In the middle of the Grenchen slope In an hour we went from the most cautious superstition to repeated explosions of satisfaction. So for everyone. From the boys of the national track team to those of the Team Ineos, passing through the blue staff, where the only absentee was unfortunately Daniele Bennati, stuck in bed with the flu. But perhaps the proudest of all seemed Fausto Pinarello, the creator of the Bolide F HR for the Hour, put together in less than four months based on Ganna's measurements. Talking about it on the evePippo had commented on its 9 kilo weight, saying that Fausto had poured too much love into it. And with his joke, we begin our journey into the Pinarello Hour.
«It's heavy because first of all it uses a new technology – explains Pinarello – with a new material. It is made of Scalmalloy, an alloy of Aluminum, Magnesium and Scandium and it is certainly heavier than any composite in the world. However to be able to make these shapes, these thicknesses, these diameters, these tubercles (that's what they're called) there was no other solutionMaybe in the future we'll try to make it in carbon, but this time there wasn't even time to do the tests. In these four months, it was the only system."
A bike designed to last or a one-off prototype?
It could become the bike for the quartet, but it would need to be lightened a bit. It might be good for individual pursuit, but today it was a bit premature to say this. Basically it is the same technology we used already in 2014, first for Bradley Wiggins' record, then for the time trials of all the boys on the teams. Only that they had titanium handlebars, while this one is aluminum.
Did Bigham's bike help in the development for Ganna?
It's the same bike, The bearings, steering bearing seats and bottom bracket axle have been modifiedThat was pretty well underway. And I have to thank the guys, because they did a great job. It took them three and a half months, four, so very little.. They only made three though (laughs, ed.).
This is the third Pinarello to set the Hour Record, the first was Indurain's, but in the meantime the world has changed...
Almost thirty years have passed since Indurain's Espada. Personally, in those years I didn't know what aerodynamics meant and I had just heard about composites.Technology has completely changed. Now it's much faster, almost easier. This 3D-printed bike was made of alloy, but our frames, any frame now, we could have printed, because it's so easy. It's faster and lets you do much more workI have always said that my policy and my philosophy is that I don't care where the technology comes from. Whether American or English, Japanese or Australian, why It was the Australians from the University of Adelaide who helped us with this project with their studies on tubercles and the famous story of the Humpback Whales.
What does producing this bike mean to you?
First of all it is brand consolidation, which should basically allow us to stay there. A fast bike brand: that's what I've always liked And that's what I'm trying to pass on to the entire staff. From the kids to the engineers, marketing, production itself, and everyone who's coming up. Of course, if the engine is Filippo, it's much easier with him.. Moreover, we are playing at home against an Italian, which is a source of pride for me personally. I've always had this mentality of making fast bikes, then with a team like Ineos…
What changes?
Thirty years ago there was Miguel (Indurain, ed.), there was Banesto and we were building the bike, here everything is raised to the nth degreeWe grew up with Team Sky, now Ineos. They've helped us a lot, so we welcome the collaboration, and it doesn't end here. There'll be more news soon. Filippo's here. There are riders for the stage races. We're talking about cyclocross and more; we'll be doing a lot of things...
New measures
He was also on the track Michael Rogers, for interest and to represent theUCI, since President Lappartient dedicated himself to the Lombardy region and the gravel world championships over the weekend. And so, between one thing and another, The Australian explained that starting next year the distance between the saddle tip and the handlebars will change.: no longer two standards as now, but three. With different height options for chrono prostheses. Which is to say that Ganna could have had different measures from January 1st. And when you print custom bikes, it's not enough to make an adjustment, but (for example) the handlebars need to be redone.Pinarello is right, in some respects we're probably just at the beginning.
The other evening in Grenchen, even "the Prince" was moved. A historic Italian brand. An athlete who couldn't be more Italian. We jokingly told him that perfection would have been to have set the record in SpresianoBut at that point, Fausto also threw up his hands. Who knows, maybe Ganna might return to challenge his own standards on an Italian track in the future…
