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This will be the 27-year-old from Odenwald's third Tour participation, but his first for his new team Intermarché - Wanty. He rode his first two Tours of France in 2021 and 2022 for the EF Education - EasyPost team. He finished them in 55th and 93rd place, finishing 128th in this year's edition. 1.97 metres tall, Rutsch is one of the tallest riders in the peloton and is considered a man for breakaway groups and classics terrain - a sixth place in the cobbled legend of Paris-Roubaix is testament to this talent.
Rutsch rides the aero model Litening Aero from Cube on most stages; the German brand has been the team's outfitter for many years. Only on difficult mountain stages - such as the 18th and 19th in the Alps - does he switch to the lighter Litening Air, which should be around 200 grams lighter.
An eye-catching feature of both bikes is the paintwork, which changes from a rich dark red to a glittering metallic colour and will be worn by all team bikes at this year's edition of the Tour. Not only does the Belgian team's bike brand come from Germany, the wheels are also supplied by a German manufacturer: the Newmen brand equips the team. Lightweight aero wheels with carbon spokes are the team's trademark.
However, Intermarché - Wanty switched from Continental to Hutchinson tyres this year; the French brand supplies Intermarché - Wanty, the only team at World Tour level. The team relies on the top model Blackbird Race, usually in 28 or 30 millimetres, which, according to team mechanic Mikey van Kruiningen, is produced with special rubber compounds for the pros. The Bryton brand is also rather exotic as a supplier for the bike computers.
The bike weighs over eight kilograms on our scales, making it one of the heaviest bikes in the field. This is certainly due in part to its size, although Rutsch's frame size 58 is a little too small for his enormous height. The lack of length is compensated for by a very long stem and a saddle mounted far back.
Specifications of the Cube Litening Aero by Jonas Rutsch
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12; 54/40, 11-34 Z.)
- Brakes: Shimano Dura-Ace
- Brake discs: Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm)
- Impellers: Newmen Streem Sprint VONOA
- Tyres: Hutchinson Blackbird Race (28 mm)
- Handlebars: Cube
- Computer: Bryton
- Saddle: Prologo
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
Jens Klötzer
Editor
