Vincenzo Nibali made an emotional visit to his hometown of Messina as the Giro d'Italia returned to Sicily. At the finish of stage five, the 37-year-old announced that this year's Giro would be his last as he's retiring at the end of the 2022 season.
Like his Astana Qazaqstan teammates, Nibali will complete his final lap of Italy aboard a striking Wilier Filante SLR, a bike which exudes as much Italian style and panache as the Shark himself. Founded in 1906 in Bassano del Grappa, Wilier is a brand which is rapidly gaining popularity in the cycling world thanks to the stunning looks and all-round performance of its bikes.
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Nibali's Wilier comes in a bright blue and black paint job with hints of yellow that matches perfectly with the Astana team kit. The bike has a modern look but the branding is slightly retro, an ode to the brand's Italian heritage. Its retail price would be around £11,495 in the UK.
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The team are using Corima 47WS wheels which are said to provide all-round performance and comfort by striking a balance between aerodynamics and weight.
Nibali looks to be on the older model of Vittoria Corsa tubulars, rather than the newer G2 iteration. We're big fans of the tan walls.
The bike had a carbon railed Prologo Scratch 2 road saddle.
The bike featured an integrated bar and stem system in Filante SLR Carbon along with a FSA headset.
Nibali's bike had Ceramic Speed OSPV pulleys with a Shimano Dura-Ace rear derailleur and cassette.
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The Filante SLR is described as a lightweight road bike with the properties of an aero bike, using Kammtail tubing to lower the weight. Softened edges on the frame apparently make the bike faster at a broader number of yaw angles.
