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Given the uphill nature of the time trial, Froome was among the very few riders who used a special aerodynamic time trial bicycle with a disc wheel in the back and a front wheel with three large carbon fiber spokes.

Froome was one of few riders to use both a time trial bike and a rear disc wheel, which played a part.

Martin, his white rear disc wheel encircled with the rainbow stripes of a cycling world champion, took every advantage, even sitting on his frame to increase his speed on descents.

Track cyclists do use unusual wheels, often riding a spoke wheel in the front and the more unusual disc wheel in the back.

Some cyclists seek the best of both wheels by using a spoke wheel on the front, because it does the turning, and a disc wheel on the back—especially if there is only moderate wind or slow curves.