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Pro bike: Samuel Sanchez's Orbea Orca Gold

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Special matt black edition for Euskaltel-Euskadi rider

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Samuel Sanchez’s unpainted Orbea Orca Gold – it’s a standard squad frame just without the orange paint

Samuel Sanchez’s unpainted Orbea Orca Gold – it’s a standard squad frame just without the orange paint (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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In another deviation from the team issue kit, Sanchez gets Alligator i-Link brake cabling

In another deviation from the team issue kit, Sanchez gets Alligator i-Link brake cabling (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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The frame-recessed seat clamping mechanism is a sleek feature of the top Orca frames

The frame-recessed seat clamping mechanism is a sleek feature of the top Orca frames (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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Vittoria Corsa Evo SC cotton tubulars are fitted to the Dura-Ace wheels

Vittoria Corsa Evo SC cotton tubulars are fitted to the Dura-Ace wheels (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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Mechanics had trimmed brake cables perfectly on the callipers

Mechanics had trimmed brake cables perfectly on the callipers (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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Sanchez matched the FSA stem with the brand’s K-Force Carbon Ergo handlebars, 42cm centre to centre

Sanchez matched the FSA stem with the brand’s K-Force Carbon Ergo handlebars, 42cm centre to centre (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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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

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 (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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The FSA OS-115 stem was a standard 130mm centre-to-centre

The FSA OS-115 stem was a standard 130mm centre-to-centre (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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Shimano Dura-Ace pedals take the power

Shimano Dura-Ace pedals take the power (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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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 (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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The electronic Shimano Dura-Ace front derailleur is set up for Sanchez’s choice of Osymetric chainring

The electronic Shimano Dura-Ace front derailleur is set up for Sanchez’s choice of Osymetric chainring (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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The pair of Elite Sior Evo bottle cages – a titanium skeleton wrapped in carbon – are robust drinks holders

The pair of Elite Sior Evo bottle cages – a titanium skeleton wrapped in carbon – are robust drinks holders (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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Sanchez perches on a 120g Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Flow

Sanchez perches on a 120g Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Flow (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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Naturally, Sanchez’s bike is equipped with new Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 11-sp shifting

Naturally, Sanchez’s bike is equipped with new Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 11-sp shifting (Image credit: Sam Dansie)
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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.

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. (Image credit: Sam Dansie)

Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Samuel Sanchez had a tough Giro d’Italia. So tough he’s ruled himself out of a tilt at the Tour de France to recover for the Vuelta. He’s looked out of sorts at the Dauphiné too until a superb stage win on stage 7 to Superdévoluy.

He’s riding something special too. We viewed the rider’s special, matt black Orbea Orca at the stage start in Grésy-sur-Aix, to see what kit Sanchez is running in the mountains.