Pro bike: Yukiya Arashiro’s Colnago C59 Italia

Pro bike: Yukiya Arashiro’s Colnago C59 Italia

Custom paint for the Japanese National Champion

Custom painted Colnago C59 Italia for Yukiya Arashiro of team Europcar

David Rome / Future Publishing

David Rome

Published: February 12, 2014 at 9:56 am
Custom painted Colnago C59 Italia for Yukiya Arashiro of team Europcar - David Rome / Future Publishing
Japanese characters cover the bike, this reads Nippon or Nihon - simply what the Japanese call Japan - David Rome / Future Publishing
Campagnolo provide the entire groupset and wheels - David Rome / Future Publishing
More custom paint for the 2013 Japanese National Champion - David Rome / Future Publishing
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 - David Rome / Future Publishing
Previously the EPS battery would have been seen on the outside of the downtube, the internal EPS battery is now hidden inside the downtube - David Rome / Future Publishing
The carbon rich theme is continued with French made Look Keo Blade 2 pedals - David Rome / Future Publishing
Tacx supply its Uma carbon cages - David Rome / Future Publishing
The handiwork of the mechanic, no messy-looking zip-ties here - David Rome / Future Publishing
Europcar are sponsored by Sigma computers and so do without power training on their race bikes - a very rare sight in the WorldTour - David Rome / Future Publishing
Selle Italia SLR Team Issue saddle provides a lightweight, yet comfortable perch - David Rome / Future Publishing
As a team sponsor, Hutchison 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" - David Rome / Future Publishing
One-piece handlebar/stem combos aren't a common choice with WorldTour riders, Arashiro rides the stylish Deda Alanera - David Rome / Future Publishing
Colnago C59 Italia - the tubes are sourced from Japan and then assembled in Italy - David Rome / Future Publishing
Arashiro was rolling on semi-aero, yet lightweight Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35 wheels - David Rome / Future Publishing
Yukiya Arashiro - 2013 Japanese National Road Champion - David Rome / Future Publishing

In 2009, Yukiya Arashiro was joined with team mate 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.

Japanese characters cover the bike, this reads nippon or nihon - simply what the japanese call japan : japanese characters cover the bike, this reads nippon or nihon - simply what the japanese call japan - David Rome / Future Publishing

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.

One-piece handlebar/stem combos aren't a common choice with worldtour riders, arashiro rides the stylish deda alanera : one-piece handlebar/stem combos aren't a common choice with worldtour riders, arashiro rides the stylish deda alanera - David Rome / Future Publishing

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.

Hutchison 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 par last we checked.

Complete bike specifications

  • Frame: Colnago C59 Italia, 52cm
  • Fork: Colnago C59 carbon tapered
  • Headset: Colnago intergrated 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: Hutchison Pro Tour tubular 24mm
  • Rear tire: Hutchison 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)
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