In celebration of the 100th edition of everyone's favourite Italian bike race, Wilier Trestina has released a custom painted edition of its Cento10AIR road bike.
The special edition frame features the brand's famous cromovelato ramato finish (translated from Italian this means copper plated) — a process Wilier pioneered in 1947 that was used until the 1980s when race bikes were made from steel.
Wilier said the use of this galvanising process was a first for the bike industry and also required the first use of a clear coat on a frame to protect the finish.
The original bikes were finished with gold decals that were painted by hand using a fine horsehair brush.
In 2016, the brand reviewed the cromovelato ramato finish on a run of retro-inspired Superleggera lugged steel bikes and said it was a homerun, so decided to bring the finish to the Cento10AIR.
Sitting atop Wilier's range, the Cento10AIR is a modern carbon race bike that the Italian brand claims is eight percent more aero and 200 grams lighter than its predecessor, the Cento1AIR — it can accept 28mm tires too.
Wilier said in its press release: "Bringing the ramato finish to the Cento10AIR completes the circle for Wilier, who use their 110 years of racing heritage as the backbone for each successive innovation. The gleaming copper finish on the new Cento10AIR is a direct connection between modern racing bicycles and the skilled craftsmen who brought the original ramato bicycle to life."
If you're lusting after a 'copper plated' Wilier, unfortunately there's been no announcement yet on how much they'll cost, but you can send 'requests for information' — which is Italian for an arm and a leg.