A custom stars-and-stripes machine for the triple national champion
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Alison Powers (United HealthCare) isn't just a US national champion; she's a triple national champion with current road, time trial, and criterium titles(Image credit: James Huang)
Wilier Triestina claims the Cento 1 SR's truncated tube profiles offer an aerodynamic benefit(Image credit: James Huang)
The integrated seat mast is capped with a carbon fiber Ritchey head(Image credit: James Huang)
The chain stays are absolutely huge - all the better to harness Alison Powers' (United HealthCare) considerable power(Image credit: James Huang)
The stays are capped with tidy carbon dropouts(Image credit: James Huang)
A K-Edge stainless steel number plate holder is sandwiched between the rear brake and frame(Image credit: James Huang)
The magnet for the Pioneer power meter is neatly taped to the down tube(Image credit: James Huang)
The back of the fork crown is tucked up against the down tube(Image credit: James Huang)
The seat tube also uses a truncated pseudo-airfoil profile(Image credit: James Huang)
We caught up with Alison Powers' (United HealthCare) new stars-and-stripes Wilier Triestina Cento 1 SR near her home in Colorado. She trains on the Shimano RS-81 clinchers shown here but races on Shimano carbon tubulars(Image credit: James Huang)
A blue anodized K-Edge chain catcher provides a bit of insurance(Image credit: James Huang)
Alison Powers (United HealthCare) has been a dominant force in US women's cycling and team sponsor Wilier Triestina has rightfully supplied her with a custom road bike(Image credit: James Huang)
Paint jobs like this can be bought but they're far better when earned. Soon Alison Powers (United HealthCare) will have a time trial bike to match, too(Image credit: James Huang)
The huge tubes on the Wilier Triestina Cento 1 SR provide plenty of surface area(Image credit: James Huang)
Alison Powers' (United HealthCare) Wilier Cento 1 SR is equipped with a Pioneer power meter(Image credit: James Huang)
Even the finishing tape and K-Edge computer mount get in on the stars-and-stripes motif(Image credit: James Huang)
The K-Edge machined aluminum mount for the Pioneer computer head uses the same base as the company's original Garmin mount but with a different extension(Image credit: James Huang)
Alison Powers (United HealthCare) runs her ergonomic-bend Ritchey aluminum bars with a slight upward tilt(Image credit: James Huang)
The Ritchey cockpit is all aluminum(Image credit: James Huang)
Clearance is awfully tight for the Pioneer power meter on the non-driveside. In fact, team mechanics actually have to grind the box down just a bit in order to clear the chain stays(Image credit: James Huang)
This article was originally published on BikeRadar.
Alison Powers (UnitedHealthcare) isn't just a US national champion; she's a triple national champion holding concurrent road, criterium, and time trial titles and the first American rider (man or woman) to do so. Naturally, then, team sponsor Wilier Triestina has supplied the affable Coloradan with a custom painted Cento1SR to race on the road – and soon there will be a time trial rig to match.
Out of Wilier's trio of top road models, Powers' new Cento1SR seems a fitting choice for her all-around capabilities. The huge frame tubes are well bolstered for stiffness, there's a bit of aero shaping, and our own tests have proven it to be surprisingly comfortable. Chassis weight may not be the bike's strongest suit but perhaps save for the most mountainous races, it clearly hasn't held Powers back much.
Powers' bike is dressed with a capable, workhorse build that includes a Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 mechanical group and pedals, an all-aluminum Ritchey cockpit, and a crank-based power meter from new player Pioneer. Many of the accessories get in on the custom party, too, with red, white, and blue handlebar finishing tape; a blue anodized chain catcher and computer mount from K-Edge; and even a blue electronics box cover from Pioneer.
We caught up with Powers' bike while she was briefly home in between races so the bike was set up for training with Shimano RS-81 aluminum/carbon wheels and thick Maxxis clinchers. As a result, the bike is somewhat heavy at 8.08kg (17.81lb) as shown here but would be slightly lighter in proper race trim – plus, keep in mind that Powers rides an XL frame size.
While that extra material adds a few more grams, it also provides plenty of surface area for the fetching patriotic paint. And while color schemes like this can certainly be bought, they're far better when earned properly.
Wilier had a banner year in that sense, too, at least on the American front. In addition to Powers' wins, SmartStop rider Eric Marcotte also took home the men's road championship on a Wilier – and he's got a custom painted Zero.9.
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"I love the paint job," Powers told BikeRadar. "I feel really special to get to ride that bike. I'm so happy and honored that Wilier sent me this and the new TT bike. Eric's better not be cooler than mine!"
