Stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia is an individual time trial of 60.6km from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore, and the up and down nature of the course will have many riders and mechanics pondering the best bike choice.

Time trials in stage races are typically flat affairs and the bike sponsors regular time trial bike can happily be used. But due to the degree of climbing, twisting nature of the roads and technical descents on this particular course, many riders have been quoted as preparing to ride their standard road bikes.

It’s a course that should suit the climbers, and bike choice will play an essential ingredient in success on this demanding stage. Whoever wins, it should prove one of the most fascinating stages to watch during the race.

So, Trek has reportedly prepared two special Madone’s for Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer. And as you’d expect, the key addition is a set of short clip-on tri bars clamped to the Bontrager handlebars. It appears from the photos that the team will be using Bontrager’s Lite Aero Clip-On Aerobar with SRAM’s R2C shifters fitted to the ends. The setup should offer the aero advantage needed when the course offers the opportunity, with the extra control that the drops and the geometry of the regular road bike provides for the technical parts of the route.

And judging by this photo, Trek has gone one step further and painted the Texan’s bike up especially for the stage. That’ll help it stand out then.

www.trekbikes.com

Thanks to www.theroaddiaries.com for the photos.