Invite the biggest teams in world cycling to your event, and you can expect to see some beautiful bicycles.
The RideLondon-Surrey Classic attracted an array of jaw-dropping machinery, all immaculately prepared, but some bearing the scars of racing.
For the bike connoisseur, there was much to admire: Gerald Ciolek’s slightly scuffed Trek Madone 7, for example – in all probability, the machine on which he won Milan-San Remo.
Peter Sagan’s Cannondale SuperSix EVO High Mod was stored safely on the team car roof, while the man himself conducted an impromptu autograph session from the back seat.
The Cervelo S5s of David Millar and Team UK Youth’s Marcin Bialoblocki made interesting viewing for quite different reasons: Millar’s steed sported a stylish Union Jack inlay on the fork, while Bialoblocki ran a prototype Vision TC50 rear wheel with a third flange on the hub.
Millar’s Garmin-Sharp squad were the only outfit to bring a team bus, but it was Team Sky who stole the show when they rolled up in a fleet of Jaguar XF Sportbrake.
Last minute adjustments were made to Jonny McEvoy’s Fuji Altamira SL, which proved to be time well spent – the NetApp-Endura rider spent most of the day in an eight-man break.
Further evidence that cyclists are the friendliest of all pro athletes was easy to find. Almost all of them took time out to sign autographs for lucky fans and Team Sky’s CJ Sutton even posed with a supporter’s lucky soft toy.
Enjoy this gallery of the pro bikes on show at the Queen Elizabeth park, shortly before the départ of the most significant one-day race in Britain.
