YOHAN COLNAGO C40 PRO

Mapei-GB riders used ColnagoРІР‚в„ўs flagship carbon C40 frames during 1996, but a quick glance at the bikes used by the team for the previous couple of years reveals the diversity of equipment at its disposal. Amongst the other stars in the team were Abraham Olano, the reigning world champion, and the current world hour record holder, Tony Rominger. The squad had so many talented riders that it was even able to field three top quality teams in different corners of the globe simultaneously. He was the World Cup winner from the previous year and was in amazingly good company at Mapei. Being one of the most prominent riders of his generation he was privileged to test, in real world conditions, a multitude of different bikes made from various materials: steel, aluminium, titanium and carbon-fibre.Р”В«y 1996 Museeuw was riding for the worldРІР‚в„ўs number one team, Mapei-GB. In a successful career spanning 14 years, the Flemish rider witnessed first-hand the transformation of bicycle frame technology. But it was on the pavР“В© of the Classics that he achieved his greatest triumphs. He won two stages: the first on Mont-Saint-Michel, the next in Paris РІР‚вЂњ a monastery and then the famed cobbles of the Champs-ElysР“В©es. Johan Museeuw had his first taste of victory in the elite ranks in 1990 in the Tour de France. All the contact points - saddle, bars and pedals - were exactly the same as normal.РІР‚Сњ That way it is more comfortable and more stable over the cobbles.

РІР‚СљThe top tube length matched my standard frame, which meant that the distance to the bars was the same, but the wheelbase was longer. РІР‚СљRemember it was the beginning of the carbon era and the C40 was a massive improvement over the previous aluminium and titanium frames I had been riding.

РІР‚СљThe tubes were made heavier and stiffer purely for Roubaix with much more carbon in the construction,РІР‚Сњ said the rider when asked about any modifications that were made.

YOHAN COLNAGO C40 PRO

MuseeuwРІР‚в„ўs name is scribbled on the frame and looks more like the work of the mechanic than a graphic artist, as pro bikes are now labelled. Public issue C40 frames were equipped with Colnago branded seatposts in the annoyingly unique 28mm diameter. The seat lug on MapeiРІР‚в„ўs 1996 team bikes was modified to accommodate the 27.2mm aluminium Dura-Ace seatpost, the use of which was insisted upon by a major sponsor of the Mapei-GB team, Shimano.

Yohan colnago c40