With the team now midway through its first training camp, a short three day meet in the Colombian capital Bogotà, the bike the Colombia Coldeportes team will be riding next season has been unveiled by Bianchi.
The Pro Continental team will be astride the carbon fibre Sempre machine, which utilises nanotechnology and Bianchi’s Ultra Thin Seat Stay Technology design to try to strike the right balance between weight reduction, stiffness and shock absorbtion.
“The special dedicated graphics of Colombia Coldeportes' Sempre bike have been studied to perfectly match Colombia’s national colors, while keeping the identity of Bianchi's brand,” stated the manufacturer in its release.
The components used will be from a number of different suppliers, with gear changes being effected via Sram RED levers, derailleurs and sprockets, while the brakes, seatpost, crankset and handlebars will all be FSA K-Force. Other parts include Fizik Antares saddles, Vision TriMax carbon wheels, Hutchinson tyres, Elite bottles and cages plus Time Iclic² Titan Carbon pedals.
The purpose of the short training camp, which began yesterday and runs until tomorrow, is to meet and get to know riders and staff, including team manager Claudio Corti and directeurs sportifs Valerio Tebaldi and Oliverio Rincon.
Coldeportes general director Jario Clopatofsky will also meet the riders at its headquarters in the Colombian capital, with the team stating that his goal will be to ‘try give them the right motivation ahead of a very demanding season.’ Most of the races will be in Europe.
The riders will also undergo medical and scientific testing at Coldeportes’ Center of High Specialization. After the end of the camp, they will continue their own training prior to the next camp in Italy at the end of January. That will be a high intensive stay which will prepare the team for its first races.
A total of sixteen Colombian riders were confirmed one week ago as being part of the team in 2012. This group includes the former Tour de France Maillot Jaune Victor Hugo Peña and the 2008 under 23 world road race champion Fabio Duarte.
Also on the team is this year’s Tour de l’Avenir winner, Esteban Chávez.Corti confirmed to VeloNation last Tuesday that the team would try to secure an invite for one of the sport’s three week tours.
“As a Professional Continental Team, our aim is to get an invitation for the biggest races in cycling, and we hope to get a chance to ride a Grand Tour in our first season,” he said.
Colombia Coldeportes' frame and equipment for 2012:
Model: Team Colombia Coldeportes “Bianchi Sempre”
Frame: Bianchi Sempre Carbon
Headset 1 1/8", UTSS Ultra Thin Seat Stay, BB30 system, nanotechnology
Fork: Bianchi Full Carbon B4P - FF38 - 1.1/8 300mm §46mm
Seatpost: FSA K-FORCE Carbon
Crankset: FSA K-FORCE Light BB30 Carbon 53/39
BB set: FSA BB30
Brakes: FSA K-FORCE
Headset: FSA ORBIT 1 1/8" - 1.5"
Stem: FSA OS-99 CSI alu/carbon
Handlebar: FSA K-FORCE carbon
Saddle: FIZIK Antares
Ribbon: Celeste Bianchi
Wheels: VISION TriMax Carbon TC-50
Tires: Hutchinson
Shifters: SRAM RED
Front derailleur: FSA Energy
Rear deailleur: SRAM RED
Sprocket: SRAM RED
Chain: FSA Team Issue
Bottle: Elite Corsa Team
Bottlecage: ELITE PASE carbon
Pedals: TIME ICLIC² TITAN Carbon
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