Custom paint and weight-saving details for the Tour champ
Pinarello prepared a custom Dogma F8 for two-time Tour de France winner and this year's favorite Chris Froome. The subtle finish features a rhinoceros in reference to Froome's African roots and to help bring awareness to the precarious situation of the iconic animal
Pinarello prepared a custom Dogma F8 for two-time Tour de France winner and this year's favorite Chris Froome. The subtle finish features a rhinoceros in reference to Froome's African roots and to help bring awareness to the precarious situation of the iconic animal - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
The rhino graphics are in addition to Team Sky's normal paint. Froome's 56cm bike has several special touches in its parts selection as well - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Froome hopes to charge to the top of the general classification and stay there until Pari - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Perhaps a strange animal for a rider with such gossamer features? - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Like every Continental sponsored bike we've seen at this year's Tour, Froome is using 25mm Competition Pro LTD tubulars. For opening stages, expect Froome to ride Shimano C50 wheels - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Froome continues to run his beloved Osymetric rings with a 52/38 combination installed for the start of the race - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Because of his love of Osymetric chainrings, Sky mechanics doubled down on chain catchers. A K-Edge is obvious but a closer look reveals a chunk of 3D printed plastic that is glued to the bottom bracket area. Very cool - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Froome and company use prototype dual-sided Stages power meters. You can also see that mechanics have filed down the inside edges on the inner chainring to better clear the chainstay - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Froome uses a 121mm PRO stem and a custom Di2 climbing switch that his mechanics strip down and epoxy to his handlebar - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
A Tune carbon headset cap shaves a few grams - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
A K-Edge Garmin mount is clamped to Froome's 42cm alloy PRO handlebar - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
A compact bend is preferred by the Team Sky leader - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
A Fizik Antares with carbon rails is set 79cm from the center of his bottom bracket - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Nokon cables are used for Froome's brakes, a weight saving measure - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Using heat shrink, his mechanics have clearly spent some time to keep things tidy at the front end of Froome's machine - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
Some custom paint schemes are all about personality and flair. Others have special meaning, a message to convey. Such is the case with the paint on Chris Froome’s Pinarello Dogma F8. While the animated rhinoceros on the Team Sky rider’s bike may seem like a reference to his African roots, it is also a sign of Froome’s commitment to raising awareness for the endangered animal.
Conservation initiatives aside, this is also the bike of a two-time Tour de France champion and the favorite to take top honors at this year’s Grand Boucle.
His 56cm F8 frame is almost exactly what Froome has ridden since the bike was introduced in 2014. Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components and wheels handle the going and the stopping. PRO handlebar and stem and a Fizik Antares form the cockpit. Personalized touches include Osymetric chainrings, Nokon brake cable housings, custom Di2 climbing switch and a bespoke 3D printed chain catcher. Froome also has a prototype dual-sided Stages power meter.
Perhaps a strange animal for a rider with such gossamer features?: - Nick Legan / Immediate Media
If all goes well, Froome won’t ride into Paris on this bike though. Surely there is a yellow frameset tucked away in the team truck…
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Froome and company use prototype dual-sided Stages power meters. You can also see that mechanics have filed down the inside edges on the inner chainring to better clear the chainstay: - Nick Legan / Immediate Media