Giro see first runs for new Cannondale, De Rosa

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Race Tech: Giro d'Italia, June 1, 2007

Hervé Duclos-Lasalle's Cofidis Time VXRS Ulteam

Hervé Duclos-Lasalle hasn't quite managed as illustrious career as his father, two-time Paris-Roubaix winner Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle, but has had a decent professional career at Cofidis nonetheless. After a stint with Wilier Triestina, the team now uses 'modules' from Time, which includes the company's frames, forks, stems, and seatposts. At 1.74m tall (5'8"), Duclos-Lasalle rides a somewhat smallish 47cm Time VXRS Ulteam with a corresponding 51cm top tube length.

Danilo Di Luca's Liquigas Cannondale System Six

Cannondale's Liquigas team liaison Rory Mason told Cyclingnews that current Giro d'Italia maglia rosa Danilo Di Luca is currently using a fully stock 50cm Cannondale System Six frameset which the company introduced just last year. In contrast to typical convention, the System uses a monocoque carbon fiber front triangle coupled to rear stays made entirely of 6000-series aluminum.

According to Mason, "Di Luca rode Cannondale when he was at Saeco and he really likes our bikes." Mason also mentioned that former Saeco rider Mario Cipollini had just received his own System Six bike from Cannondale.

In addition, two Liquigas riders, Vicenzo Nibali and Franco Pellizotti, are testing Cannondale's newest Super Six full carbon fibre prototype at this year's Giro. Mason proudly said, "on his first time out, Nibali won with this bike last month. With the Super Six, we are looking to optimize the balance of weight and rigidity with this full carbon frame. Our ambition is to test the prototype with the Liquigas team and then bring the most refined product to the market."

Paolo Savoldelli's Astana BMC SLC01 Pro Machine

Born from the ashes of now-defunct Liberty Seguros, the Swiss-registered and Kazakh-sponsored Astana team was highly courted last year by a number of bicycle manufacturers and BMC was eventually chosen. Savoldelli's full-carbon SLC01 Pro Machine is the same frame used by Floyd Landis to win last year's Tour de France on Team Phonak and features Easton nanotechnology to reinforce the resin matrix. Savoldelli's BMC is also loaded with Easton components, including the the EC90 aero carbon fibre tubular wheels, EC90 seatpost, and EC90 bars & stem.

Stefano Garzelli's Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo De Rosa Idol UD Prototype

Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo rider Stefano Garzelli scored the first Giro d'Italia win in years for team sponsor De Rosa on Stage 14. According to Cristiano De Rosa, Il marchio del cuore had created a unique frame just for Garzelli this year, dubbed the Idol UD Prototype. The new frame is the prodigal son of De Rosa's Protos UD and Idol and features the same integrated seatmast and curvy shape of the latter model but with lighter unidirectional carbon fibre tubes created by Mizuno exclusively for De Rosa.

"This frame weighs under 1kg in the medium size", explained De Rosa. "The weight is real, not made up like some people do." He added, "For now, this bicycle is a true prototype; we need to work on this frame more."

In addition to the unique carbon content and lay up schedules, Garzelli's custom made frameset has different geometry than the medium size frame would usually have. "Garzelli has worked with a biomechanical consultant for years and he always has special geometry; the Idol UD prototype is very laid back, with a 72.30 degree seat angle."

Garzelli went on to win another stage a few days later in Lienz, Austria with an audacious solo move with 27km to go. In both his wins, Garzelli utilized a low-profile carbon fibre wheel on the front for improved control on descents, with a stiffer and higher profile rear wheel for better aerodynamics and power transmission.