Pinarello launch the Bolide

Ahead of the Giro d’Italia Pinarello have unveiled their brand new time trial bike – the Bolide.

The 2012 Tour de France was won by Sir Bradley Wiggins, in no small part due to his performances in the time trial stages. It was there that the Bolide’s predecessor, the Pinarello Graal, demonstrated its power.

The Graal debuted in the prologue of the 2010 Giro d’Italia and was immediately ridden to the top step of the podium by Wiggins, reaffirming the Pinarello supremacy that began with the time trial bikes of another Tour de France champion, Miguel Indurain.

However, despite the continued successes of the Graal, including Chris Froome’s recent victory at the Tour de Romandie, Pinarello have not rested on their laurels.

For over a year Pinarello Lab technicians and engineers, in close collaboration with Team Sky, have worked to improve the time trial bike which swept the 2012 Tour de France, creating the Bolide.

Pinarello technicians went so far as to investigate the impact of air flow on every single component using intense attention to detail. This extraordinary labour of love allows the Bolide to reduce the total aerodynamic impact by 15% compared to the Graal.

Major new aerodynamic developments include:

The use of new airfoil tube sections and profiles designed to ensure the lowest aerodynamic resistance in all wind conditions, as well as in certain conditions, to generate a forward thrust.

The use of a “concave back” on the seat tube, to allow a closer position of the rear wheel, significantly improving the air flow in that area.

Complete integration of the brakes to “hide” them from the air flow, greatly reducing aerodynamic resistance.

Internal cable routing that optimizes the interaction between the airfoils and the air flow, in addition to an aesthetic impact, innovative for a racing bike.

An integrated handlebar, which gives a unique continuity with the frame and greatly reduce the resistance, compared to a traditional stem and bar.

The integration of battery and electronic controllers, completely hidden inside the frame of the Bolide.

Electronic shifter controls integrated into the handlebar, which further reduces turbulence in the frontal area of the bike.

Bolide has reduced the aerodynamic drag by 15% and the total weight by 5%, from the Graal and will debut at the 2013 Giro d’Italia where it will be ridden by Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Carsten Jeppesen, Team Sky Head of Operations said: “Team Sky have been working really closely with Pinarello on this project and now with the finished article we are very happy with the results.

“Everyone at the team is looking forward to going racing with the Bolide and we can certainly be proud of the fingerprint Team Sky has had on the design process.”

Fausto Pinarello, President of Pinarello added: We have worked very hard together with Team Sky on this project. We had a dream three years ago to work together with Team Sky and create the best products with the team. After the success of the Dogma K, which exceeded our expectations, we wanted to do something more.

"There are many features on the bike that I am proud of. I’m very happy with the result and it’s another great step in our relationship with Team Sky and the first of many more in the future we hope."

To find out more about the Bolide head here.