McLaren F1 experts give Noble the edge

IRISH triathlete Gavin Noble’s Olympic qualification quest has been turbo-charged after an unique partnership between bike manufacturers, Specialized, and Formula One team McLaren delivered him the world’s fastest bike.

The 30-year-old Enniskillen man, who is on course for the Olympic qualifying standard, is one of only a handful of triathletes globally who got to ride the Specialized S-Works Venge — dubbed the world’s fastest road bike and valued at €7,000 — before it goes on the market in Ireland and the UK next month.

The bike, which was also used by Tour de France Green Jersey winner Mark Cavendish, was manufactured by Specialized after they teamed up with engineers at the McLaren F1 centre to enhance aerodynamics and weight distribution.

The result is a bike weighing just 6.9kg — less than the average schoolbag. The top-50 ranked triathlete got an insight into the design process during a recent trip to McLaren’s Surrey headquarters arranged by Vodafone, sponsors of both Triathlon Ireland and the McLaren team.

During the visit, Noble and his Cork-born fellow Irish triathlete Bryan Keane met 2009 world champion Jenson Button, himself a keen triathlete and user of the Venge.

Noble said: “I’ve been lucky enough to ride the bike since March and it is incredible, particularly in a straight line.

“I had no idea of the level of science and engineering involved in the design until the visit to the McLaren centre.

“The place is like NASA. It was inspirational for us to experience what goes on behind the scenes at a global sport at the highest level. It was great to meet Jenson as well. He’s a big fan and competes (in triathlons) during the F1 off-season.

“He was trying to pick our brains from the triathlon point of view, asking us about training, diet and what he would have to do to improve his time and go up a level. Needless to say, when we turned it around and asked about what it would take for us to reach F1 level, the conversation didn’t last too long.”