Custom painted Colnago C59 Italia for Yukiya Arashiro of Team Europcar(Image credit: David Rome)
Arashiro was rolling on semi-aero, yet lightweight Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35 wheels(Image credit: David Rome)
Colnago C59 Italia - the tubes are sourced from Japan and then assembled in Italy(Image credit: David Rome)
One-piece handlebar/stem combos aren't a common choice with WorldTour riders, Arashiro rides the stylish Deda Alanera(Image credit: David Rome)
As a team sponsor, Hutchinson supply its 'Pro Tour' tyres. A design that's been used for over a decade now including by the likes of a certain "7 time Tour De France winner"(Image credit: David Rome)
Selle Italia SLR Team Issue saddle provides a lightweight, yet comfortable perch(Image credit: David Rome)
Europcar are sponsored by Sigma computers and so do without power training on their race bikes - a very rare sight in the WorldTour(Image credit: David Rome)
The handiwork of the mechanic, no messy-looking zip-ties here(Image credit: David Rome)
Tacx supply its Uma carbon cages(Image credit: David Rome)
The carbon rich theme is continued with French made Look Keo Blade 2 pedals(Image credit: David Rome)
Previously the EPS battery would have been seen on the outside of the downtube, the internal EPS battery is now hidden inside the downtube(Image credit: David Rome)
The C59 Italia features a lugged construction, allowing for a staggering 22 stock sizes and even more custom options. Arashiro's bike is a stock 52cm size(Image credit: David Rome)
More custom paint for the 2013 Japanese National Champion(Image credit: David Rome)
Campagnolo provide the entire groupset and wheels(Image credit: David Rome)
Japanese characters cover the bike, this reads Nippon or Nihon - simply what the Japanese call Japan(Image credit: David Rome)
Yukiya Arashiro - 2013 Japanese National Road Champion(Image credit: David Rome)
In 2009, Yukiya Arashiro was joined with teammate Fumiyuki Beppu and together they became the first Japanese riders to complete the Tour De France. Arashiro, the two time elite-men’s Japanese National Road Champion, now rides along Thomas Voeckler for Europcar, the only team in the WorldTour on Colnago bikes.
Just like we saw with Voeckler’s bike at the 2013 Tour De France, Arashiro’s bike is strongly Italian – surprising given the team is French. The tyres, pedals, bottle cages and computer are the only items not from Italy, and all are European brands.
Arashiro’s Colnago C59 Italia is eye-catching, with a custom paint job for his recent 2013 National Championship win. The prominent characters on Arashiro’s bike mean the words Nippon or Nihon – which is simply Japan in Japanese.
As we previously found, the Italian made C59 Italia is a truly brilliant bike, with a unique aesthetic to match. A lugged construction allows for a staggering 22 stock size options and additional custom options, something that would be far too cost prohibitive with a mould constructed frame.
Not often seen in the pro peloton, Arashiro uses a one-piece Deda Alanera handlebar/stem. With a claimed weight of 409g and plenty of waste in the event of a crash, there’s little reason to use this setup beyond cool aesthetics.
A full Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset and Bora Ultra 35 wheels complete the Italian branded theme. Like we saw with Andre Greipel’s Ridley Noah Fast, Arashiro’s bike is fitted with the new internal EPS battery, with the charging port visible at the base of downtube.
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Hutchinson Pro Tour tyres and Look Keo Blade 2 pedals add some national based product for the French team. The Pro Tour tyres are extremely well respected in the peloton, but prohibitive to purchase as the going price was US$500 a pair last we checked.
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Colnago C59 Italia, 52cm Fork: Colnago C59 carbon tapered Headset: Colnago integrated tapered Stem: Deda Alanera Combo, 110mm Handlebar: Deda Alanera Combo, 42cm Tape: Colnago Cork Front brake: Campagnolo Super Record Rear brake: Campagnolo Super Record Brake levers: Campagnolo Super Record EPS Front derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record EPS Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record EPS Shift levers: Campagnolo Super Record EPS Cassette: Campagnolo Super Record 11-27T Chain: Campagnolo Super Record Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record, 172.5mm, 53/39T Bottom bracket: Campagnolo threaded Battery: Internal Campagnolo race battery, in downtube Pedals: Look Keo Blade 2 Wheelset: Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35 Front tire: Hutchinson Pro Tour tubular 24mm Rear tire: Hutchinson Pro Tour tubular 24mm Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Team Edition Seatpost: Colnago carbon Bottle cages: Tacx Uma carbon (2) Computer: Sigma ROX 6.0
Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.70m (5ft 7in) Rider's weight: 65kg (143lb) Saddle height from BB, c-t: 696mm Saddle setback: 31mm Seat tube length (c-t): 520mm Seat tube length (c-c): 500mm Tip of saddle to center of bar: 520mm Saddle-to-bar drop: 95mm Head tube length: 125mm Top tube length (effective): 530mm Total bicycle weight: 6.95kg (15.29lb)
