Custom and historic saddles from Selle Italia — gallery

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C208, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=320%2C416 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=480%2C624 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=640%2C832 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C247, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=380%2C494 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=570%2C741 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C279, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=430%2C559 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=645%2C838 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=692%2C900 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C383, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=590%2C767 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=693%2C900 3x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C176, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=272%2C353 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=408%2C530 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=544%2C707 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C201, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=310%2C403 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=465%2C604 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=620%2C806 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-307985 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C723" width="556" height="723" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Possibly one of the most famous racing saddles in history: Marco Pantani's The Pirate" title="dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Possibly one of the most famous racing saddles in history: Marco Pantani’s The Pirate Josh Evans/Immediate Media

This article first appeared on Cyclingnews .

Founded just outside of Milan in 1897, Selle Italia has been producing bicycle saddles for more than 120 years.

Early traditional designs constructed from leather and steel were the foundation of the brand, but after being bought by the current owner in the late 1970s, the company was revolutionised and now focuses on leisure cycling and racing.

As well as pushing the boundaries in using titanium, carbon and other materials to improve comfort and performance, Selle Italia has also made a name for itself producing custom saddles for the biggest names in cycling.

How to choose a bike saddle A buyer’s guide to getting the best road bike saddle Best women’s bike saddle: a buyer’s guide <source media="(max-width: 320px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C169, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=600%2C338 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=900%2C506 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=1200%2C675 4x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 320px)" 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type="image/jpeg"><source media="(max-width: 425px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C228, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=810%2C456 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=1215%2C683 3x" type="image/webp"><source media="(max-width: 425px)" data-srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=90&resize=405%2C228, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=810%2C456 2x, 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https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=816%2C459 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0820-1526910999050-1jevy3uwtx915-f160a7c.jpg?quality=45&resize=1224%2C689 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Possibly one of the most famous racing saddles in history: Marco Pantani’s The Pirate Josh Evans/Immediate Media Marco Pantani ‘s ‘Il Pirata’ yellow saddle is one of the most recognisable custom saddles ever made and is proudly displayed at Selle Italia’s headquarters, to the east of Bassano del Grappa in the Treviso region of Northern Italy.

Alongside Pantani’s saddle, Selle Italia displays its custom creations for Jan Ullrich , Richard Virenque, Bernard Hinault, Alexandre Vinokourov, Mario Cipollini, Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador and more.

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https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/dsc_0821-1526910999053-1qtfdwr0cv9xg-aab7d2a.jpg?quality=45&resize=1224%2C689 3x" type="image/jpeg"> Mario Cipollini’s ‘The King Lion’ Josh Evans/Immediate Media Click or swipe through the gallery above for a closer look at the custom and historic saddles from Selle Italia.