Pro bikes - Alessandro Ballan's Wilier

Ballan's Lampre/Wilier Le Roi

Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) scored a notable victory in April 2007 when the Italian beat Tom Boonen on his home ground to win the Tour of Flanders. His mount for that day and the 2007 the season has been a Wilier Le Roi. The Tour de France bike (No 10) featured here differs a little from his Flanders winning bike, (Which had a longer rake fork to help over the Flanders cobbles) otherwise it's much the same.

Ballan's bike and Le Roi's are made in a local workshop

The heart of the bike is the multi-monocoque carbon frame constructed from carbon tubes and glued together, and where necessary an extra layer of carbon weave is added such as for the sprinters in the Lampre squad. The Lampre team have the choice of the use of the lighter newer Cento full monococque bike, which is preferred by the diminutive Damiano Cunego, or the older Le Roi. It is the Le Roix that remains popular with riders such as Ballan.

Instead of a single mould for the main triangle, there are several moulds to make an individual monocoque tubes. The tubes are closed at the ends by a plug specially designed for a wider surface area where the tubes are joined.

When the monocque tubes are ready, each one with its unique mould for the required length and inclination, they are put together, then the carbon seat stay and chain stay are attached.

At this point begins the most delicate phase of production, the manual enforcement of the pre-peg weave on the parts of the frame that undergo the most stress during riding. These are the head tube, the bottom bracket, and the intersection of the seat stays with the seat tube. This weave is then compressed in moulds and cooked.

Wilier say, 'This method allows us to produce frames weighing less than 1kg and with technical characteristics of the highest quality. The weave used to build these frames constitutes a balanced mix of the fibres 40T, 30T, and 24T. Each of them has different degrees of resistance and flexibility. 30t is the most frequently used because it has the most resistance, while 40T has the best elasticity. 24T accounts for the smaller percentage in the mix. It is normally used in bicycle forks.'

The bike is finished with a Campagnolo Record carbon drivetrain, brakes and wheels. Plus ITM bars and stem, with a Ritchey carbon seat post, a Fizik saddle and Look Keo Carbon pedals. Finally Mizuno straight carbon forks complete the frame.

Marco Pantani and historic Wilier's - click here

Multi-monocoque carbon frame	ITM alloy bars and stem	Ritchey carbon seat post and Fizik saddle
Campag Fulcrum wheels	Wavy rear stays	Mizuno straight carbon forks

Bike spec Bike - Wilier Group - Campagnolo Wheels - Fulcrum Saddle - Fizik Finishing kit - ITM Tyres -Vittoria Website - www.wilierbikes.co.uk