While the Expo at the Sellaronda Hero was fun, the real interest was catching up with two of the most approachable guys on the marathon scene, Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm of Team Bulls. These guys have won more races together than just about any other racing duo.
Platt has spent a lot of his previous years racing stage races with Stefan Sahm. Photo: Sportograf
We had the opportunity to find out what’s new on their 2016 Bulls Black Adder hardtails. They’d had their new team kit about three days when we interrupted their lunch to ask irritating questions!
wanna see the new BULLS Bikes toys in action? follow Karl Platt & @sahmurai on their recce of the Sellaronda Hero track for #XCMworlds here:
Posted by Team Bulls on Friday, 26 June 2015
Chris Pedder gets the low down from Karl Platt.
The bikes themselves were decked with full Shimano XTR Di2, in 2×11 format, and Karl assured us every gear would be used on the course!
A neat di2 2×11 setup for Team Bulls
Neat cable routing for the electronic shifting meant there were no dangling wires or dodgy-looking batteries to be seen, and despite Stefan’s bike having a Di2 display, a Garmin and a mount for a Shimano action cam, things didn’t seem too busy up front.
Cockpit view for Stefan
FSA finishing kit, and a smart carbon-railed Fi’zi:k Aliante saddle kept a bit of Italian flair on the German & Japanese engineering. Tyre wise, the German duo were both on their favoured Schwalbe treads, Racing Ralph front and rear on Shimano carbon 29er wheels.
Fizik, FSA and Schwalbe
Karl finished an impressive 15th place, with Stefan 56th in a super-strong field.
A custom coloured RS-1 up front.
Plenty of clearance through the seat stays in the back.