Fabio Aru (Astana) is the latest big-name rider to be given a special custom decorated bike by Specialized, with the Vuelta a Espana winner using it for the first time at this week’s Criterium du Dauphine stage race as he prepares for his Tour de France debut in July.
The chunky down tube, head tube and seat stays are white, while the forks, chainstays and seat tube are red, to create the mix of colours. The four Moors of the flag can be seen on the seat tube and on the head of the forks. Aru’s personal logo of a horseman adorns the top tube, with his name also in black and red.
Astana – like Lotto Soudal and Movistar, uses Campagnolo components and while Giro d’Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali prefers mechanical gears, Aru’s bike is fitted with Campagnolo EPS gears, with the control centre tucked away under the FSA stem. Astana uses SRM power meters integrated with the Campagnolo chainset, with CeramicSpeed bearing in the bottom bracket and headset.
Aru has a combination of Vision handlebars and a FSA stem. He has opted for a small frame size and plenty of seatpost. The FSA K-Force seatpost appears to be extra long to ensure Aru’s correct position. The wheels are Corima with S+ carbon fiber rims and sleek hubs that appear to have a carbon fire body. The wheels are fitted with Specialized tyres.
Aru has a Specialized Toupe saddle and the bike is fitted with Look pedals and Tacx bottle cages.
Aru has race number 51 for the Criterium di Dauphine. His spare bike –also decorated in the Sardinian colours, has an outside spot on the roof of the Astana team car.
Click or swipe through the gallery above for more images of Aru's bike.