Pro bike: Geraint Thomas' Pinarello Dogma F8(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Geraint Thomas is one of the leading lights of Sky's Classics team.(Image credit: Team Sky)
The Pinarello Dogma F8 has many subtle windcheating aspects, such as the bowed front fork design borrowed from the brand's TT-specific Bolide(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
The Pinarello Dogma F8 is one of the pro-level bikes still using a threaded bottom bracket shell(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
At 121mm and with a four-bolt face plate, this PRO stem is certainly team-only(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Veloflex carbon tubulars continue on from last year(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
The Italian brand has a well established history in racing(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Thomas is using the new Aero Garmin mount from K-Edge. This smoother mount leaves less gap between the stem and computer(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
With power data provided by a left-arm mounted Stages Cycling unit, a standard Dura-Ace 9000 crank is used(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Just like Ryder Hesjedal, Thomas uses a heavily padded version of the Fizik Arione(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
The unmistakable red dragon of the Welsh flag sits proudly next to Thomas’ name(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Geraint Thomas at the 2015 Tour Down Under - where we took a look at his ride(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
Thomas and the rest of Team Sky use Stages power meters. For 2015, the team will use standard production units, instead of the 'team-issue' blue models they had before(Image credit: David Rome / Immediate Media)
As a former British national road champion and Olympic gold medallist on the track, Welshman Geraint Thomas presents an enduring threat in the peloton. In 2013, Thomas played super-domestique to Chris Froome in his Tour De France win, and showed just how tough he is by nursing a fractured pelvis through nearly the entire race.
For 2015, Thomas is likely to play an important role in Bradley Wiggins' well-publicised focus on the iconic Paris-Roubaix race, before the former Tour winner leaves the British super-team.
The Shimano-equipped bikes of Team Sky haven't changed a great deal since 2013, with the new Pinarello Dogma F8 frameset marking the major difference since we last inspected Thomas' ride.
Designed in collaboration with Jaguar, the Pinarello Dogma F8 scored a second place in Cyclingnews' 2014 'best team bike' reader's poll. This road frameset merges aero concepts from the company's time-trial specific Bolide with truncated aerofoil-shaped tubes.
The bowed front fork is one example of aero trickery borrowed from the TT-specific Bolide
Compared with Thomas' Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2, which we looked at last time out, the aero F8 frameset drops a claimed 120g (in a 54cm size), with lateral stiffness claimed to have been improved. These enhancements are partly achieved through the use of a new high-modulus carbon from Torayca, called T1100 1k, and from the more traditional frame lines to the previous curvy 'Onda' designs.
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Showing that Pinarello isn't one to blindly follow popular trends, the Dogma F8 has stuck with conventional brake calipers and a threaded bottom bracket shell – two things we're sure the Team Sky mechanics appreciate.
PRO commonly offers special stems to its sponsored teams
At exactly 1mm longer than a stock offering, Thomas continues with an obviously team-issue 121mm stem from PRO. Like the PRO stems from other WorldTour teams, this stem features a standard four-bolt faceplate over the usual 'puzzle clamp' of the Shimano-owned brand's top-end options.
As with Ryder Hesjedal's choice, providing a little more seated comfort is a heavily padded version of the Fizik Arione saddle. While we've previously reported this being a custom saddle, it's now likely a stock 'K1' model from the Italian brand's triathlon range.
Elsewhere the bike features a standard team issue specification of a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 groupset and matching Dura-Ace C50 tubular wheels.
No more team-specific Stages power meters for Sky
For 2015, Team Sky continues its partnership with Stages Cycling. On all team bikes, the left crankarm mounted power meter moves from the previous blue 'team-only' plastic housing to a standard black production version.
With the complete machine weighing in at 7.18kg (15.80lb), the lighter Dogma F8 frame has obviously had an impact since our previous looks at Thomas' ride.
Click here to see the gallery of Thomas' bike
Complete bike specifications Frame: Pinarello Dogma F8, size 55cm Fork: Pinarello Onda Carbon Headset: Pinarello 1 1/8” to 1" 1/2 integral system Stem: PRO team-issue, 121mm x -6 degrees Handlebar: PRO Vibe 7S Anatomic, 40cm (c-c) Tape: PRO Smart-Silicon Front brake: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Rear brake: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 Brake levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070 Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070 Shift levers: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 STI Dual Control ST-9070 Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000, 11-25T Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace 9000, 175mm, 53/39T + Stages Power left arm Bottom bracket: Shimano Dura-Ace BB-9000 Pedals: Shimano 9000 Dura-ace Wheelset: Shimano Dura-ace C50 tubular Front tyre: Veloflex Carbon 23mm Rear tyre: Veloflex Carbon 23mm Saddle: Fizik Arione K1 Tri Seatpost: Pinarello carbon Bottle cages: Elite Custom Race (2) Computer: Garmin Edge 510 (not pictured), K-Edge Garmin Aero mount
Critical measurements Rider's height: 1.83m (6ft) Rider's weight: 71kg (156lb) Saddle height from BB, c-t: 802mm Saddle setback: 65mm Seat tube length (c-c): 550mm Tip of saddle to midpoint of bar: 570mm Saddle-to-bar drop: 140mm Head tube length: 158mm Top tube length (effective): 557mm Total bicycle weight: 7.18kg (15.80lb)
