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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.

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Sam Dansie

Sam started as a trainee reporter on daily newspapers in the UK before moving to South Africa where he contributed to national cycling magazine Ride for three years. After moving back to the UK he joined Procycling as a staff writer in November 2010.