A monocoque frame with muscular aesthetic for Italian sprinter
Image 1 of 17
Sprinter Sacha Modolo’s (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox) muscular MCipollini RB1000 rests in the sun on the eve of the Tour of Britain(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Cables are routed through the frame(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Tyres are Vittoria’s Corsa Evo CX tubulars(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The rolling stock on Modolo’s bike are race tested Campagnolo Bora Ultra 2 tubulars(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The carbon weave continues in the headset assembly, interrupted by a Deda Zero100 Servizio Course stem(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The monocoque RB1000 is a thickset, aggressive looking bike especially around the oversized 1½ -1¼ headset(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Modolo’s number 71 dossard was still to be fixed on when we saw the bike on the eve of the race(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The carbon Elite Mio Sior bottle cages have a titanium skeleton(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Modolo’s chainring choice was standard 53x39(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The Bolt-Lock front derailleur mounts on the RB1000 are adjustable(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Modolo uses older Look Keo Carbon Blade pedals with the narrow carbon leaf on the outside of the pedal(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
he electronic derailleur cable emerges from midway down the chunky chainstays(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The RB1000 is decked in a full Campagnolo Record 11 EPS groupset(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
No doubting whose frame’s this, thanks to the cartoon graphics(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Modolo’s Prologo Scratch Pro saddle is slammed right back on the frame’s integrated seat-post(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Carbon weave abounds on Modolo’s bike and even the Prologo One Touch tape has a crosshatch pattern(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
The mechanics had done a neat job binding brake and derailleur cables before they go their separate ways(Image credit: Sam Dansie)
Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox) has been the Italian Pro Continental squad's most prolific winner this season, taking nine of the team's 11 victories. Highlights coming into his Tour of Britain debut include a brace of prestigious victories in late August, at the Memorial Marco Pantani and the Coppa Bernocchi.
Previous incarnations of the squad have ridden Colnago bikes, but this year the team swapped for the MCipollini RB1000 frame decked out in Colnago components. Designed by the Mario Cipollini, one of the all-time sprinting greats, the frame is an out-and-out race machine with a strong sense of its own style – much like the Lion King himself.
Looks aside, Modolo – also a rapid sprinter – appears to have made the most of its sure-footedness and good power transfer, qualities that have revealed themselves in reviews. It's no featherweight, however, and Modolo's model came in at 7.42kg (16.3lb).
The monocoque frame's aesthetic is muscular: the chunky tubes and nosecone on the head-tube add up make it an aggressive-looking proposition and, whether you like that or not, there's no denying it's one of the most striking machines in the peloton.
Will Modolo bring extra attention to the frame by capturing his tenth win at the Tour of Britain? The 26-year-old has the form, but time will tell.
Check out our image gallery, right, for details on his MCipollini RB1000.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Complete bike specifications
Frame: MCipollini RB1000, 51.5cm Fork: MCipollini, Headset: Integrated, 1½"-1¼" tapered Stem: Deda Zero100 Servizio Course 130mm Handlebars: Deda Newton Shallow 420mm (c-c) Tape/grips: Prologo OneTouch Front brake: Campagnolo Record D-Skeleton Rear brake: Campagnolo Record D-Skeleton Brake levers: Campagnolo Record 11s Ergopower Ultra-Shift Front derailleur: Campagnolo Record 11 EPS Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Record 11 EPS Shift levers: Campagnolo Record 11s Ergopower Ultra-Shift Cassette: Campagnolo Record 11, 11-25 Chain: Campagnolo Record 11 Crankset: Campagnolo Record 11 Ultra Torque 53-39T Bottom bracket: BB30 Pedals: Look Keo Blade Carbon Wheelset: Campagnolo Bora Ultra 2 Front tyre: Vittoria Corsa Evo CX Tubular, 23mm Rear tyre: Vittoria Corsa Evo CX Tubular, 23mm Saddle: Prologo Scratch Pro Seat post: Integrated Bottle cages: Elite Mio Sior (2) Computer: n/a
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.80m (5' 11") Rider's weight: 67kg (147lb) Saddle height, from BB (c-t): 726mm Saddle setback: 73mm Seat tube length, c-t: 515mm Seat tube length, c-c: 500mm Tip of saddle nose to C of bars (next to stem): 592mm Head tube length: 127mm Top tube length: 560mm Total bicycle weight: 7.42kg (16.3lb) w/o computer
