Classified’s revolutionary drivetrain breaks through into World Tour with Victor Campenaerts riding Spring Classics

Antwerp / Eindhoven – 1st March 2023 – The Belgian professional cyclist, Victor Campenaerts chooses game changing drivetrain technology Classified in pursuit of the highest possible efficiency and performance gains, in partnership with DT-Swiss and Ridley.

A true believer in innovation, Campenaerts has been thoroughly testing the Powershift hub for more than a year in training and is convinced of the performance gains and reliability of the Classified system and that riding with a single chainring up front combined with the Powershift hub yields a more efficient drivetrain. 

Racing at GP Le Samyn on Tuesday (28/2/23), Campenaerts made it into the decisive break away, driving the pace with some big attacks and setting up his Lotto DSTNY teammate Milan Menten for the race win. 

Campenaerts, already known for trying larger chainring sizes, could up his big-ring-endeavor due to the single chainring-setup the Classified system exploits. Not limited by a front derailleur, the Belgian raced at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with the use of a 62 tooth single chainring, not seen before at the Classics. Combined with the larger sprockets of the Classified cassette on the Powershift hub, the most efficient and therefore fastest drivetrain setup is created. 

Born in Hoboken, Belgium, on October 28, 1991, the Flemish fan favorite has stage wins at the Giro d'Italia & Tirreno Adriatico in his palmarés, as well as double European and national time trial wins (2017/18 and 2016/17 respectively). Not to mention setting the hour record in Mexico in 2019; Victor Campenaerts is a rider defined by the strive for efficiency.  

Campenaerts brings a huge wealth of World Tour level experience to testing the Classified Powershift technology, helping the young Belgian brand to further develop its product and confirm its deserved place in the pro peloton. 

Classified CEO Mathias Plouvier is thrilled with the new partnership: “Working with an efficiency and performance driven athlete like Victor is a dream for a technology company like Classified. Having Victor’s unparalleled insight and straightforward feedback going into our technology is a great opportunity for us. Victor is the driving force behind this project, and we are thrilled to be able to work closely with him as well as DT-Swiss & Ridley.” 

Classified CTO and inventor of the Powershift hub Roëll van Druten goes further: “We at Classified have long believed that the traditional 2x drivetrain system, i.e. 2 chainrings and a front derailleur, is not efficient enough. Victor Campenaerts use of the Classified system at a major UCI race proves our claims, that a larger single chainring used with larger sprockets in the rear, with the ultimate gear range of the Powershift hub, is the most efficient drivetrain system in the world. And now in the pro peloton!  

Classified is now known as “the front derailleur killer”, van Druten adds that “removing the front derailleur really is the first step. Without a front derailleur it is possible to use bigger chainrings, gain aero efficiency and reduce forces through the chain and bearings.”   

Read more about the efficiency gains of the Classified system and why Campenaerts has chosen to race with it on the Classified website. 

Classified is a deep tech company with the mission to create drivetrain products that transform the riding experience and performance of all cyclists. Classified was founded in 2019 and employs 50 people, located in their Antwerp (Belgium) and Eindhoven (the Netherlands) offices. Classified's award-winning products (Powershift drivetrain systems and Classified wheels) are equipped on more than 40 bicycle brands, and available from a global network of certified distributors and dealers. The company's investors include well-respected Olympic and World Champion riders Tom Boonen, Anna Van der Breggen, Andre Greipel, Marcel Kittel, and Philippe Gilbert.