How did the Classified hub perform in the Classics?

Victor Campenaerts used the Powershift system in five Classics before a crash curtailed his testing – here’s how the hub fared up till then

- Simon Smythe

It has the backing of Classics legends Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen, sprinting heroes André Greipel and Marcel Kittel, and multiple world champion and Olympic gold medallist Anna van der Breggen. It has raised millions of euros in funding. It won the gold award for design and innovation at Eurobike in 2021 when it debuted. We are, of course, talking about the Classified Powershift hub.

In case you’ve been living under a cobblestone, in short this is a wireless two-speed shifting system integrated in the rear hub, negating the need for a second chainring at the front. It is being hailed as the front derailleur killer and the massacre seems to be under way.

The hub was spotted in some minor races with second-tier Uno-X team last year, but in 2023 Classified went official with former world Hour record holder Victor Campenaerts, who would ride a full Classics season on it.

That was the plan, but unfortunately the Belgian crashed out of the Bredene Koksijde Classic in March, fracturing a vertebra in his lumbar spine that ended his spring campaign.

WHAT ABOUT WHEEL CHANGES?

If Campenaerts punctures – a common occurrence in the Classics – is he then stuck with a standard hub and a 62-tooth 1x chainring up front?

“There were spare Classified wheels on the Lotto car and in the neutral service car,” says Classified’s David Bavin-Hobbs.