Gallery: Bianchi through the years at Paris-Roubaix

On the eve of the 113th Paris-Roubaix, and in the year of its 130th anniversary, Bianchi looks back to its history, and particularly to the special bikes created for the cobbles Classics, and for the ‘Hell of the North’ in first place.

It is a very long way Bianchi’s Reparto Corse went through, constantly supported by the company’s investments in technology, and one that contributed significantly to the evolution of road racing bikes. Particularly for cobbled races, where bikes and athletes are under significant stress and fatigue, Bianchi was pioneer in introducing solutions – first mechanical, then related to composite materials – to reduce road vibration, finally arriving to a real invention, the development of the only materials’ technology to actually cancel and dissipate vibrations: Countervail Vibration Cancelling Composite Technology.

Since its inception, Bianchi has always invested on research and development and material technology, resulting not only in innovative solutions, but actual inventions. Here are some of the most innovative steps in 130 years of history.

1913 – While not being projected for racing, the first full-suspension bike in the World was realized by Bianchi in the early 20th century. It was back in 1913, and this was the bike equipped to the Italian rifle regiment.

1993 – Unforgotten Franco Ballerini tackles Paris-Roubaix with a Bianchi featuring a special suspension stem on a steel frame.

1994 – Another cobbles’ phenom, Belgian Johan Museeuw, brought his assault to the most famous stones in cycling with a special aluminum frame with a rear and front suspension system.

1994-1995 – Bianchi brings another solution for Roubaix’ cobbles: a steel frame featuring a shock-absorber in its front fork.

1996 – Some athletes from the Gewiss-Playbus team raced Paris-Roubaix with a full-suspension Bianchi frame entirely made in titanium.

2004 – Swede Magnus Backstedt wins Paris-Roubaix with a titanium frame, specifically designed for the Hell of the North by Bianchi Reparto Corse. The frame has no shock-absorbers, but its geometry and tubes were specifically realized for this race.

2013 – Bianchi launches the first Infinito CV model, introducing the innovative invention that is revolutionizing road cycling: the Countervail viscoelastic carbon material, that cancels up to 80% of the road vibration. The bike was used at Paris-Roubaix by Juan Antonio Flecha, who called Infinito CV ‘my best bike ever’.

2014 – After finishing third at Ronde Van Vlaanderen, cobbles specialist Sep Vanmarcke takes fourth at Paris-Roubaix. In the same year, Lars Boom dominates Tour de France stage 5, on the same cobblestones sectors that made Paris-Roubaix’ history.