Luca Paolini's Liquigas Cannondale System Six

	Photo ©: James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

By James Huang

The distinguishing trait of the System Six Photo ©: James Huang

Chain stays on the System Six are large-diameter aluminum Photo ©: James Huang

The Liquigas team uses componentry from Campagnolo. Photo ©: James Huang

Paolini rests atop fi'zi:k's newest carbon fiber Photo ©: James Huang

Paolini was spotted using a brand-new Polar CS400 computer. Photo ©: James Huang

As compared to the rather international nature of most ProTour teams these days, the Liquigas team is somewhat of a standout being decidedly Italy-centric is nearly all respects. The team retains a nearly 100% Italian roster as well as a panoply of like-oriented sponsors, including nearly all of its clothing and equipment, its team cars, and even the pasta and coffee the team eats and drinks. This year, though, Liquigas has traded the trademark celeste green colors of its former Italian bicycle sponsor, Bianchi, for the distinctly red, white, and blue hues of US-based Cannondale.

Cannondale has supplied the team with both its carbon fiber and aluminum System Six as well as the full carbon Synapse. Team Liaison Rory Mason stated that most of the team will opt for the somewhat cushier Synapse when it comes time to ride the cobbles in the Spring classics, but the majority of the team usually chooses the edgier System Six otherwise, including one-day specialist Luca Paolini.

According to Mason, "The System Six was designed for one purpose, and that's performance. The attributes that we've designed into this frame to achieve that were a high level of frontal stiffness or rigidity, while maintaining very light weight as well." Cannondale utilizes a novel mix of materials for the System Six, which uses carbon fiber for the top, head, and down tubes, in combination with its tried-and-true aluminum for the seat tube and entire rear end. While this goes in contrast with today's norm, Cannondale claims its pared-down seatstays offer up near-carbon fiber levels of rider comfort.

Paolini's stock System Six frame is said to be particularly well-suited to his needs as a one-day racer, especially in regards to his finishing sprint. Mason added, "The top tube is ovalized on a horizontal plane so that it's very stiff side-to-side for accelerations, and we have a very large down tube which comes in two different size-specific diameters."

Additional rigidity and responsiveness are gained through the System Six's massive front end, which includes a dramatically tapered steerer tube on the System Six Carbon fork (measuring a standard 1 1/8" diameter up top for ease of stem compatibility to an enormous 1 ½" down at the fork crown) along with the similarly sized head tube. Cannondale also continues its long-standing tendencies towards System Integration with its newest Hollowgram Si crankset that is claimed to be both lighter and more rigid than Shimano's Dura-Ace.

Other than the crankset, the rest of Paolini's bike is an almost 100% Italian affair, including Campagnolo Record derailleurs, brakes, carbon seatpost, and Ergopower levers, carbon fiber RacingSpeed wheels from Fulcrum, and fi'zi:k's newest Arione k:1 saddle. Depending on how you look at it, even Paolini's FSA handlebar and stem are Italian as well (FSA operates an office and major facility in Milan).

Paolini hopes to continue some of his successes of last year, which saw him claim a victory in Stage 12 of the Vuelta a España and a coveted third place in Milan-San Remo which, coincidentally, began in his hometown. Although early in the season, Paolini is clearly wasting little time in making good on his goals as he debuted his new System Six to a second place podium finish at Stage 2 of this year's Tour of California, and he will continue to aim high for the rest of the season. Paolini's primary goals include the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, the Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg, as well as stage wins in the Tour de France, and ultimately, he hopes to arrive at the World Championships in good form.

Photos

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Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• The Italian Liquigas team is sponsored by US-based Cannondale for the 2007 season. Riders will be using either the carbon fiber and aluminum System Six or the full carbon Synapse.
• The distinguishing trait of the System Six is its massive front end.
• The System Six Carbon fork tapers from a standard 1 1/8" diameter up top down to a huge 1 1/2" at the fork crown.
• FSA produces a proprietary headset especially for Cannondale.
• The System Six uses a carbon fiber top tube, head tube, and down tube, but the rest of the machine is aluminum, including the entire bottom bracket area.
• Cannondale's proprietary Hollowgram Si crankset is said to be both lighter and stiffer than Shimano Dura-Ace.
• The Hollowgram Si bottom bracket is pressed directly into the aluminum bottom bracket shell for a more rigid connection that eliminates unnecessary parts.
• Chain stays on the System Six are large-diameter aluminum for good power transmission.
• Seat stays are particularly spindly-looking as compared to the chain stays but are said to provide excellent vertical compliance for rider comfort.
• Paolini uses Campagnolo Record Ergopower controls mounted on a FSA handlebar and stem.
• The top of the System Six Carbon fork is a standard 1 1/8" in diameter for ease of stem compatibility.
• Like many pros, Paolini prefers to use a handlebar with a traditional bend, in this case a FSA Energy T.
• The Liquigas team uses componentry from Campagnolo.
• The Record rear derailleur uses plentiful amounts of carbon fiber.
• Paolini rolls on Fulcrum RacingSpeed or RacingLight wheels, depending on the event.
• Fulcrum's trademark "2:1" rear spoke lacing pattern places twice as many spokes on the drivetrain as on the non-driveside to help equalize the spoke tension.
• Look is one of the only non-Italian sponsors of the team, and delivers these custom-finished Liquigas team Keo pedals.
• Paolini rests atop fi'zi:k's newest carbon fiber and "Technogel" Arione k:1 saddle.
• Elite sponsors the team with its bottle cages and trainers.
• Paolini was spotted using a brand-new Polar CS400 computer.
• Cannondale dresses up the top tube with elemental models of propane in reference to the team's primary sponsor, Liquigas.
• Luca Paolini and his race machine.

Full specification

Frame: Cannondale System Six, 50cm
Fork: Cannondale System Six Carbon

Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.74m; Weight: 66kg (146lb)
Seat tube length, c-c: 465mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 500mm
Top tube length: 525mm (horizontal)
Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 710mm
Saddle nose tip to C of bars: 543mm
C of front hub to top of bars: 538mm
Stem length and angle: 120mm x -6°
Handlebar width (c-c): 420mm
Crankarm length: 170mm

Bottom bracket: Cannondale Hollowgram Si
Cranks: Cannondale Hollowgram Si, 39/53T
Chain: Campagnolo Record Ultra Narrow
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Record QS
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Record
Brakes: Campagnolo Record D-SKELETON
Levers: Campagnolo Record QS Ergopower
Rear sprockets: Campagnolo Record steel/titanium, 11-25T

Wheelset: Fulcrum RacingSpeed tubular
Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Evo-CX 21c tubular

Bars: FSA Energy T
Stem: FSA OS-115
Headset: Cannondale System Six by FSA
Tape/grip: fi'zi:k Bar:tape

Pedals: Look Keo Carbon Liquigas Team Edition
Seat post: Campagnolo Record Carbon
Saddle: fi'zi:k Arione k:1
Bottle cages: Elite Pase standard
Cycle computer: Polar CS400

Total bike weight: 7.04kg (15.5lb)