Alessandro Petacchi recently visited Cicli Pinarello to work on the final details of the new bikes he will use in 2004: the Prince SL for winter training and the magnesium Dogma for the World Cup races and the major stage races. Alessandro Petacchi and new Fassa Bortolo team mates Fabio Sacchi and Alberto Ongarato recently visited Cicli Pinarello in Treviso to talk to Fausto Pinarello and the Pinarello mechanics about the new bikes they will use next season. Petacchi, who won a huge haul of races with the magnesium Pinarello Dogma bike, discussed details of his 2004 bikes with the Pinarello mechanics who are working on the new bikes. The aim was to make little adjustments to improve and “perfect” their position on the bike and their subsequent frame dimensions.

“Sponsorship of a professional team is a very important opportunity for our company because we have to offer the best advice and technology we can,” explained Fausto Pinarello, head of Cicli Pinarello. This continues his direct links with the riders and teams sponsored by Pinarello.

“The bike of a champion like Alessandro Petacchi is created thanks to a continuous exchange of information and ideas between our workshop and the needs of the rider. I know I can trust our mechanics and frame builders because they have worked for us for many years. Our important team sponsorships have helped us build bikes for great riders such as Miguel Indurain, Jan Ullrich and Erik Zabel, just to name a few.”

Pinarello has already supplied the Fassa Bortolo team with the first 2004 bikes (the Prince SL model) for winter training. In January, the team will receive their 2004 race bikes: the top of the range Dogma, made entirely from magnesium. Alessandro Petacchi’s Scandium Prince SL is fitted with the new 2004 Campagnolo Record groupset in carbon fiber. The handlebars are the Deda Elementi Alanera model in carbon fiber, pedals are Look with titanium axles, and the wheels are Mavic Ksyrium SL2. The bottle cage is the carbon fiber Elite while the saddle is a new model: the “customised” SLR with carbon fiber reinforcing. Petacchi’s bike weighs 15.8 pounds.  

December 2004