Thibaut Pinot's FDJ team bike at the Giro d'Italia would be appear to be a new model from the French brand Lapierre.
The likelihood is that the new bike is the Lapierre Aircode 2, which appeared on the UCI's approved frames list on the March 21, 2017.
The Lapierre Aircode is the French company's aero bike and sits along side the lightweight Xelius model, which Pinot has favoured in the past.
In addition to being a new frame model, Pinot's Lapierre has a custom blue and white paint job that has also featured on his Lapierre Xelius team bike.
The paint job is rather unique, with blue and white and white geometric patterns layered upon each other. Close inspection of the seatpost suggests there is some kind of rubber insert, probably to increase compliance.
The seat tube, top tube junction is significantly different (Sunada)
(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)
The top tube, seat tube junction is radically different too, with a triangular profile reminiscent of some modern time trial bikes.
The geometric pattern certainly stands out from the crowd and has colour coordinated Elite bottle cages. Unfortunately the paintjob makes it difficult to properly see the shape of the new bike.
Watch: Giro d'Italia preview - stages 1-9
The cockpit doesn't appear too radical, lacking the heavy integration of bikes like the Trek Madone and S-Works Venge ViAS. Instead there is a direct mount front brake and standard bar and stem combo. Pinot is running a 125mm Pro Vibe Stem.
(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)
Riding for a Shimano sponsored team, Pinot's bike is fitted with the latest Dura-Ace R9150 Di2 groupset and Dura-Ace wheels a C-60 on the rear and a C-40 on the front on this occassion. Interestingly, Pinot is using a SRM power meter rather than Shimano's own power meter.
Pinot's chainrings are 54-42t although we suspect these will be swapped when the Giro d'Italia enters the mountains.
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Oliver Bridgewood - no, Doctor Oliver Bridgewood - is a PhD Chemist who discovered a love of cycling. He enjoys racing time trials, hill climbs, road races and criteriums. During his time at Cycling Weekly, he worked predominantly within the tech team, also utilising his science background to produce insightful fitness articles, before moving to an entirely video-focused role heading up the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel, where his feature-length documentary 'Project 49' was his crowning glory.
