Quick Step-Merckx
 

http://www.qsi-cycling.com/en/focus
http://www.qsi-cycling.com/default/i...olderb_512.jpg

Awesome!

Quality. Love teh Merckx.

I guess Quick Step got booted of Specialized to make room for Astana? Damn those Merckx bikes look sexy.

Hard to imagine that a Merckx ( or at least what is labelled as Merckx) can be that positively ugly.

Certainly looks better than the Astana kit, but that's not going to be the team bike color is it?

I remember reading recently that it was a mutual break, with QuickStep wanting to go to Merckx to get back to their Belgian roots.

Or so they said.

It's not a real Merckx. It's a re-badged Pinarello Paris (Merckx EMX-5) with Merckx geometry.

At least it's missing the wavy legs... That is a good thing.

Actually, it's not. If you go see one in person it's definitely just a re-badged Pinarello, different geometry, however. It's also too bad Merckx sold his majority stake in the company so it's not longer a real Merckx, made by Merckx, blessed by the man himself.

http://www.bicycling.com/gear/detail...1883-0,00.html
http://www.eddymerckx.be/news_en.html (Merckx now owned by Sobradis NV a.k.a. Joris Brantegem)

You'll soon get these at BikesDirect...with the hideous wheels.

I'm not a big fan of how the bike looks, but yeah, those wheels (because of the decals) are particularly garish.

This is a Merckx...
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1379/merckxsteel.jpg

revive...
 

hmmm...Bont shoes.
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos...boonen-new.jpg
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=pe...ps10/pps-jan10

And flat tires?

Will Merckx (CAN Merckx???) be as devoted to Boonen's whims as was Specialized?

You did note that I said ...... at least what is labelled as a Merckx ..........??

It is OK...no one believed they were Huffys either in the pro peloton. Someday we'll get to see open Merida Vs Giant Vs Kinesis battles at the TdF.

Don't think Merckx has to put in so much effort because the EMX 5 is good enough as is.

A local here owns and races a similar frame in the pictured condition. Beautiful bike, especially up close. Not sure that I'd be racing it in the 5's as he is.. but that's not my decision.

You mean except for the "custom geometry" part? ;)

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...04808?pid=2072

Boonen was supposed to be testing out the yet to be released EMX-7 in the TdF.

http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/...y-merckx-emx-7
http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/07/02/...w-emx-7-frame/

The bike looks incredibly sweet IMO (since I am not fond of the Pinarello wavy fork and stays) and has a neo-retro "crowned" carbon fork!

Also, did anyone catch a glimpse of Chavanel's EMX-5 that was half yellow and half green? That was a pretty nice looking ride as well.

My LBS carries Merckx and according to them their carbon frames are made by Pinarello. Anybody heard this before?

Yes, they are. It was a well published info at the time QuickStep signed with Merckx.
It was also a surprise to the team being dropped by Specialized.
I guess Specialized recognized the Contador's superiority for the Tour and banked on him. They are almost 100% sure now that one of their bikes will win the race this year. Armstrong's victory made Trek big and rich, Specialized has just established a monopoly for the next few years, unless Schleck moves to another team.

The Schleck brothers will be moving to a new team based out of Luxembourg for 2011.