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93rd Tour de France - presented by

8 July

Simoni and Saunier Duval-Prodir Updates
Rober Correct the Experts

Simoni and Saunier Duval-Prodir Updates
Stage List, Stage Profile

Gilberto Simoni & the Tower of Pisa, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Yesterday we wrote of the pink Scott Plasma frame that would be used to carry Gilberto Simoni through stage 7 of the Tour de France. The pink Plasma did its job superbly, helping Gibo finish 5'19" back on stage winner Honchar.

We were off by one small detail: Simoni was presented the pink Plasma frame for use in the Giro d'Italia Pontedera time trial, complete with an image of la Torre di Pisa on the seat tube but when race time came he opted for the standard unpainted team-issue frame.

Rober Gonzalez, team mechanic for Saunier Duval-Prodir, corrected us on our mistake. He recalled the stage and then we remembered crouching there on the first corner after the Pisa tower, poised for a photo, only to see Simoni on a black frame instead of his pink frame. "So really this will be the first time for him to race on the pink time trial frame," commented Gonzalez.

Simoni's Crono Bike, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

"I think he could ride for the classification," said Rober, who as a mechanic has that inside edge which even the journalists don't have. "He may lose some time in the crono today but he can climb so much better than the other guys. He said he was just going for stages but we will see what happens, I won't be surprised if he goes for the classification.