The long-awaited confirmation of Team Sky's bike supplier was made official today as Pinarello signed a three-year agreement with the new British squad.
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford had been in discussions with several major companies over the summer, including Giant and Look, but the long-established Italian manufacturer came out on top.
"The choice of bike has been a key decision," said Brailsford. "From the first talks, we found an immediate understanding with Pinarello on what this team is about; performance and perfection. The ways that Pinarello combine their life-long passion for the bike with the latest technology are genuinely inspired."
Pinarello has a long-standing tradition of backing top teams, notably Miguel Indurain's Banesto squad and the Telecom outfit featuring Erik Zabel, Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich. Caisse d'Epargne rider Alejandro Valverde rode to victory in this year's Vuelta on a machine supplied by the manufacturer based in Treviso, Italy, since 1952.
Company president Fausto Pinarello said: "We are very happy with this new partnership. Team Sky's goal of becoming one of the world's leading cycling teams, fits with our objective of continuing and growing our presence as one of the world's leading bicycle manufacturers."
The deal goes further than Team Sky, according to Pinarello importer Phil Griffiths of Yellow Limited. Griffiths understands that all road riders on British Cycling's teams will now be supplied with Pinarellos, with Sky's new recruits set to have up to six machines each to choose from.
The design of the new bike is still in doubt however. The team will ride Dogmas but it's believed Fausto Pinarello did not like the look of the bike that the team's new designer had come up with.
A 'look' had been created to go across the bikes, the trucks and the Adidas kit, but Pinarello are insisting that they design their bikes and no one else.
Team Sky will race the new bikes for the first time at the Tour Down Under in Australia in January.
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