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Giro tech: Nairo Quintana’s pink Canyon Ultimate CF SLX

Canyon prepare a special pink Ultimate CF SLX for Giro leader Nairo Quintana

To celebrate Nairo Quintana riding himself into the Maglia Rosa on an epic stage 16 yesterday during atrocious conditions and over three mountain passes, Movistar’s bike sponsor Canyon delivered a specially painted pink Ultimate CF SLX for the Colombian to ride today, which should ensure he easily stands out in the peloton.

It has become almost mandatory for equipment sponsors to prepare specially painted frames and kit for riders that wear any of the classification jerseys in each of the three Grand Tours. In fact we're a bit disappointed if they don't get out the yellow or pink paint. So expected it is these days that we fully imagine Canyon had this frame prepared weeks in advance just in case Quintana performed to his potential in the Giro d’Italia. Which he certainly did yesterday on that final mountain climb.

According to Canyon Quintana rides a stock 50cm Ultimate SLX just like the one you can buy from the company. Canyon even offer a replica edition (not the pink one though) with the same distinct Movistar team paint job and Campagnolo Super Record EPS groupset and Bora Ultra wheels, for the princely sum of £6,869.60.  And of course, it's the same as the Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 SL that Mat reviewed last year.

Some of the other equipment suppliers have gotten in on the fun too. Campagnolo have supplied pink hoods which will match the pink bar tape that will surely be wrapped to the handlebars. Fizik have produced pink saddles in previous editions of the race so must have a good stock of them by now, Quintana rides the Antares model. You can see the making of a pink Fizik saddle in this video. 

Will he be riding this pink Canyon all the way to Trieste on Sunday?

Thanks to www.canyon.com for use of the photos.

And if you missed the stage yesterday, you really need to watch it. Here are the video highlights.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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24 comments

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Flying Scot | 9 years ago
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Campag pink hoods would sell.....

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jollygoodvelo | 9 years ago
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I'd ride that.  4

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matthewn5 | 9 years ago
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I had a pink SL Pro, that colour was absolutely amazing, in the sun it really glowed. Too bad the frame was too big for me. Also found the steering a bit vague at speed.

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Leviathan | 9 years ago
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If only this was the grab bag. If Quintana doesn't win, I will give that frame a good home (anyone from Movistar/Canyon reading.)

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NeilG83 | 9 years ago
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He didn't ride this bike today, but Movistar came prepared as his whole outfit; except shoes was pink including gloves & socks.

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Some Fella | 9 years ago
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I like to think i played a part in the decision not to use it.  4

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David Arthur @d... | 9 years ago
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Well, after all that, it doesn't appear he's actually riding the bike today

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RobD | 9 years ago
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I suppose it's a good keepsake for riders after the race, the supplier/team might be more inclined to let them keep it if it's painted to commemorate their achievement rather than selling off the bikes at the end of the year, but at the same time, if it's not the bike you took the lead/won the race on then would it mean as much?

Rolland's polka dot outfit was pretty hideous, I hope never to see shorts like that anywhere ever again, especially made of lycra....

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jasecd | 9 years ago
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And he's not riding it today - looks like his standard Canyon with pink bar tape. He does have the matching pink shorts though.

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JackBuxton | 9 years ago
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I don't see the problem with this, or when any rider does it.
These guys have been training since their early teens (if they had pushy parents, maybe even before then!) and it could possibly be the pinnacle of their careers.
In some countries things are bigger than others, so its probably understandable that Rolland got all polka'd up because of the status of cycling in France.

Wouldn't you milk it a little bit if you had achieved something as great as this, after putting in over ten years of blood,sweat and tears?

P.s. Quintana has been incredible this Giro, showing maturity and unbelievable ability. One of the future greats?

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SuperG | 9 years ago
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Its all 'ostentatious'....the route, what they wear plus its all for advertising.....

.....but I love it  1

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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What's the quote? 'There is no thin line between ostentatious and vulgar - they're the same thing.' Range Rover have built a brand on it after all.

I agree with Herohirst's kit rules. It's all about the jersey - not the peripherals and extras.

It's like the cycling equivalent of the vanity plate - having your name on the top bar. What is all that about? You are not in a race team with 9 matching bikes - so you don't need your name on it FFS!

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offshore_dave replied to WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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Upset by people having their names on their bikes?

Have a coffee and chill.

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Hoester | 9 years ago
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Not that I know the guy, but the Columbian hardly comes across as a Mr Flamboyance. I doubt he has had much, if anything to do with the bike, apart from being told to ride it. I would have thought its Canyon looking for as much exposure as possible, as any right minded cycle manufacturer would. Right or wrong, its garnering attention, so it looks like mission accomplished on their part at least.

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andycoventry replied to Hoester | 9 years ago
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Hoester wrote:

I would have thought its Canyon looking for as much exposure as possible, as any right minded cycle manufacturer would. Right or wrong, its garnering attention, so it looks like mission accomplished on their part at least.

Nail on the head - Manufacturers can so they will, we are all talking about it so it works.

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bobinski | 9 years ago
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I want that frame and in that pink  1

I have always regretted not getting my sl pro in pink.

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hardgrit replied to bobinski | 9 years ago
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bobinski wrote:

I want that frame and in that pink  1

I have always regretted not getting my sl pro in pink.

Im soon to be seling my PX sl pro in pink size medium if your interested. Full bike though not just the frame

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bobinski replied to hardgrit | 9 years ago
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hardgrit wrote:
bobinski wrote:

I want that frame and in that pink  1

I have always regretted not getting my sl pro in pink.

Im soon to be seling my PX sl pro in pink size medium if your interested. Full bike though not just the frame

Possibly. I only really need a frame and had been thinking about replacing mine with a Kinesis Althein.

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Scoob_84 | 9 years ago
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Pier Rolland was the final straw for me last year  31 especially as he lost the jersey in the end

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boardmanrider | 9 years ago
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"It has become almost mandatory for equipment sponsors to prepare specially painted frames and kit for riders that wear any of the classification jerseys in each of the three Grand Tours."

Unless you are Cadel Evans or Rigoberto Uran who rode they standard bikes with a bit of pink bar tape.

It would not surprise me in the least that Quintana targeted yesterdays stage to take pink and just 'rode along' in the previous stages. That said it's a bit conceited to ride the next day on a special pink bike after a win and jersey takeover in what some see as after a controversial stage. Lets see if he can take it to Trieste.

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David Arthur @d... replied to boardmanrider | 9 years ago
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boardmanrider wrote:

"It has become almost mandatory for equipment sponsors to prepare specially painted frames and kit for riders that wear any of the classification jerseys in each of the three Grand Tours."

Unless you are Cadel Evans or Rigoberto Uran who rode they standard bikes with a bit of pink bar tape.

I did say 'almost'

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Some Fella | 9 years ago
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Im trying to find the correct word for this but the nearest i can find is 'ostentatious'.
I personally think it is getting a bit out hand and sort of undermines the 'respect for the jersey' (im sure there is a cute Italian translation for that but i dont know it)
It also thinks it draws a little too much attention to the leaders when the race isnt won - have it on the last day when its all done and dusted maybe but is there anything more humiliating than seeing the one time leader in all his pink/ yellow matching stuff getting dropped on a climb and his hopes of winning slipping away? Like the balloon seller in the park on a sunny day, who is down to his last balloon - he just looks like a old fella holding a balloon.

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jasecd replied to Some Fella | 9 years ago
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Some Fella wrote:

Im trying to find the correct word for this but the nearest i can find is 'ostentatious'.
I personally think it is getting a bit out hand and sort of undermines the 'respect for the jersey'.

I'm inclined to agree - I loved watching Quintana yesterday but there are still five stages left. It's not exactly classy and while I don't expect anyone to take the Maglia Rosa from him he could still be left looking a little stupid. I wonder if he gets to choose to ride this frame or not?

If I remember correctly in the 2012 TdF, Wiggo took the lead and a few bits of yellow (bar tape, saddle) were added, a few days later he had more yellow livery added and only broke out the full yellow bike in the last couple of days when the win was 99% certain. This seems a more classy way to go.

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herohirst replied to Some Fella | 9 years ago
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"Some Fella" - Couldn't agree more.
Feel quite strongly that if you gain the leaders jersey at any of the Grand Tours it should be worn with respect, not just in the way someone rides to defend it but it should be given sartorial respect too.

Black bike with makers brand in white lettering.
Black bib shorts with sponsor's name in white.
White helmet & shoes.
Leaders Jersey - standing proud.

White on black gives maximum contrast & legibility. (Colnago is THE most visible bike brand in the peloton simply because it's basically a black bike with COLNAGO written the length of the down tube in white lettering.)
I love Cadel but frankly he should have been shot for wearing the Pink Jersey with his vile green shoes last week. God help us had one of the "flouro" riders got hold of it.

What retina-searing nightmare would it be if an AG2R rider gets the Yellow Jersey at the Tour to go with their poo-brown shorts? Argghhhh!

NO! Come on peeps! All Black in order to highlight the leader's jersey.

Wear it with pride and show some class.

I think you're right - MAYBE you should be allowed to Lord It with the Pink bike on the final day when you've got it won. (Even then I'm not convinced. Less Is Always More.)

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