Fi’zi:k Team Edition Saddles
With Tour de France (TDF) fever well in truly floating around, Fi’zi:k have decided, like last year, to cash in on the greatest bike race in the world by releasing Team Edition Arione R3 saddles.
The collection comes exclusively in “Team Only” colours, comes paired with matching bar tape and presented in special packaging. The Arione R3 saddle has been designed for the pros but that’s not to say the non-pro cyclists can’t enjoy the comfort and benefits of this well constructed range of saddles. There’s no guarantee they’ll make you ride like a pro tho!
Arione R3 AG2R La Mondiale
AG2R La Mondiale are the oldest French based Team that can boast 12 TDF Stage victories and 16 yellow jerseys during their existance.
Not a team that’s full of household names, but hey, they now have their own saddle! One of the most recognisable names in the team is Hubert Dupont.
A very nice looking white saddle with a baby blue strip down the middle, with white bar tape. Not a big fan of white bar tape myself as it doesn’t stay white for very long, especially after you’ve just fixed a puncture or a dropped chain!
AG2R La Mondiale Saddle
Astana Pro Team
Astana Pro Team are based in Kazakhstan and there most high profile rider is Vincenzo Niabli, the winner of this years Giro d’Italia.
Astana’s only GC victory in the TDF came in 2009 when Alberto Contador took the yellow jersey.
Astana are not without controversy, the entire team were excluded from the Tour de France in 2007 following a positive doping test on leader Alexandre Vinokourov.
Can you spot the difference between this saddle and the Ag2R La Mondiale version? Nope neither could I! Again this saddle has white sides panels with a blue strip down the middle, and comes with matching white bar tape.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Astana Pro Team Saddle
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Team Blanco
Team Blanco Pro Cycling Team is a Dutch team which can boast 21 TDF stage victories and 10 yellow jerseys.
The saddle has white panels down the sides and a black strip down the middle and comes with the white Fi’zi:k logo bar tape, and wouldn’t look out of place on any colour of bike.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Team Blanco
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 BMC Racing Team
BMC, the American based team are always in amongst it at the major events and boast some big names in their arsenal like, Phillppe Gilbert, Cadel Evans, Tejay Van Garderen & Taylor Phinney.
Cadel Evans has provided BMC with their only success at the TDF, picking up a stage win in 2011 while on route to winning the GC.
This saddle comes in the distinct black and red colours of BMC and is paired with the black Fi’zi:k super light logo bar tape.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 BMC Racing Team Saddle
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Cannondale
Italian pro cycling team, Cannondale, have the very flamboyant Peter Sagan at their disposal. 24yr old Sagan, famous for his finishing line celebrations has become a popular rider within the peloton despite that “Bum Pinching” incident.
The colours of the Arione R3 Cannondale saddle match the team colours down to a tee, comprising of a white side panels with a “Cannondale Green” strip down the middle, paired with the Fi’zi:k white logo bar tape.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Cannondale Saddle
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 FDJ
FDJ are a French team with big name riders such as David Boucher and Laurent Pichon within their ranks. FDJ have 9 TDF stage victories and 3 yellow jerseys to their name.
Every 14th July, in the Team Bus, the riders listen to the French National Anthem La Marseillaise and song of the French resistance Chant des Partisans.
The FDJ saddle comes with white side panels and “FDH” strip down the middle and is paired with the white Fi’zi:k logo bar tape.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 FDJ Saddle
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Garmin-Sharp saddle
Garmin-Sharp are based in America and boast high profile riders within their ranks such as David Millar, Ryder Hesjedal, Tyler Farrar and Dan Martin and have a very strong Time Trial Team.
Garmin Sharp riders have won the Giro’s Maglia Rosa, Tour de France Yellow and Polka-dot jerseys along with taking the leaders jersey at many stage races including last year’s 2012 Giro d’italia.
The Garmin-Sharp saddle is very similar to the BMC one, with the red and black swapped round. The side panels are red with a black strip down the middle and is paired with black Fi’zi:k bar tape.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Garmin-Sharp Saddle
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Team Sky Saddle
Team Sky need no introduction, the most successful British Cycling Team ever. Dave Brailsford set out a goal of winning the Tour de France within 5 years, and managed it within 3 years when Bradley Wiggins took the glory in last years event.
With Wiggins out of this years Tour due to injury, Chris Froome steps up to the plate to lead Team Sky.
I have to say I’m a little disappointed with the Team Sky saddle, it has black side panels and a black strip down the middle. What happened to the distinctive blue strip that they have down the back of their shirt? Why wasn’t it incorporated into the saddle design? Now that would have been a lovely saddle.
Fi’zi:k Arione R3 Team Sky Saddle
Some lovely Team Saddles available from Fi’zi:k all of which come with the Fi’zi:k super light Fi’zi:k logo bar tape with a price tag of £159.99
Check out the full Fi’zi:k saddle range to find the perfect saddle to suit your requirements.
Remember and checkout the Fi’zi:k Spine Concept guide to see which model is best suited to you.
