Custom paint and weight-saving details for the Tour de France leader
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Pinarello prepared a custom Dogma F8 for two-time Tour de France winner and this year's favorite Chris Froome. The subtle finish features a rhinoceros in reference to Froome's African roots and to help bring awareness to the precarious situation of the iconic animal(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Froome and company use prototype dual-sided Stages power meters. You can also see that mechanics have filed down the inside edges on the inner chainring to better clear the chainstay(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Because of his love of Osymetric chainrings, Sky mechanics doubled down on chain catchers. A K-Edge is obvious but a closer look reveals a chunk of 3D printed plastic that is glued to the bottom bracket area. Very cool(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Froome continues to run his beloved Osymetric rings with a 52/38 combination installed for the start of the race(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Like every Continental sponsored bike we've seen at this year's Tour, Froome is using 25mm Competition Pro LTD tubulars. For opening stages, expect Froome to ride Shimano C50 wheels(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Perhaps a strange animal for a rider with such gossamer features?(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Froome hopes to charge to the top of the general classification and stay there until Pari(Image credit: Nick Legan)
The rhino graphics are in addition to Team Sky's normal paint. Froome's 56cm bike has several special touches in its parts selection as well(Image credit: Nick Legan)
(Image credit: Nick Legan)
A Fizik Antares with carbon rails is set 79cm from the center of his bottom bracket(Image credit: Nick Legan)
A compact bend is preferred by the Team Sky leader(Image credit: Nick Legan)
A K-Edge Garmin mount is clamped to Froome's 42cm alloy PRO handlebar(Image credit: Nick Legan)
A Tune carbon headset cap shaves a few grams(Image credit: Nick Legan)
Froome uses a 121mm PRO stem and a custom Di2 climbing switch that his mechanics strip down and epoxy to his handlebar(Image credit: Nick Legan)
The bicycle of Christopher Froome of Great Britain riding for Team Sky is seen prior to stage five of the 2016 Le Tour de France
The bicycle of Christopher Froome of Great Britain riding for Team Sky is seen prior to stage five of the 2016 Le Tour de France
The bicycle of Christopher Froome of Great Britain riding for Team Sky is seen prior to stage five of the 2016 Le Tour de France
The bicycle of Christopher Froome of Great Britain riding for Team Sky is seen prior to stage five of the 2016 Le Tour de France
The bicycle of Christopher Froome of Great Britain riding for Team Sky is seen prior to stage five of the 2016 Le Tour de France
The bicycle of Christopher Froome of Great Britain riding for Team Sky is seen prior to stage five of the 2016 Le Tour de France
Chris Froome (Team Sky) crosses the finish line to win stage 8 of the 2016 Le Tour de France a 184km stage from Pau to Bagneres-De-Luchon on July 9
Some custom paint schemes are all about personality and flair. Others have special meaning, a message to convey. Such is the case with the paint on Chris Froome's Pinarello Dogma F8. While the animated rhinoceros on the Team Sky rider's bike may seem like a reference to his African roots, it is also a sign of Froome's commitment to raising awareness for the endangered animal.
Conservation initiatives aside, this is also the bike of a two-time Tour de France champion and the favorite to take top honors at this year's Grand Boucle.
His 56cm F8 frame is almost exactly what Froome has ridden since the bike was introduced in 2014. Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components and wheels handle the going and the stopping. PRO handlebar and stem and a Fizik Antares form the cockpit. Personalized touches include Osymetric chainrings, Nokon brake cable housings, custom Di2 climbing switch and a bespoke 3D printed chain catcher. Froome also has a prototype dual-sided Stages power meter.
If all goes well, Froome won't ride into Paris on this bike though. Surely there is a yellow frameset tucked away in the team truck for him to ride after taking the race leader's yellow jersey on stage 8 to Luchon.
