Pro bike gallery: Peter Velits’ Specialized Tarmac

Peter Velits' Tarmac looks showroom new. But it's been raced and raced hard. The lanky Slovak rode a Tarmac for the stage to Big Bear and will again for the climb up Mt. Baldy. Photo: Nick Legan

Velits is a former U23 world champion. He and his twin brother, Martin, both ride for Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Photo: Nick Legan

These stickers have been showing up on Omega Pharma bikes lately, perhaps in keeping with Specialized's new prototype tires. Photo: Nick Legan

Velits rides a carbon-railed Specialized Toupé. His seat height is 79.1cm. Photo: Nick Legan

A Quarq-branded Garmin Edge 500 connects to Velits' Quarq crank to keep him informed. His reach, from the nose of his saddle to his handlebars, is 60.2cm. Photo: Nick Legan

Electrical tape over zip-ties ensures that Velits' transponder stays in place. Photo: Nick Legan

Velits rode one of SRAM's newest 11-26 cassettes. The X-Glide cassette is exceptionally quiet. Photo: Nick Legan

You know you've reached the top when your bike has a custom-made, sponsor-correct sticker to mark your seat height (79.1cm in Velits' case). Photo: Nick Legan

Zipp also provides Omega Pharma with seatposts. Photo: Nick Legan

The increased width of the new Specialized tire fits Zipp rims well. Photo: Nick Legan

We spotted Specialized's new tubular tires yesterday on Boonen's Venge. Velits is aboard it as well. Mechanics said that the riders like the larger casing, which measures closer to 26mm. Velits used the rarely seen Zipp 202 for the climbing stages at ATOC. Photo: Nick Legan

Velits uses a 130mm stem and a 42cm (outside-outside) Super, Short and Shallow Zipp Service Course handlebar. Note also the rubber grommet on the shifter housing to keep the bike from rattling. Photo: Nick Legan

Omega Pharma mechanics seem to like this Canyon-made chain catcher. It mounts underneath the bottle cage. Soon, one would expect them to use SRAM's new catcher. Photo: Nick Legan

Omega Pharma-Quick Step mechanic Kenny Latomme looks over his rider sizing spreadsheet to verify Velits' numbers for Velonews. A true pro. Photo: Nick Legan