Race tech: Giro d'Italia, May 12, 2009

Lots of personalized bits for the centenary Giro d'Italia

By James Huang in Trieste, Italy

New De Rosa for Di Luca

Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) set off today with a new De Rosa King 3 RS that is supposedly 15 percent lighter and 18 percent stiffer than the current King 3 by virtue of an upgraded carbon fiber mix and new lay-up schedule.

Based on the current King 3's claimed weight, that would put Di Luca's frame close to the 800g mark though it's unclear at this point when this upgraded model might be available to consumers.

Otherwise, Di Luca's King 3 RS bears close resemblance to its standard King 3 cousin with the same seatmast head, two-piece aluminum dropouts, internal cable routing and smooth lines.

Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) is using a new version of De Rosa's King 3

Di Luca says new carbon fibers are mostly responsible

Sidi supplied Di Luca with a custom pair of shoes.

Di Luca is wearing a special kit

Personalized paint jobs for Simoni, Scarponi

Italian stars Gilberto Simoni and Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) were both treated to custom painted Guerciotti road machines for the 2009 Giro d'italia. In contrast to the team-issue blue and white, Scarponi's rig was resplendent in black, white and gold while Simoni's was an equally bright black, blue and silver metallic.

Gibo's bike was unique in more than just paint, though. His machine also included a tapered steerer tube, press-fit cups for his Campagnolo Ultra-Torque crankset, a more slender integrated seatmast, and one-piece aluminum dropouts. The changes should yield reduced weight relative to his teammates' bikes - a good thing given Simoni's well-known obsession with shaving grams - though the other associated changes likely make it stiffer as well.

Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)

Former Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni

Simoni's Guerciotti differs from those of his teammates with its press-fit cups

The aluminum dropouts are masked off

Why stop with custom painted bikes? Giro riders go for shoes, too

Piles of riders at this year's centenary Giro d'Italia lined up for the start in Jesolo with custom cycling shoes. In keeping with what can now be considered tradition, Sidi supplied Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) with a special set of Genius 6.6s. Though functionally identical to the stock version, Di Luca's were eminently more visible by virtue of their iridescent blue-and-green color scheme.

Columbia-High Road's Michael Rogers, on the other hand, were decidedly less showy but no less customized being custom molded by fellow Aussie Bont. Rogers's shoes use a carbon fiber sole that wraps up the sides of his feet for better support and also envelopes the heel to form an integrated counter.

Rogers has also opted for laces, not straps, for a more sock-like fit while a tidy cover keeps everything neatly concealed. Finish work appeared impeccable as well and based on prior experience, we're guessing Rogers' shoes are also quite light.

Sidi supplied Di Luca with a custom pair of shoes.

The carbon sole wraps up around the sides and rear of the foot

Prologo prototype for Pozzato and lots of personalized saddles

Katusha team saddle sponsor Prologo provided Filippo Pozzato with a new Nago Evo TR prototype saddle to use in this year's Giro. The composite shell is essentially the same as on the current Nago Evo TS but the solid titanium rails have been upgraded to carbon fiber to bring the weight down from 215g to just 171g.

Prologo have also supplied a number of riders with subtly personalized saddles as well with removable rear clips decorated with the flag of each riders' nationality.

Long-time customized saddle supplier fi'zi:k have continued their usual ways as well, most notably for Ivan Basso. Basso lost his mother to cancer and his simply decorated Arione CX bears the image of a single flower out of respect to her memory.

Even Specialized have now gotten into the game though in a decidedly subtle way. Though most of the Quick Step team were still on unmarked Selle San Marco saddles, the ones that were on Specialized Body Geometry models got their names and country flags printed down the middle.

Pozzato's new saddle is equipped with carbon rails.

Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) is riding a new Nago Evo prototype saddle

According to this label, Pozzato's prototype saddle

Basso with custom FSA stem

Basso also showed up with a custom stem made just for him by Liquigas sponsor FSA. The new graphics will be featured on the 2010 model year components but the special -10° angle is just for him in order to get just a bit more handlebar drop than the usual -6° but without having to run extra spacers as he would have to do with a -17°.

Aside from the catchy silver finish and SL-K graphics, Basso's custom stem otherwise looks identical to a current OS-115 with its machined shape and carbon fiber faceplate.

Ivan Basso (Liquigas) is hoping for big things

Basso's fi'zi:k Arione CX saddle is decorated with a single flower

Liquigas team sponsor FSA have provided Basso

The SRM-equipped version of Cannondale's Hollowgram SL crank

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com

• Danilo Di Luca (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) is using a new version of De Rosa's King 3 that is said to be 15 percent lighter and 18 percent stiffer than the current version.
• Di Luca says new carbon fibers are mostly responsible for the reduced weight and increased stiffness.
• Sidi supplied Di Luca with a custom pair of shoes.
• Di Luca is wearing a special kit to help raise awareness for the devastating earthquake that recently struck his home area of Italy.
• LPR uses a trick little widget for attaching race numbers.
• Michael Rogers (Columbia-High Road) pays homage to his native Australia with a pair of custom made Bont road shoes.
• Rogers apparently prefers Shimano's fixed-position SPD-SL cleats.
• The carbon sole wraps up around the sides and rear of the foot for improved overall stiffness with minimal mass.
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia-High Road) may not have won today but he's still rightfully celebrating his victory at Milano-Sanremo.
• Columbia-High Road are taking advantage of Shimano Dura-Ace Di2's unique advantages…
• …by mounting supplemental shifters up top on select bikes.
• Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) set off from Jesolo aboard this flamboyantly painted Guerciotti.
• There's little doubt as to which rider this bike belongs to.
• Former Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) returns to his home event, this time aboard a Guerciotti.
• Simoni's Guerciotti differs from those of his teammates with its press-fit cups for the Campagnolo cranks.
• The aluminum dropouts are masked off to keep the paint from flaking.
• This hub is badged with Ambrosio logos but it appears to be sourced from DT Swiss.
• The carbon fork looks to include a tapered steerer tube for improved stiffness and steering precision.
• Gibo' clearly has a strong attachment to these old Time pedals, which have been customized with carbon fiber top plates.
• Simoni skips over fancy dedicated mounts for his heart rate monitor in favor of a simple piece of pipe insulation.,
• Simoni was instrumental in the design of the fi'zi:k Arione so it's no surprise to find one here.
• Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) is riding a new Nago Evo prototype saddle from team sponsor Prologo.
• Pozzato's new saddle is equipped with carbon rails. down to
• According to this label, Pozzato's prototype saddle weighs just 171g and left the factory just three weeks ago.
• Ivan Basso (Liquigas) is hoping for big things in his first Giro d'Italia since the end of his suspension.
• Basso's fi'zi:k Arione CX saddle is decorated with a single flower in memory of his mother who passed away from cancer.
• Liquigas team sponsor FSA have provided Basso with a custom 130mm x -10º SL-K stem.
• The SRM-equipped version of Cannondale's Hollowgram SL crank supposedly adds less than 100g of weight so all of the Liquigas riders, such as Manuel Quinziato as seen here, are so equipped.
• A customized Specialized Body Geometry Toupe saddle make a Grand Tour appearance on the bike of Allan Davis (Quick Step).
• Quick Step teammate Addy Engels is also running a Specialized saddle though he apparently prefers the Avatar. Most of the rest of the team are on unmarked Selle San Marco models.
• Prologo get into the customized saddle game, too, with this Aussie-inspired Scratch TR Pro for Saxo Bank rider Matthew Harley Goss.
• Saxo Bank's Jason McCartney, on the other hand, gets a US-inspired wedge for his Prologo Nago Evo TR.
• A fleet of Saxo Bank Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL2s lie in wait for the start of the stage.
• What, no yellow housing?
• Silence-Lotto's Jonas Ljungblad gets a customized paint job to celebrate his Swedish national championship.