The rider’s ride

Bianchi Specialissima CV Disc, £6,900, bianchi.com

What better bike for an Italian Alpine adventure than one from an Italian dynasty? This is the latest iteration of the legendary Specialissima race bike and, released in late 2020, represents Bianchi’s big leap into modernity.

Out go the skinny, round tubes and classic styling; in come aero tube shapes, fully integrated cabling, clearance for

28mm tyres and disc brakes. The new Specialissima is your quintessential all-rounder, mixing comfort, speed and light weight. This particular build – with Shimano Ultegra Di2, FSA bar, stem and seatpost, Fizik saddle, Fulcrum 418 carbon wheels and Vittoria Corsa 25mm tyres – weighs just over 7.5kg (size 57).

The highlight, however, remains the Countervail system, a viscoelastic material in the layup that reduces vibrations from the road without compromising on lateral stiffness. It’s the ideal bike for a big day in the Alps, and you’ll find a full review on p124.