Pierre Rolland’s Colnago M10 is perhaps one of the most striking machines on show at the Tour de France thanks to a new paintjob for the 100th edition and Campagnolo’s 80th Anniversary Super Record groupset.
If there hasn’t been a French winner of the Tour de France since Bernard Hinault claimed his fifth win in 1985, there has regularly been a home rider in the polka dot jersey, including the disgraced Richard Virenque, who won the King of the Mountains classification a record seven times between 1994 and 2004, and, most recently, Thomas Voeckler in 2012.
This year it’s the turn of Voeckler’s Europcar team-mate, Rolland, to attempt to win the Tour’s climbing prize and the 26-year-old has been in the polka dot jersey for much of the race, with his Colnago M10 receiving a red and white makeover as a result.
However, Chris Froome’s dominance on Mont Ventoux saw the Team Sky leader return to the top of that classification, as well as extend his overall lead, and Rolland has a fight on his hands if he is to wrestle the jersey from Froome’s hands in the Alps.
So, for now at least, Rolland is back on his team issue Colnago M10 – except that it’s not all that regular, nor particularly team issue.
First, all Europcar bikes (the French team’s riders have both the Colnago C59 and M10 at their disposal) received a new lick of paint ahead of the Grand Départ, with a predominantly white finish with special decals (including ‘100e Edition’ on the toptube and the rider’s name on the seatstays) to mark the historic race.
And second, Rolland’s M10 frame is equipped with Campagnolo’s 80th Anniversary Super Record groupset. The limited edition group, of which only 2,013 have been made, was unveiled in February to celebrate, you guessed it, the Italian component manufacturer’s 80th anniversary.
Each component is stamped with a celebratory logo and the groupset comes in a special presentation box. While the groupset’s value to collectors means that most won’t find their way onto a bike, Campagnolo have used a microsanding finish on carbon fibre parts and a opaque finish on aluminum parts, as well as a new treatment for intricate technical parts, to ensure the 1,862g groupset stands the test of time and use if it is used.
It’s worth nothing, however, that Rolland’s frame doesn’t wear the complete groupset as he is one of a handful of riders in the peloton, including Froome, who uses o-symmetric chainrings. Also, owing to its high cost and limited availability, only Rolland’s race bike gets the groupset.
Campagnolo have also produced two matching wheelsets, one with a full carbon construction (1,310g, at Rolland’s disposal) and one with a aluminium/carbon construction (1,590g).
Rolland’s handlebar/stem combination also catches the eye, not just because it’s an integrated setup from Deda, but because it has ‘3,390km’ (the distance of the race) and ’28 Cols’ (the number of climbs ranked category two of higher) stamped on it – an indication of Rolland’s motivation before the race even got underway.
Open the gallery above for a closer inspection of Rolland’s machine.
