Felipe Santos' Scott Plasma RC: 70.3 São Paulo Setup
The triathlete breaks down choosing a size M frame, a 56T chainring, and gaining crosswind stability.
Discover the details of Felipe Santos' Scott Plasma RC built for IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo. The triathlete reveals his wheel and gearing setup, along with the quirky reason he raced with two power meters.
Among the machines lined up for IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo, Felipe Santos' Scott Plasma RC stands out for its refined setup. Standing 5'10" (1.79 m) tall, the triathlete sits right on the boundary between the brand's Medium (54) and Large sizes, but opted for the Medium frame to secure a more compact, aggressive position on the course.
DT Swiss Wheels and High-Speed Drivetrain
The wheelset features the DT Swiss seal of quality, combining the ARC 1100 front wheel with the matching full disc rear wheel, wrapped in 28 mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT tires. The cockpit is fitted with a saddle from Wove, an increasingly popular choice among high-performance athletes, alongside three Gorilla bottle cages to prevent losing hydration on rough pavement.
For the drivetrain, the bike is built with a SRAM groupset featuring a 10-37 cassette and a massive 56-tooth chainring paired with short 165 mm cranks. This gearing combination provides enough top-end speed on flat and downhill stretches without sacrificing cadence.
Ride Feel and Crosswind Stability
Coming off a recent equipment switch—having previously ridden a Trek—Santos highlighted stability as the most noticeable advantage of his new ride. While the frame is theoretically around 1 kg heavier, switching from his previous Shimano groupset to SRAM balanced out the scale, keeping the total build weight essentially the same.
Out on the road, the Scott Plasma's geometry, which places the front wheel slightly further forward relative to the frame, delivered docile, predictable handling even in heavy crosswinds. The model also carries sentimental value and trust for the athlete, who has previously clocked his fastest bike splits aboard a Plasma.
The Curious Case of Two Power Meters
An unusual detail across the cockpit and crankset was the simultaneous presence of two active power meters. Santos offered a simple, lighthearted explanation: after switching to the new drivetrain setup, which already included a crank-based power meter, he temporarily kept his old power meter pedals installed until he could swap them for a standard set.