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The bikes of the Tour: Valverde's Pinarello, July 3, 2006

Cyclingnews European Editor Tim Maloney takes a look at a tried-and-tested lightweight from Pinarello.

Alejandro Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne-Iles Balears Pinarello Paris Carbon FP Team Bike

Alejandro Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne-Iles Balears Pinarello Paris Carbon FP
(Click for larger image)

ProTour leader Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne-Iles Balears is looking to trade his ProTour jersey for the maillot jaune of the Tour de France this July and this is the bike that might carry him there.

Does the FP in Pinarello Paris Carbon FP stand for full power of Fausto Pinarello? We're not sure, but we can testify that Valverde's rig is one of the best looking bikes Cyclingnews has seen at the Tour de France.

Unique wave shaped ribs
(Click for larger image)
The back end
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
(Click for larger image)
Selle Italia
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
(Click for larger image)

Valverde's Pinarello Paris Carbon FP isn't just another pretty face; this is the bike that the Spanish talent has ridden to back-to back victories in Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April. Valverde has a special white Paris Carbon FP to match his ProTour jersey but will he have a yellow one when he arrives in Paris?

Valverde's Pinarello uses mainly Campagnolo Record components, as well as a Dedaelementi Newton 'bar and stem. For the main contact points, the Spanish sensation sits on a specially supplied Selle Italia SLR saddle, as well as Look's KeO pedals.

The Paris Carbon FP is the top model from Pinarello and features a monocoque high modulus unidirectional 46HM3K carbon fibre frame with MO.s.t. 55mm oversize bottom bracket, as well as Pinarello ONDA chainstays. It's said to weigh 7.1 kg as a complete bicycle.

For the Tour de France time trials, Valverde and his Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears team-mates will have an all-new Pinarello Montello FP 8 time trial frame, with a monocoque high modulus carbon fibre frame, that Pinarello claims is lighter and more aerodynamic than the previous version of the Pinarello Montello TT frame.

The new Montello FP8 is said to be made with a special aerospace grade carbon fibre used exclusively by Pinarello and derived from the new Airbus 380. Montello FP 8 also has a new patented double bolt system that allows the carbon fibre aero seatpost to be fixed directly to the seat cluster.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews

Full specification

Frame: Pinarello Paris Carbon FP monocoque high modulus unidirectional 46HM3K carbon fibre with MO.s.t. 55mm oversize bottom bracket and Pinarello ONDA chainstays.
Fork: Pinarello ONDA full carbon fibre
Headset: Campagnolo Integrated
Colour: Metallic white with red & silver accents, custom spec

C of BB to C of seat tube: 520mm
C of BB to T of saddle: 740mm
Top tube length: 540mm (c-c)
Tip of saddle nose to C of bars: 550mm
C of front wheel to top of bars: 555mm

Cranks: Campagnolo Record, 172.5mm, 39/53
Chain: Campagnolo Record 10-speed
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10-speed
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Record 10-speed
Rear sprockets: Campagnolo Record, 11-21

Brakes: Campagnolo Record
Levers: Campagnolo Record 10-speed

Wheels: Campagnolo Bora Ultra tubular
Tyres: DedaTre Olimpico 23mm tubular

Bar: Dedaelementi Newton anatomic, 44cm (c-c)
Stem: Dedaelementi Newton, 130mm (c-c)

Pedals: Look Keo RXS

Seat post: MO.st carbon fibre
Saddle: Selle Italia SLR, custom design for Valverde

Bottle cages: Elite carbon
Cycle computer: Polar

Claimed complete bicycle weight: 7.1kg