Back in September, 2010, Michele Bartoli signed an agreement with Prestigio (translates to Prestige) to create a line of Bartoli bicycles. The first result of this collaboration is the new Bartoli "Altair".
Of the Altair project Bartoli explains, "As a rider I was always meticulous, very attentive to detail. So, when Prestigio CEO Di Marco proposed this project I immediately realized that it could be an interesting path for me to take. In collaboration with the Prestigio engineers we have developed a really nice frame, I am particularly proud."
"I consider it a bit unique in cycling", said the former champion from Pisa. "It is a frame 100% made in Italy, using T-1000 carbon tubes finished with the technical details that allow for maximum stiffness, great stability and absolute reactivity in every riding situation. The name Altair was chosen because the meaning in Arabic is 'the flying eagle', and also because it is the name of the brightest star in the constellation Aquila."
Certainly Bartoli know how to fly like an eagle; his most important results in his career:
UCI Road World Cup (1997, 1998)
Giro d'Italia, 2 stages
Ronde van Vlaanderen (1996)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (1997, 1998)
Giro di Lombardia (2002, 2003)
GP Ouest-France (2000)
Amstel Gold Race (2002)
La Flèche Wallonne (1999)
Tirreno–Adriatico (1999)
Züri-Metzgete (1998)
Omloop Het Volk (2001)
Prestigio website: www.prestigio.sm (Prestigio is located in the Republic of San Marino)
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Put aside how he won the races (ie the doctors), he was an elegant rider on the bike with a very low position on the bike. He looked fast in the photos alone and the bikes look appropriate with this as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see Italian manufacturing embracing composites.
ANYTHING claiming "100% Made in Italy" is fine with us! Too many others are charging obscene chunks of money for bikes and parts made in places where labor is cheap and passion for cycling is absent.
ReplyDelete