Tour Tech 2011: Colnago launch Europcar version of C59 Italia

The Colnago C59 is now available in a Europcar replica paint scheme as usually ridden by current Tour de France race leader Thomas Voeckler – although the Frenchman was presented with a yellow model when he took the maillot jaune on Sunday.

Our man Stuart fell in love with the C59 when he reviewed the frameset a few months ago. He summed it up like this: “Superb example of Italian frame-building expertise. Yes, it’s expensive… but it’s worth it.”

We didn’t think he was going to give it back.

The ‘Omega’ frame, which weighs around 950g, was developed in collaboration with Ferrari engineers and is completely handbuilt in Cambiago, Lombardy.

Colnago use a lugged construction which allows for a huge range of sizes: 22 to be exact, 14 in traditional geometries and eight with sloping top tubes. Or, if you really can’t find one to fit, you can opt for a custom model.

There are 150 different moulds in the factory and 30 different head tube lugs to accommodate all the variations. Each lug is made up of 12 layers of carbon cloth consisting of woven and unidirectional fibre sheets. The tubes are hand wound from pre-impregnated carbon fibre cloth as well; this allows them to be laid up to control the composition and ride characteristics of each individual frame size.

The C59 features a top tube and down tube that both feature Colnago’s distinctive clover-leaf profile, and they each come with an internal I-beam rib to increase the stiffness.

But go to Stu’s review for all the details… Basically, it’s a 100% carbon fibre race machine that rides beautifully.

A C59 comes as a frame, fork and headset package for £3,499.95, and it’s available in both Shimano Di2 and conventional cable variants.

We hope to have some more details and pics of Tommy V’s special yellow bike tomorrow. In the meantime, you could gaze in the shop window at Colnago’s UK distributors, Windwave.