When Christophe Riblon, professional cyclist in the AG2R team, won the queen stage to Alpe d'Huez on the fourth last day of this year's Tour de France, it wasn't just in France that the champagne corks popped. In Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony, at the headquarters of bike manufacturer Focus, the Frenchman's victory was also met with exuberant joy. The brand, which has been an AG2R supplier since the beginning of 2013, had had to wait a long time for a success of this calibre. The teams previously sponsored by Focus - Milram, Katjuscha and Aqua & Sapone - had fallen short of expectations in sporting terms. But with AG2R, things finally seem to be falling into place this season. Moreover, the timing of Riblon's triumph could hardly have been better.
Almost at the same time as the surprise success, Focus revealed which models the brand intends to launch in 2014. High hopes are pinned on the new Izalco Max. The predecessor model presented in 2009 was the first attempt to gain a foothold in the high-end segment. However, despite its pleasant riding characteristics, the bike was not a resounding success. The frame was clearly too heavy compared to the top models of the competition. The first priority in the specifications for the Izalco Max was therefore to significantly reduce the weight. The team led by chief developer Thomas Trapp did a great job. Weighing 789 grams in size 56, the new frame immediately joins the exclusive circle of frames weighing less than 800 grams.
The fact that Focus has to be mentioned in the same breath as names like Cervélo, Cannondale and Trek is news in itself. But that's not all: the Izalco Max also leaves nothing to be desired in the other measurable categories. With 103 Newton metres per degree, the frame is just as exceptionally stiff in the head tube as it is in the bottom bracket with 62 Newtons per millimetre. There is still some room for improvement in terms of comfort, but the frame is by no means disappointing.
NO FASHIONABLE FRILLS
The Focus designers have given their flagship a restrained line. The comparatively horizontal top tube and the external brake and gear cables emphasise the character of a pure racing machine without any fashionable frills. The extraordinarily light fork (300 grams) was specially developed for the frame; under a massive head, the sheaths taper sharply, their diameters are filigree like those of a steel fork. You can't tell by looking at the frame: Each size was specially designed. The tube diameters and the corresponding stiffness values vary with the frame size. Large frames are stiffer, smaller ones slightly less stiff; as small frames are generally more likely to carry lighter riders, this is perfectly plausible. In the saddle, the spark is immediate.
The test bike, a € 7,000 replica model of the AG2R team bike with a mechanical Super Record groupset from Campagnolo, is very smooth-running, pleasantly damped and manoeuvrable. Thanks to its low weight of 6.0 kilos, the bike is extremely pedalling and climbing-friendly. The extended test ride at the Arber cycling marathon was correspondingly enjoyable, and the equipment also made a great impression. The combination of Super Record brakes and tubular tyre wheels from Campa subsidiary Fulcrum has been greatly improved. A new surface treatment of the brake flanks and new brake pads (with red colouring) matched to carbon significantly increase the braking power. The brakes remain easy to modulate and the pads wear normally.
Focus is initially launching the Izalco Max programme with five equipment variants. The entry level starts with the 3.0 version with the SRAM Red groupset for 5,000 euros. At the top end of the range is the 5.4-kilo Izalco Max 0.0 with tuning parts from THM and ultra-lightweight wheels from DT Swiss. It symbolises the new way of thinking at Focus. Modesty is a thing of the past, today the brand strives for higher things. The Izalco Max makes a promising start.
Price complete wheel 6,999 Euro
Weight 6.0 kilos
Available in specialised shops
Reference/Info www.focus-bikes.com
Frame sizes*** 48, 50 , 52, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
Seat/steering angle 73,5°/74°
Seat/top tube/head tube 565/565/161mm plus 19mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 990/50mm
Stack/Reach/STR**** 566/400mm/1.42
EQUIPMENT
Steering bearing Acros, top 1-1/8, bottom 1-1/4 inch
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket Campagnolo Super Record (53/39 t., Press-Fit 30)
Wheels/tyres Fulcrum Racing Light XLR/Schwalbe Ultremon HT (tubular tyre)
Handlebar/stem Fizik Cyrano R3/Fizik Cyrano R3
Saddle/post Fizik Arione/Fizik R1 (27 ,2 mm)
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Weight of complete wheel 6.0kg (without pedals)
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing**** 789/298/69g
Standardised weight frame set***** 1.176g: 1,0
Steering head stiffness 103 Nm/°: 1.0
Lateral stiffness fork 55 N/mm: 1.0
Bottom bracket stiffness 62 N/mm: 1.0
Comfort frame 130 N/mm: 1.7
Comfort fork 87 N/mm: 4.0
* The frame set accounts for 40 per cent of the overall score and the features for 60 per cent. Individual grades are included in this assessment, only some of which are printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated up to the final grade with all decimal places; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are given with rounded decimal places.
** Manufacturer's specifications; test size in bold.
*** Stack/reach: projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach): 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position.
**** Weighed weights.
***** Adjusted weight for frame size 57 cm and fork steerer length 225 mm.
