A dramatic wheel failure at the Omloop het Nieuwsblad race sparks debate, but Cadex stands firm: Hookless rims are not the culprit!
Cadex, the renowned cycling brand, has addressed the recent wheel-tyre failure of Amaury Capiot, a Team Jayco-AlUla rider, during the intense Omloop het Nieuwsblad race. In a statement, Cadex refutes the notion that their hookless rim design was at fault, a design that has raised eyebrows in the cycling world. But here's where it gets controversial: they claim the real cause was the repeated pounding over cobblestones after the tyre deflated.
The investigation reveals that the prolonged riding on cobbles with a flat and damaged Cadex Aero Cotton tyre led to a cracked rim. This structural failure then caused the spokes to displace, resulting in the wheel's collapse and the tyre's complete detachment from the rim. And this is the part most people miss: the initial impact was estimated at a speed of 47-48kph, yet the wheel held on, preventing a potentially disastrous crash.
Interestingly, images show the rider using a tyre liner with the Cadex Ultra 50 rim, a common practice for teams during cobbled races. While tyre liners are designed to protect the rim in such scenarios, Cadex and its parent company, Giant, do not recommend their use with their products. However, the brand doesn't blame the liner for the failure, instead pointing to the extreme conditions.
So, was it a design flaw or a case of pushing equipment to its limits? The debate is open, and Cadex's statement is sure to spark discussions among cycling enthusiasts. What's your take on this incident? Do you think hookless rims are inherently risky, or is this an isolated case?
