We got hold of Bernhard Eisel’s Team Sky Pinarello Dogma K8-S ‘cobble bike’ to take a closer look at the controversial suspension machine that the British squad will be using during Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

Sky captain Eisel and the rest of the Flanders squad, including on-form Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard and Bradley Wiggins, will be piloting the new carbon-fibre Dogma K8-S, which has been designed in conjunction with motor manufacturer Jaguar to smooth out the rough cobbles along the route to improve rider comfort and power output.

Team Sky’s secret weapon: A suspension Pinarello Dogma cobble bike

Meet the bike co-engineered with Jaguar that Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas will use in the Tour of Flanders

According to the team, the frame still weighs in under the magic 1kg mark despite featuring a small elastomer suspension unit at the top of the wishbone seat stays that gives 1cm of rear wheel movement to take the buzz out of the road.

Pinarello and Jaguar say that tests have shown a not-so-marginal-gain of 4.6 per cent increase in performance over rough terrain compared to the squad’s regular Dogma F8.

Wiggins said of the bike: “The way it feels, its aerodynamics, stiffness, and improved flex in the rear, is game-changing for cycling.”

Aerodynamic features from the Dogma F8 have been retained in the new frame

Pinarello and Jaguar designers have used flattened chainstays to afford rear-wheel movement. Eisel’s bike is equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain and Dura-Ace C50 wheels

Viewed from the rear, the tiny shock-absorbing unit looks like a fat wishbone junction

The shock unit uses an elastomer as a spring, the shock weighs less than 100g

The seat stays join the seat tube via a small pivot

Pinarello/Jaguar Dogma K8-S bike