Tao Geoghegan Hart has received a Giro d'Italia themed Pinarello F12 to celebrate his win at the Italian Grand Tour earlier this year, and it didn't take him long to hunt out a patriotic picture opportunity.
The 25-year-old Ineos rider picked up the bike at the Pinarello store, in London - having been invited for what he believed to be a Q+A session.
The rim brake machine has of course been painted in the colours of the historic race, and bears the scrawl of Fausto Pinarello on the seat tube, whilst still wearing the race number 165 - which Geoghegan Hart pinned on for the first stage, on October 3.
Image: Gee Milner
The bike has been photographed, and its build documented, by Gee Milner.
As you'd expect, the cockpit is a Most Talon Ultra bar/stem combo, and the steerer has been cut as low as it goes for a nose down position (should Tao take this one for a spin).
The frame has been dressed in a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, alongside matching Dura Ace C60 wheels which roll aboard Continental Competition Pro Ltd rubber; the Pro Ltd version of the top end tubular isn't available for sale and features a latex inner tube.
The saddle is a colour matched Fizik Vento Argo model, we assume the R1 with carbon rails, this is a perch that's well suited to a forward racing position, with the central relief channel providing comfort when riding on the rivet.
The baby pink hue continues to the Elite Cycling Custom Race bottle cages - no doubt an area where Ineos is taking care having had Geraint Thomas knocked out of contention by a crash involving a rival team's flyaway bidon.
Fausto Pinarello attended the hand-over event, and Geoghegan Hart - who abandoned the race in 2019 before coming back to win the overall this year - commented: “It’s lovely, chatting to Fausto and having a personal message from him [on the bike].
"It’s special what the bike represents to me...It’s just super special to have something to remember the race by.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
