Top Tour riders are used to getting custom painted bikes and
kit, but whereas we normally need to wait till the final stage before the latest
yellow airbrushed bike is rolled out for the winner, Valverde received a custom
painted Pinarello Prince just before he rolled out for the first stage.

We’re not sure what the Spanish is for “distinctive”, but
the standout paint job was done to commentate Valverde becoming the Spanish
national champion just a couple of weeks ago.

To complete the look, the M.O.st Talon LE one-piece handlebar and stem has
been painted yellow and wrapped with yellow bar tape and also painted are the ‘C’ arms of the Campagnolo Record brake calipers. The legend “Prince of Spain”
decorates the top of the down tube, with “Don Alejandro” adorning
the top tube.

Underneath the paint the bike remains the same machine Valverde and his Caisse
D’Epargne team have been campaigning on since the Tour last year. Shifting
duties fall on a 10-speed Campagnolo Record groupset and Campag’s deep-section
carbon Bora wheels slice through the air.

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