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Wilier Cento Uno

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Wilier’s top end race bike has a new label. The Cento Uno, as it has been named, heralds several changes to the old Cento and Damiano Cunego will be hoping they’re significant enough to take him to a Tour de France podium finish in less than three weeks time.

Following the release of the aero Cento Crono last year, Wilier has taken the Cento and redesigned the frame, which while retaining sharing many similarities with its predecessor is also strikingly different. The new frame is made using Mitsubishi’s ’46 ton’ carbon composite, claimed to be one of the strongest available. At the bottom bracket Wilier has leapt aboard the latest bandwagon with the introduction of an integrated design where the BB cups slot directly into the frame. This saves on the use of aluminum for the threads and allows the adoption of a wider bracket shell, which in turn permits a wider down tube to be used – all contributing to the extra stiffness this frame affords.

An integrated seat mast makes an appearance on a Wilier frame for the first time, but the company has ensured that it will be possible to fit a conventional seatpost. The internal diameter is 31.6mm so there’s the opportunity for cutting the mast down and fitting a normal seat post. Wilier use a Ritchey seat clamp on their seat mast (as does Scott on its Addict).

Out back, the rear triangle is moulded in one piece, including the dropouts, and is designed to strike a careful balance between outright stiffness and riding comfort. Finally, up front the head tube sees a double profile: round at the top and square at its bottom. The fork crown bears a similar square profile and reinforced crown.

All these changes result in a frameset that Wilier claim is 120g lighter than the previous Cento at about 1.18kg.

And Cunego seems to be impressed with the ride offered by the new frame, saying: “I have never ridden such a stiff frame. You can feel the benefits of T46 when you’re pushing the frame to the max. The rear of the frame responds immediately to the strokes of the pedals and without a hint of torsion.”

Team mate Allesandro Ballan adds: “I like to test frames on the most difficult terrain like cobbles and unpaved roads. If you are able to push to the max even under these conditions, without the sensation of losing power to the irregularity of the surface, then it has passed the test.”

“This is the bike I will take to the Tour of Flanders and the Paris Roubaix.”

Cunego can be spotted riding a white version in the Tour. A Cunego replica strip version, as well as the Lampre livery and red, white or carbon grey options are available. Sizes range from XS to XXL.

More at www.wilierbikes.co.uk.

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