Tour de France Bikes - Wilier Cento Uno

Damiano Cunego trying out his new bike before the Tour

ProTourNews Techincal Editor David Arthur takes a look at Damiano Cunego's (Lampre) Cento Uno.

The new Cento Uno is a striking addition to the range

It's made from an even stronger carbon fibre than the

Wilier's top end race bike has been redesigned and the new Cento Uno heralds in several new changes, and Damiano Cunego will be hoping they're significant enough to take him to a podium finish in three weeks time.

Following the release of the aero Cento Crono last year, Wilier has taken the Cento and redesigned the frame, and while still sharing many similarities, is also strikingly different. The new frame is made using Mitsubishi's 46 ton carbon composite, reputedly one of the strongest and most resilient available. At the bottom bracket Wilier has one foot on the bandwagon with the introduction of an integrated design, with the BB cups slotting directly into the frame means less aluminum and allows a wider shell, which in turn means a wider down tube to be used - all contributing to the extra stiffness this frame affords.

An integrated seat mast makes an appearance on a Wilier frame for the first time, but the company has taken measures to allow fitment of a conventional seatpost. The internal diameter is 31.6mm so there's the opportunity for cutting the mast down and fitting a normal seat post. Wilier use a Ritchey seat clamp onto of their seat mast (as does Scott on its Addict).

Out back, the rear triangle is moulded as one-piece, including the dropouts, and the design strikes a careful balance between outright stiffness and riding comfort. Finally, up front the head tube sees a double profile: round at the top and square at its bottom. The fork crown bares a similar square profile and reinforced crown.

All these changes result in a frameset the Wilier claim is 120g lighter than the previous Cento, at about 1.18kg.

And Cunego seems to be impressed with the ride offered by the new frame, saying: “I have never ridden such a stiff frame. You can feel the benefits of T46 when you're pushing the frame to the max. The rear of the frame responds immediately to the strokes of the pedals and without a hint of torsion.”

Check out Alessandro Ballan's Tour Bike.

www.wilierbikes.co.uk