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Giro tech: Saunier Duval's special parts, May 24, 2006

Saunier Duval's special parts

For a two-time Giro champion, it's understandable there's a little bit of favouritism when it comes to one's bike. Anthony Tan takes a look at Gilberto Simoni's hand-painted Scott CR1 plus a few accessories to keep the heads of Saunier Duval's riders as cool as can be.

Simoni's Scott CR1 Giro special

Don't tip over the Tower, Gibo!
Photo ©: Scott USA

For this race only, Saunier Duval-Prodir's frame manufacturer Scott made a one-off bike for two-time Giro champion Gilberto Simoni. At first, it appears Gibo's accidentally laid his hands (or should that be legs) on one of the T-Mobile Giants, but upon closer inspection, this black and pink bike is definitely his.

Head tube detail Photo ©: Anthony Tan

No mistaking who Photo ©: Anthony Tan

The Tower of Pisa, Photo ©: Anthony Tan

Gilberto Simoni in action Photo ©: Sirotti

Featuring a drawing of the Tower of Pisa on the seat tube and his name and date of birth on the top tube, it also has the entire Giro route on the seat stays should Simoni ever find himself hors course. In addition, the frame has a 'precious stone' effect around the main triangle as well as bearing the words 'Tutti liberi ed uguali' (all free and equal).

And while the paint scheme differs, the CR1 remains unchanged: still a scant 890 grams.

Head on

As its name implies, Met helmet's new Stradivarius 199 weighs less than 200 grams and with 29 vents, it shouldn't cause too many headaches, even on the hottest days. Used by the entire Saunier Duval-Prodir team, the Stradivarius 199 uses a similar retention system to Giro's RocLoc to prevent unwanted movement, and also comes with a removable and adjustable peak for mountain bikers.

Watch out for Snipers

Riders on Saunier Duval also have a new sunglass frame to choose from: an ultra-light and aerodynamic model named the 'Sniper'. Other than an anti-fog lens and 100 percent UV protection, there's really not much more to say about a pair of sunnies, other than that they also come from frame manufacturer Scott.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Scott USA

• Don't tip over the Tower, Gibo! Gilberto Simoni's Scott CR1 Giro special, featuring the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the seat tube.

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews

• Gilberto Simoni's Saunier Duval-Prodir Scott CR1 Giro special.
• Gibo's trip computer, ready for another day of stats in the saddle at the start of Stage 17.
• Now that's a Ritchey stem...
• ... but I wonder who makes those shallow-drop bars?
• Head tube detail on the Scott CR1.
• Everything is identical on Simoni's Scott CR1 compared to his normal bike, including the carbon fork.
• No mistaking who this bike belongs to.
• Gibo's face and date of birth, just in case he develops short-term amnesia in the high mountains.
• Liberi ed uguali (all free and equal) - one of Gibo's mottos that he lives by.
• The downtube.
• The Tower of Pisa, leaning at 73,3° degrees to the horizontal.
• "I'm da man!"
• Oversized carbon seat stays.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Gilberto Simoni in action on his special edition Scott CR1, and wearing Met helmet's new Stradivarius helmet