Samuel Sanchez’s unpainted Orbea Orca Gold – it’s a standard squad frame just without the orange paint - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Naturally, Sanchez’s bike is equipped with new Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 11-spd shifting - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The Orca’s matt finish shows off the carbon weave to maximum effect; even the dossard clamp is harmonised - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Sanchez perches on a 120g Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Flow - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The pair of Elite Sior Evo bottle cages – a titanium skeleton wrapped in carbon – are robust drinks holders - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The electronic Shimano Dura-Ace front derailleur is set up for Sanchez’s choice of Osymetric chainring - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
On the mountain stage to Valmorel, Sanchez’s chain-rings were 52-38, with an 11-28 cassette on the back - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Shimano Dura-Ace pedals take the power - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The FSA OS-115 stem was a standard 130mm centre-to-centre - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Sanchez had the Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 remote climbing switch fitted on the right hand side of the stem – useful when riding on the tops - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Sanchez matched the FSA stem with the brand’s K-Force Carbon Ergo handlebars, 42cm centre to centre - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Mechanics had trimmed brake cables perfectly on the callipers - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Vittoria Corsa Evo SC cotton tubulars are fitted to the Dura-Ace wheels - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The frame-recessed seat clamping mechanism is a sleek feature of the top Orca frames - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
In another deviation from the team issue kit, Sanchez gets Alligator i-Link brake cabling - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
For the mountains, Sanchez used Dura-Ace wheels. Though the decals had been scrubbed off a C24 filled the front dropouts and a C35 the rear - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
The Critérium du Dauphiné finished with eight categorised climbs on the weekend, starting with stage 7's ascent of l’Alpe d’Huez on Saturday.
Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Samuel Sanchez won the stage, putting behind him a disappointing Giro d'Italia. The 2008 Olympic champion was riding something special too, a matt black Orbea Orca.
We took a look at it at the stage start in Grésy-sur-Aix, to see what kit Sanchez rode in the mountains.
On the mountain stage to valmorel, sanchez’s chain-rings were 52-38, with an 11-28 cassette on the back: on the mountain stage to valmorel, sanchez’s chain-rings were 52-38, with an 11-28 cassette on the back - Sam Dansie/Future Publishing
Samuel Sanchez was running Osymetric rings on his road bike
Complete bike specifications
Frame: Orbea Orca Gold Di2, custom paint
Stem: FSA OS115, 130mm
Handlebar: FSA K-Force Carbon ergo bars 42cm c-to-c
Sam Dansie is a former contributor to BikeRadar. With 15 years experience working in cycling media, Sam also worked for Procycling and was a script writer for GCN.
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