GB_Squad_on_PinarellosDecember 7 - A partnership between British Cycling and one of the world's leading bike manufacturers is proving a huge success for the sport.


Everyone from Olympic champions to schoolchildren are benefiting from the deal to make Pinarello the official bike supplier, with 250 being used by the Olympic athletes and 800 mountain bikes utilised in schools it has been claimed.

The award-winning Prince is the workhorse of the GB Cycling Team and helped Nicole Cooke clinch fourth place in the Road World Championships in Australia.

A host of GB riders used the iconic Dogma during the 2010 road racing season and the Graal played its part in Bradley Wiggins' victory in the National Time Trial Championship.

In addition, more than 800 Pinarello mountain bikes are used daily by British Cycling's Go-Ride coaches at school and community cycling coaching sessions, benefiting over 20,000 young people across Britain.

Katie Colclough, Laura Trott and Wendy Houvenaghel won gold in the team pursuit at the UEC European Track Championships in Poland on the Montello, while George Atkins won silver in the points race on the X-Track at the Commonwealth Games.

Ian Drake, British Cycling's chief executive, said: "Our partnership with Pinarello is going from strength to strength and our athletes and coaches have praised the bikes for their lightness, durability, stiffness, comfort and overall performance.

"The fact that the partnership is not only benefiting our elite riders, but also helping more young people get involved in our sport is hugely important to us.

"We hope that by providing young, talented riders with the opportunity to hone their skills on excellent bikes, supported by our Go-Ride programme, they can start their own journeys to the top in the best possible way."

Fausto Pinarello, the company's President, said: "We are very pleased with our partnership with British Cycling.

"It is an honour for us to assist one of the world's leading national cycling teams and to support British athletes on their journey to London 2012.

"We hope we can jointly celebrate great results before and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Picture credit: British Cycling