Race tech: Giro d'Italia, March 11, 2009

Speed machines celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Giro d'Italia

By James Huang in Lido di Venezia, Italy

Garmin-Slipstream's Dave Zabriskie goes electronic

The Dura-Ace Di2 shifters are little more than pairs of buttons

Garmin-Slipstream time trial specialist Dave Zabriskie rolled up to the start line for the Giro d'Italia's opening team time trial aboard his usual Felt DA, now set up with Shimano's electronic Dura-Ace Di2 group.

Though slightly heavier than the mechanical version, Di2 still offers an advantage for Zabriskie by virtue of its multiple shift button placement. Team mechanics placed a pair of pods out on the extensions as usual but another set was integrated into the brake levers out on the base bar, meaning the current US time trial champion is free to shift at nearly any time, not just while in the tuck as usual.

In contrast to what he used at the Tour of Calfornia, Zabriskie's frame also traded in its more patriotic red, white and blue scheme for a more typical black, white, orange and blue yet there was still no question from what country he hails. A giant decal on his Zipp 900 rear disc emulates the shield of famed comic book hero Captain America - though given the team's blistering 56.33km/h (35.0mph), all anyone saw on course was a big blur.

Rabobank tests new carbon fiber Dura-Ace pedal

The rear jaws are borrowed from the current PD-7810 pedal

Rabobank riders were spotted testing a new carbon fiber Dura-Ace prototype pedal from team sponsor Shimano. Though the overall shape remains similar to the current PD-7810 version with its wide and flat body, molded composite construction now yields a 40g weight savings per pair according to team technical manager Andy Wollny.

The new pedals thankfully share the 7810's silky-smooth bearing assembly though pared-down aluminum sleeves pares additional weight. The rear jaw is completely carried over as well, meaning the new pedal will be wholly compatible with Shimano's ubiquitous SPD-SL cleat design.

We have no word on commercial availability just yet but given the rather finished-looking condition of the prototype, sometime late this calendar year seems like a safe bet.

New equipment for the Cervélo Test Team

Cervélo's elusive P4 made an appearance

Cervélo launched their stunning P4 time trial bike to great fanfare at last year's Interbike show but it has rarely made an appearance in major competition. Cervélo Test Team in fact still had only one rider - Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas - aboard their aero flagship at the start of this year's Giro.

Little appears to have changed since the bike's introduction as the frame bears an identical form to what we saw back in September - including the trick rear brake that is wholly encased within the chain stays. The original's integrated water bottle design was nowhere to be seen though and sitting in its place was a standard bidon and cage from team sponsor Elite.

Seemingly all of the riders were back on Rotor crankarms now, however. The new '3D' arm design is nearly twice as broad as the current Agilis yet with three longitudinal holes bored thoroughly nearly the entire length of each arm to reduce weight without sacrificing rigidity. Moreover, most of the team were also back on the company's elliptical Q-Rings save for one or two who opted for FSA's bulged time trial-specific chainrings.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream p/b Chipotle) used his usual Felt DA during the opening team time trial but now it's been equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2.
• The Dura-Ace Di2 shifters are little more than pairs of buttons housed in aerodynamic pods.
• Another set of shifters out on the base bar lets Zabriskie shift in a variety of hand positions.
• Zabriskie showed up to the Giro with Shimano's new Dura-Ace Di2 electronic group and the extra wires create a veritable rat's nest behind the stem.
• Zabriskie's rear disc paid homage to Captain America. Zabriskie is well known to be a big fan of comic books and related paraphenalia.
• Garmin-Slipstream are yet another team that will be impacted by the UCI's stated July 1 grace period end for illegal aero equipment.
• A retrofitted barrel adjuster provides more breathing room for the Dura-Ace 7800 caliper in the Felt DA's recessed brake pocket.
• We normally expect to see mechanics lube riders' chains with grease on wet days but Zabriskie's chain is similarly coated for Stage 1's warm and dry conditions.
• Team mechanics had previously used an array of zip ties to create a makeshift computer mount but this new revision - made from a scrapped bottle cage - is more secure.
• fi'zi:k's Ares saddle is a time trial analogue of their latest Antares road model.
• Garmin-Slipstream's time trial bikes featured new chain watchers from K-Edge. According to team mechanics, it works quite well.
• The basic shape of this prototype Dura-Ace pedal is similar to the existing model but carbon fiber bodies shave 40g per pair.
• The rear jaws are borrowed from the current PD-7810 pedal hence the misleading part number.
• The new carbon body looks like it may be slightly lower profile than the current aluminum one.
• Rabobank's mechanics came up with this solution for a computer mount.
• Cervélo's elusive P4 made an appearance under team rider Ignatas Konovalovas but only he was so equipped.
• Mounting the rear brake down below makes for a cleaner and more aerodynamic rear end.
• The P4's rear brake is tucked inside the chain stays.
• Wrapping the cables together helps keep them out of the wind.
• Cervélo developed a special bottle for their stunning P4 but Konovalovas' bike was fitted with a standard bottle and cage - perhaps a sign of disapproval from the UCI.
• The team apparently have enough faith in Rotor's new crankarm design to switch back to the Spanish company for the Giro. Most of the riders were on the elliptical Q-Rings as well though Konovalovas opted for round FSA chainrings.
• Cervélo Test Team time trial bikes were fitted with Tektro carbon fiber brake levers.
• Katusha riders took Ridley's stunning Dean aero machines to a strong sixth place finish.
• The Tektro front brake is tucked behind the fork crown.
• Cables are neatly secured behind the stem.
• Katusha team sponsor Campagnolo still don't have 11-speed bar-end shifters available so riders are forced to use older equipment.
• Katusha riders apparently have little to worry about come July 1 as these Deda bars easily fall within the UCI's 3:1 aspect ratio rule.
• Ribbons like the ones mounted to the back of the Katusha riders' helmets are normally used to visualize airflow off of trailing edges but we're not sure why the team would be interested in such a thing just before a team time trial.
• Silence-Lotto is using Canyon's Speedmax CF Pro for this year's time trials.
• The Canyon's carbon seatposts offer plenty of fore-aft adjustment.
• Silence-Lotto's Christophe Brandt apparently prefers a widely set bar position.
• Like most teams sponsored by Campagnolo, Silence-Lotto have to use older equipment since there are still no 11-speed bar-end shifters available.
• Silence-Lotto's Canyon time trial bikes were fitted with speedy-looking Mavic Io wheels.
• Focus developed Milram's time trial bikes with the help of famed aero bike designer Andy Walser.
• The Milram frames feature especially sharp trailing edges.
• The team's aero frames are temporarily fitted with alternate brakes since the SRAM Red caliper's stiffening brace doesn't currently fit beneath the trailing edge of the seat stay wishbone. The team says future frames will be modified appropriately.
• Milram's Lightweight Obermayer front wheels sported an eye-catching white finish.
• The Milram team bikes were fitted with SRAM Red cranksets and time trial-specific chainrings.
• This Milram rider came up with his own solution for adding a bit of grip to the nose.
• Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) rode this De Rosa in the opening team time trial of this year's Giro d'Italia
• Di Luca's bike was clearly labeled as a 'Prototype 1D' though its shape bears a strong resemblence to De Rosa's current Kron Formula. Updated fiber lay-up schedules and fiber types likely yield a lighter and stiffer version than what is currently available.
• The slight ridge on the front of the head tube adds an interesting visual element.
• Conventional threaded bottom bracket cups are fixed to the bottom end.
• Di Luca stands just 1.74m (5' 8") tall so there isn't that much integrated seatmast sticking out of the frame.
• The Campagnolo Ghibli rear disc wheel is a long-familiar sight.
• Barloworld set off for the team time trial start of this year's Giro d'Italia aboard the Bianchi D2.
• Bianchi say the port in the chain stays add stiffness relative to a standard solid outer surface.
• Long trailing edges on the fork supposedly smooth airflow coming off the back of the crown.
• The seatmast head on Barloworld's Bianchi D2 is rather chunky-looking and also leaves the top of the seat tube completely open to the elements.
• Fuji-Servetto riders piloted their rather flamboyant Fuji D-6 machines around Lido di Venezia but were unfortunately still the slowest on the day.
• Team sponsor Cole Products supplied the Fuji-Servetto team with their uniquely shaped Shuriken Lite T-85 front wheels for the opening team time trial.
• The 85mm-deep Cole rim features spirally oriented creases on each side that presumably reduce drag.
• The rear brake is shielded within a radically shaped seat stay assembly but the tight confines require some rather convoluted cable routing.
• Fuji-Servetto riders are currently equipped with Oval Concepts aero bars but that will certainly change come July 1 when the UCI begin to more strictly reinforce their equipment rules.
• Vision only just launched their new wheel line at Sea Otter but they're already making an appearance at the Giro d'Italia with the ISD team.
• ISD also look to be using a new Roval carbon tubular wheelset on the road.
• The carbon rims are clearly labeled as 'Handbuilt by DT Swiss'.
• The Giro d'Italia also provided a good opportunity for the Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli riders to exercise their Guerciotti time trial bikes.
• Ag2r's BH Global Concept machines sit waiting and ready for the start of the Giro d'Italia.