Joaquim Rodriguez is something of an anomaly: a climber riding an aero bike.
The rider nicknamed Purito has been a long-time fan of the Canyon Aeroad, both in its previous incarnation and this latest version, the Aeroad CF SLX. It’s served him well, too, having already picked up two wins at the 2015 Tour de France, on stages three and 12.
It’s no heavyweight, with a claimed frame weight of 980g, but is certainly trumped in that regard by Canyon’s super-light climber’s bike, the Ultimate CF SLX, which weighs just 780g and is preferred by Nairo Quintana, who rides for Canyon’s second sponsored team, Movistar.
What also sets Rodriguez’s bike apart is the custom paint job which, combined with the aggressively-styled frame, makes for a striking machine.