Oscar Freire's Rabobank Colnago C50 'Superlight'

	Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Oscar's no grouch - or slouch

Colnago bikes victorious in elite, U23 men's road races

Like many Colnago-sponsored riders this year, newly-crowned world champion Oscar Freire has been aboard a special lightweight version of the company's C50 bike. Tim Maloney takes a look at the race-winning machine.

Well Worn Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Carbon weave Photo ©: Tim Maloney

Two more Colnagos Photo ©: Tim Maloney

'C50 HP Superlight' isn't the official designation of the bike that Spaniard Oscar Freire just won the 2004 World Championships with, but before he left for the Interbike Las Vegas show with his Uncle Ernesto, Alessandro Colnago told Cyclingnews about the now three-time World Champion's race winning rig.

"In his last World Championship win in Lisbon in 2001, Freire was on Mapei and he finished just ahead of Paolo Bettini. Both riders were on C40s, and Freire became attached to that bike, for whatever reason. Even this year when he won Milano-Sanremo, Freire had his C40. This summer, we made some special Colnago C50 HP frames for Rabobank and Landbouwkredeit that you could call 'superlight'; they are made of a special high-modulus carbon fibre that is lighter and more rigid than the production Colnago C50 HP. Freire likes his very much."

"In the finale of the Worlds you saw three riders on the attack with these bicycles; Michael Rasmussen, Michael Boogerd and Freire. Plus we are very happy with the U23 men's road race as Colnago C50 bicycles were ridden to first and second place by the riders from Belarus and the Netherlands."

Colnago is considering selling a very limited production of these 'Superlight' C50s, but hasn't yet made a firm decision. Alessandro Colnago also told us that the company's "new 2005 catalog is on-line currently at www.Colnago.Com." For visitors who go to Mycolnago.com and sign up, there will be a downloadable poster of Oscar Freire's 2004 World Championships win.

Photography

Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews

• Oscar Friere's Colnago C50 HP Superlight - as seen winning races in Verona
• Well Worn - Oscar Friere's saddle took a licking and kept on ticking
• Carbon weave is clearly visible in Freire's Colnago C50
• Two more Colnagos - Ernesto's younger brother Paolo (L) and nephew Alessandro Colnago (R) enjoy another world championship in Verona, not far from their Cambiago headquarters.

Full specification

Frame: Colnago C50 HP "Superlight" 50X52 Superlight hi-modulus carbon fibre
Fork: Colnago Star hi-modulus carbon fibre 1 1/8" non integrated
Colour: Natural Carbon fibre w.clear coat

Cranks: Shimano Dura Ace 172.5mm, 53/44 chainrings
Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura Ace
Chain: Shimano Dura Ace
Front derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace
Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura Ace
Rear sprockets: Shimano Dura Ace 11-21

Brakes: Shimano Dura Ace
Levers: Shimano Dura Ace

Wheels: Shimano Dura Ace Carbon Fibre tubular
Tyres: Vittoria Evo CX tubular

Stem: Colnago 100mm
Bars: Cinelli Neo carbon fibre
Headset: FSA

Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace
Seat post: Shimano Dura Ace
Saddle: Selle San Marco Arami