taste of competitive mountain biking.

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EN

URBAN BIKES

GASTON #1

FASTER, CHEAPER AND EASIER ON THE PLANET! While road cycling and mountain biking are enjoying increasing popularity, urban cycling has become a necessity. There are lots of good reasons why you should choose to make your everyday journeys on a bike: whether it’s avoiding pesky traffic jams, doing a little physical exercise on your way to work or just getting out and about.

EN

2016 Season

Using a bike on a daily basis is an environmentally friendly way of keeping fit, looking after yourself and saving money. Take Lapierre technician Jon, who covers more than 330 kilometres a month in cycling to work. As he told us, riding his bike every day is a little gesture that helps the planet and that he enjoys. Rain, wind or shine, Jon always wheels his bike out of the garage. And rather than sitting in a car or on public transport, he’s getting out and about and exercising, taking no longer than 20 minutes to complete the 7.5km journey from the city centre to the company’s head office. “It’s very inexpensive too,” explained Jon, who has been cycling for several years now and spends less than €50 a year on maintaining his steed. Food for thought, isn’t it?

Made more accessible by policies such as bicycle parking stations, cycle lanes and bike share schemes, urban cycling is now available to everyone and is an alternative form of transport that is both healthy and lighter on your pocket. Lapierre has an increasingly large urban range for you to choose from, featuring electric, sporty and touring bikes as well as city bikes with low step frames. Make no mistake: 2016 is set to be the year of the bike!

Though French people seem reluctant to get on their bikes on a daily basis, the same cannot be said of the Netherlands or its capital Amsterdam, where 90,000 of the city’s 800,000 inhabitants climb on to the saddle every day and travel an average of four kilometres.

LEISURE

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SHAPER

OV SHAPER COMMUTING

URBAN SHAPER

OV URBAN BOSCH/ OV URBAN STEPS CITY

OV EDEN PARK

OV CROSS CROSS

OV TREKKING / OV TREKKING LOW STEP

LAPIERRE LIFESTYLE RANGE

SPORT

OVERVOLT EDEN PARK

GASTON #1

2016 Season

THE OVERVOLT EDEN PARK: LAPIERRE’S SNAPPIEST DRESSER

EN

Two great sports brands have joined forces to bring you an exceptional product: a stylishly sporty, cuttingedge bike that is sure to turn heads around town.

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INTERVIEW WITH LISA HÜTTHALER

GASTON #1

EN

2016 Season

Lapierre has long made it a priority to offer women bikes developed with them, by them and for them. Our range of women’s bikes combines pleasure and performance for both recreational cyclists and experienced riders. We took the opportunity to catch up with two loyal Lapierre riders: champion triathlete Lisa Hütthaler, and Morzine’s MTB ambassador and multiple champion Céline Gros.

¨ INTERVIEW WITH AUSTRIAN TRIATHLETE LISA HÜTTHALER, WHO HAS A NUMBER OF PODIUM PLACES TO HER NAME IN IRONMAN EVENTS. GASTON

RESULTS

When did you start riding and competing?

2015

I started doing triathlon in 2012. I have a fouryear-old boy and I needed a new challenge.

I knew that racing, and especially short- and mid-distance triathlon, would be a good way of challenging myself.

GTN.

Tell us a little more about your bike.

LISA HÜTTHALER

• 2nd in the Pescara medium distance Ironman

2014

• • • • •

2nd in the Tempe long distance Ironman (USA) 3rd in the Klagenfurt long distance Ironman (Austria) 1st in the St Pölten medium distance Ironman (Austria) 1st in the Alcudia medium distance Ironman (Majorca) 1st in the European medium distance Triathlon championships in Peguera (Spain) • 1st in the medium distance triathlon in Luxembourg

GTN.

How much time do you spend training?

LH.

“It’s the perfect size and there’s no better bike for me“

LH.

I train an average of 20 to 23 hours a week. I do between three and four swimming sessions every week, as well as four bike rides and I go running four or five times.

Most of the time I do interval training, and I also do exercises every day to prevent me from picking up injuries, though I don’t really see that as training.

2013

• 1 st in the St Haugesund medium distance Ironman (Norway) • 1st in the St Pölten medium distance Ironman (Austria) • 1st in the Alcudia medium distance Ironman (Majorca)

don’t just ride on the flat.

This is my third year riding a Lapierre Aerostorm. It’s the perfect size and there’s no better bike for me. Even though I’m 1.78m tall, I ride a size-S bike. My set-up isn’t very typical for a triathlete, with the seat 2cm behind the bottom bracket. I tested a lot of other time-trial bikes but the Aerostorm is the lightest and most stable one I’ve had, which is important in triathlon because you get quite a few climbs and descents. You

GTN.

How do you think women’s cycling can develop in the future?

LH.

I think we’re seeing more and more women taking up cycling. It’s a trend that’s growing, which is a good thing. As far as I’m concerned, the main reason for that is that there’s a range of bikes especially designed for women now.

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INTERVIEW WITH CÉLINE GROS

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

A French DH and four-cross cyclist with 49 World Cup podiums to her name, Céline Gros is now an MTB instructor and guide in Les Portes du Soleil, France.

GASTON

How did you make the switch from rider to coach?

CÉLINE GROS

I’ve always enjoyed sharing my experience and knowledge of cycling, ever since I was young. That’s what pushed me to take my national cycling coaching certificate, and it’s been ten years now that I’ve been working as an instructor. I really enjoy it. I had my own team when I was a downhill racer, which meant I was riding and managing at the same time. I had a few other riders to coach in my team, mainly girls. It’s now my full-time job in the summer. It keeps me in touch with the cycling world and it allows me to continue cycling and sharing my experience with children, adults and competitive riders, which is great!

GTN.

What more can be done to promote women’s cycling?

CG.

On a practical level there has to be a clear distinction between men’s and women’s bikes in the various ranges and there needs to be more communication focused on those women’s ranges. That’s something I really like about Lapierre. Their women’s range is really developing. The bikes are good and they’re well designed too. Bike geometry is important for us, because you have to feel confident and

at ease. We also need to have more riding courses for women, like the ones I’m organising in Morzine in August. They allow women to get together and ride at their level. In general terms, cycling needs to give female riders the chance to relax and have fun and the opportunity to learn the basics. Women’s MTB camps are perfect for that type of thing. As for competitions, female cycling suffers from an obvious lack of media exposure.

RESULTS

GTN.

How do you see the future of women’s cycling?

9 times winner in the French championships, 4 times winner in the European championships, 14 medals in the European and World championships, 49 World Cup podiums, 7 Globes de Cristal… but also 30 fractures!

CG.

I think that women’s cycling is coming along well. We’re seeing more girls on bikes, both in competitions and recreationally. More and more bicycle makers are developing women’s ranges too, and we need to keep moving forward. It really surprises me to see so many girls riding on DH tracks in the summer. It’s great.

Women account for a lot of my customers, and it’s fantastic that they choose to go on courses to improve their skills and are then going out and buying a bike that’s more suited to them.

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LAPIERRE ROAD

GASTON #1

2016 Season

We make bikes to ride faster. Bikes to take our riders to the top of the podium.

Innovation is in our DNA and our pro riders help us develop ever more efficient bicycles. They are involved in every stage of development, helping us understand how the human body interacts with the machine, what is needed for comfort and for efficiency. How to make bikes that help them ride faster.

The FDJ cycling team are focused on achieving their goal of pushing their boundaries beyond their limits and winning races.

Lapierre are focused on achieving our goals of pushing the boundaries of technology to produce the very best bicycles, designed for efficiency, comfort and performance.

Together we develop bikes that can help the FDJ team riders win races and enable our other customers to enjoy riding more.

THIBAUT PINOT, STAGE WINNER ON THE TOUR DE FRANCE 2015 AT ALPE D’HUEZ

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EN

A SHARED FRENCH STORY

GASTON #1

LEADING THE WAY FORWARD P.52

2016 Season

EN

Lapierre’s three main values are innovation, competition and heritage. Nowhere, can this be better demonstrated than in the partnership with the FDJ cycling team.

INNOVATION A shared work on product development, testing, improvement, a focus on technology to help win races. A ceaseless work resulting in innovations such as the SAT on the Pulsium endurance model and the aerodynamic features on the Aircode and Aerostorm.

COMPETITION Bikes designed to win. Pushing the boundaries of technology to help FDJ riders surpass their limits and ride faster, stronger, harder.

HERITAGE A partnership that has endured 14 years, one of the longest lasting partnerships in professional cycling. A partnership with two men at its origin, Gilles Lapierre and Marc Madiot.

Both proud of their French heritage.

A partnership that has taken Lapierre bikes to stage wins on the Tour de France, Vuelta and Giro; that took Thibaut Pinot and his Lapierre Aircode to the 3rd place and best young rider in 2014’s Tour de France; that took Francis Mourey to be 8 times French cyclocross champion. A partnership that has more wins left in it yet!

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INTERVIEW WITH THIBAUT PINOT

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

INTERVIEW WITH THIBAUT PINOT OF TEAM FDJ GASTON

GTN.

How did you get into riding?

What’s been the high point of your career so far?

THIBAUT PINOT

My father was a racing cyclist and my brother too.

I got that passion from them and I started cycling when I was seven. It just seemed natural to me and I haven’t got off the bike since.

GTN.

What makes you keep striving for more?

TP.

“…I started cycling when I was seven…“

It’d be hard for me to choose between my 2012 stage win in Porrentruy in my first Tour and my podium finish last year in the Tour de France. They were both very emotional occasions – different but really nice all the same.

RESULTS 2015

GTN.

• • • • • •

What do you do in your spare time?

TP.

Winning. I’m a competitor and I like to win. It’s important for me to feel that I’m making progress each year and that I can always improve.

TP.

I go fishing. I head to the country to recharge my batteries. It’s very important for me. I also enjoy gaming on the PlayStation. When you’re competing at the highest level, it’s essential to work some breaks into your schedule and get away from it all.

2014

A WORD WITH MARC MADIOT GASTON

MARC MADIOT

2013

Talent, first and foremost, and then ambition. I want riders who want to win, who want to share in success. And obviously, I want riders who want to play fair.

We’ve really built up a relationship of trust over the years. It’s very stable right now and we’re moving forward together. I couldn’t imagine working with any other brand but Lapierre.

GTN.

GTN.

We’re an old team that has its eyes firmly on the future, on the development of talented young riders. I also think that FDJ’s been around for so long because of the confidence and loyalty our partners have shown in us, Lapierre among them.

We have a solid structure.

What do you look for in your riders?

• 9th in the Tour du Pays Basque • 10th in the Tour de Romandie • Best young rider and 3rd place in the Tour de France

MM.

What’s the secret behind your partnership with Lapierre?

Winner of the 20th stage of the Tour de France 10th in the Tour du Pays Basque 2nd in the Criterium International 4th in Tirreno-Adriatico Winner of the 5th stage of the Tour de Romandie Winner of the 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse

• 4th in the Tour de Suisse • 7th in the Vuelta • 8th in the Tour of Catalonia

What is it that makes FDJ different to other teams?

2012

MM.

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• Winner of the 8th stage of the Tour de France • 10th place in the Tour de France

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INTERVIEW WITH THIBAUT PINOT

GASTON #1

2016 Season

TEAM FDJ

THIBAUT PINOT ON THE

AIRCODE SL WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THE AIRCODE A BIKE FOR WINNING?

The Aircode combines lightness and rigidity. To my mind, it’s quite simply the best bike I’ve ever been given since I started cycling.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN ITS DEVELOPMENT?

Every FDJ rider has a part to play in bike development. We give our feedback and opinions to the mechanics in the FDJ team and at Lapierre. It’s a wide-ranging collaboration and we’re part of it.

We feel like our partner listens to us, and that’s very important.

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EN

AERO TECHNOLOGY

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

Kamm-tail down tube and seat tube (aerofoil wing profile with truncated trailing edge) fitted on both the Aircode SL and the Aerostorm to provide the ideal stiffness-to-weight ratio and aerodynamic balance. They also allow the bike to handle better without suffering the turbulence caused by a traditional trailing edge, for example.

Aerodynamic carbon fibre fork: we’ve pushed the concept even further with the Aerostorm, fully integrating a brake in the fork.

Integrated stem (Aerostorm).

Semi-integrated Stem (Aircode).

For the last few years we have been perfecting our aerodynamic know-how with the expertise of the FDJ team and a specialist firm.

Our aim in doing so is to build faster and more efficient bikes. Wind tunnels are not the sole preserve of Formula 1, the aerospace industry and speed skiers, as the FDJ riders will tell you. Throughout the year, they make regular visits to the legendary F1 grand prix circuit at Magny-Cours in France, where the team has its data centre and wind tunnel and where their bikes are fine-tuned to perfection.

The new Aircode SL and Aerostorm boast a number of key aerodynamic features. And while both bikes have their own different constraints to contend with, the technologies and procedures employed in their manufacture are identical.

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Integrated seat clamp (Aerostorm and Aircode).

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SL TECHNOLOGY

GASTON #1

2016 Season

did You Say ? " t h G Li

EN

for the new season. It’s shed 110 grams in weight. While that figure might not sound much, it can make all the difference in a stage race lasting several weeks.

Not for the first time, the FDJ riders have made our R&D teams dig deep, forcing them to come up with a bike that’s lighter than ever. Our expertise in the use of a different carbon layup and in manufacturing processes has proved crucial in achieving this. The test sessions conducted on machines and then by the riders themselves have never been as advanced or as conclusive.

"

If there’s one trend that’s going to emerge in 2016, it’s sure to be lightness. The best example of that is the all-new Xelius SL, especially designed so that the riders in the FDJ team can achieve the best possible performance on the mountain stages of the 2015 Tour de France. The Xelius and the Xelius EFI have made their mark in the peloton thanks to their efficiency and versatility. Picking up where its two predecessors left off, the Xelius SL has but one objective: to reach the top of the podium! A superb climber, light and stylish, the Xelius will have you under its spell with one look and one turn of the pedal. More than ever before, the FDJ team have worked hand in hand with our R&D engineers to create a bike capable of taking them to the top.

Rémi GRIBAUDO

Lapierre Roadbikes R&D project leader “The FDJ team gave us a simple challenge, if simple is the right word: to give them the best bike for the mountain, with a light frame but offering the same level of rigidity as before. We thought about the best way forward and we looked to position the weight in the bottom of the bike so that we could lower the centre of gravity and make the top of the

“Designed for the mountains“

This one model features countless innovations, among them the optimisation of a different carbon layup (Young’s modulus of 24, 30 and 40 tons); the integration of Power Box technology with an oversized bottom bracket shell and chainstays offering an unprecedented stiffness-to-weight ratio; and a new system for fixing the Shimano Di2 battery (Trap Door Technology, patent pending).

bike lighter, as this moves around more when the rider is standing on the pedals. We also changed the position of the seat stays, attaching them directly to the top tube, in an area that poses less of a problem in terms of stress, all with the idea of optimising the weight of the top part of the frame.

That allows us to play with the flex in the seat tube and make things a little more comfortable, which is something riders never put at the top of their list of demands but which is always essential!”

The Xelius is not the only bike to follow the SL trend. After announcing itself on the scene in some style in 2014, winning the French championship, the Vuelta a España and Giro d’Italia and taking third place in the Tour de France, the Aircode has received a little makeover

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ENDURANCE PARIS-ROUBAIX

GASTON #1

2016 Season

EN

TEAM FDJ

ARNAUD DEMARE ON THE

PULSIUM

Démare and his team-mates tackle the Hell of the North on the Lapierre Pulsium. With a frame that offers impact absorption, power, comfort and performance, it’s ideal for such a devilish test. Equipped with Lapierre SAT technology, the Pulsium soaks up road vibration thanks to increased vertical frame flexibility, all the while maintaining the lateral stiffness that is essential to performance.

You Make your ! * K c u L n Ow

The Pulsium is the successor to the Sensium, another road bike designed with comfort and endurance in mind. Previously used by the FDJ team and a proven performer on long, bone-shaking races such as the Paris-Roubaix, the Sensium still forms part of the Lapierre range and is now the model of choice for amateur riders who enjoy long rides. Like the Pulsium, the Sensium’s sole aim is to make it easier for you on the road and to let you rack up the kilometres with a minimum of fuss. With the Sensium, endurance is the name of the game.

*ARNAUD DEMARE

WHAT RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT? ARE YOU THE KIND OF PERSON THAT CHECKS EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE LAST MILLIMETRE?

Created in 1896, Paris-Roubaix is one of cycling’s oldest races. Also known as “the Hell of the North”, the legend of the so-called “Queen of the Classics” is founded on its many cobbled sections and extremely narrow tracks that run between fields of beet and which can only be negotiated in single file, increasing the risk of falls and punctures. And things get even trickier when the rain falls, turning some sections into mudbaths and causing even the most battlehardened of riders to doubt themselves. Not only do riders have to keep their nerve and be on top of their game, they also need the support of their team-mates when the going gets really tough. Without them, the slightest piece of mud could destroy any chance they have of a result.

No one is better placed to talk about the race than the men who have ridden it, among them Arnaud Demare: “Paris-Roubaix is always tough. If you spend all day riding on the verge, it’s only going to increase your chances of picking up a puncture. But you can also focus all your energies on staying in the middle of the cobbles and trying to go faster and yet still puncture.

If you’re lucky, you get a puncture in a place where you can easily catch up again. You make your own luck, though!”

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My bike and I have to be as one. I have to have total confidence in my equipment so that I can give 100 percent in my sprints. I like to look at the accessories section in the magazines, the technical innovations and frame geometries, etc. With the Aircode and the Pulsium, I can now choose the right bike for each and every race.

WHICH RACES INSPIRE YOU MOST?

I try not to think too much about the short term and I prefer to plan ahead, though Paris-Roubaix is my main objective. If I could choose which Classic to win, that would be the one. I’m not going to deny it: whenever I’m training and I’m suffering on my home trainer or on the road, I always picture my garage door as the Roubaix Velodrome. It’s a race I really want to win one day. It probably won’t happen this year or the next, but it is my ultimate goal, my dream.

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FRANCIS MOUREY: PORTRAIT OF A CYCLO-CROSS MAN

GASTON #1

A Rider and ! d n e g e AL

2016 Season

EN

The FDJ rider is as tough as they come. Cyclo-cross is a demanding sport, and it’s no fun training and racing when the thermometer drops below zero. Just ask the likes of Arnold Jeannesson, who has taken on the best in the discipline. As he will tell you, you don’t become a cyclo-cross specialist by chance.

Nor do you achieve anything in the conditions they have to face week in week out unless you have total confidence in your equipment. A firm fan of the Lapierre carbon Cyclo-Cross since the beginning, Mourey has proven that with loyalty comes reliability. The carbon and alu Cyclo-Cross models will remain part of the Lapierre range in 2016, with the Alu even appearing in a new XS size, all with the aim of encouraging fresh talent into the sport and uncovering the champions of tomorrow.

Now 35, Mourey has rubbed shoulders with several generations of racers in the FDJ team. A respected team-mate whose opinions are always taken on board by his colleagues, he has yet to run his last race and is looking forward to being on the start line for next season. Roll on winter!

Francis Mourey is a unique figure on the cyclo-cross scene, a rider with a style, character and career record all of his own and who has made an indelible mark on the sport. After joining the elite in 2002, the Frenchman has reigned supreme on the domestic front, winning a record 11 national challenge titles and eight French championships. Success has also come his way in international events, with Mourey picking up a bronze and eight top-ten finishes in the world championships as well as two World Cup wins and a host of podium finishes. It’s a record that speaks for itself.

But what is the secret to the FDJ man’s sustained success? The first answer to that question is his loyalty to his team, a team that has also maintained strong links with cyclo-cross, a tough and uniquely challenging sport. Since 2004, he has been dividing his time between negotiating mud and snow covered cyclo-cross tracks and helping out the team’s leaders in road races, with Sandy Casar, Arnaud Démare and Thibaut Pinot having all been grateful for the assistance of the cyclo-cross specialist at one time or other. A veteran of several Giro d’Italia races with FDJ, Mourey believes road events have helped him become a better rider: “Competing in big stage races has made me stronger, increased my stamina and allowed me to recover more quickly. When I start my cyclo-cross season in September, I always feel the benefit of my work on the road.”

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ROADS FOR ALL

GASTON #1

EN

2016 Season

e s u a c e B The

D A O R ’t Wait won

Cited by cycling’s great champions as the biggest thing that motivates them, enjoyment is the fuel that keeps every rider going. While road addicts might not all share the same ability to turn the pedals fast or the same will to win, one thing they all have in common is the sense of satisfaction they get from a good day’s cycling.

And thankfully, the road bike is not the sole preserve of the elite and is more than accessible to everyone.

If you’re looking to cut your teeth, improve as a rider and explore new territories, then the Audacio is the bike for you, offering both Lapierre knowhow and performance. Whether you ride alone, in a pair or as part of a peloton, it’ll be your trusty friend. Why change when you have all you need?

Lapierre’s Shaper models are nothing if not multi-talented. Equally suited to recreational rides, rambles, touring and fitness work, the Shapers take everything in their stride. As efficient as the Sensiums, yet easier to ride thanks to their flat handlebars and a less demanding body position, the Shapers are as versatile as they come.

With their ability to go anywhere, comfort-oriented design and wide tyres, there’s not much they don’t have to offer.

LET’S HIT THE ROAD!

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PHOTOS

JEAN-LUC ARMAND - DAVE TRUMPORE - MANU MOLLE DAMIAN MCARTHUR - GREG GERMAIN - COLIN MEAGHER - NICOLAS JOLY JEREMIE REUILLER - NICOLAS BRIZIN - PAULINE MOUGEOT - CLÉMENT BOËS NICOLAS GÖTZ - PRESSE-SPORTS - SIROTTI - BRUCE AUFRERE

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LES GETS - PORTES DU SOLEIL -

DIJON - FRANCE

LAPIERREBIKES.COM

EDEN PARK