Chris Froome's Tour de France Pinarello Dogma F8 Rhino
Custom paint and weight-saving details for the Tour de France leader
This article first appeared on BikeRadar.
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.
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 for him to ride after taking the race leader's yellow jersey on stage 8 to Luchon.
More on this story - 2016 Tour de France bikes:
Peter Sagan's Tour de France S-Works Venge ViAS
Romain Bardet's Focus Izalco Max - Gallery
Orbea's new Orca debuts at Tour de France
Richie Porte's BMC Teammachine SLR01
Tony Martin's Specialized S-Works Tarmac - Gallery
Andre Greipel's Tour de France Ridley Noah SL
Marcel Kittel's 2016 Tour de France Specialized Venge ViAS - Gallery
Mark Cavendish's Cervelo S5 - Gallery
Fabian Cancellara's Tour de France Trek Madone
Ian Stannard's Pinarello Dogma F8 for the Tour de France
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