The first-generation Pinarello Prince Carbon, as ridden by the Caisse d’Epargne professional cycling team in 2007, represented one of the most advanced and distinctive road racing bicycles of its era. Combining Italian craftsmanship, bold design, and cutting-edge materials. It stood as a symbol of Pinarello’s transition into the modern age of carbon fiber performance, while retaining the unmistakable curves and detailing that defined the brand’s aesthetic.
At its core, the 2007 Pinarello Prince Carbon was built from a blend of Toray carbon fiber. The frame geometry was race-oriented, reflecting Pinarello’s long collaboration with top professional riders. The asymmetric Onda fork and rear stays, featuring sinuous wave-like curves, became a hallmark of Pinarello design, improving vibration damping and lateral stiffness. This innovation not only enhanced ride comfort but also gave the Prince Carbon an unmistakable silhouette in the peloton.
The 2007 Prince Carbon was ridden by the Caisse d’Epargne team, one of the most competitive squads on the UCI ProTour. The team’s roster included stars such as Alejandro Valverde, Óscar Pereiro, and José Joaquín Rojas, who used the Prince Carbon across a range of terrains—from the brutal climbs of the Tour de France to the fast, technical finishes of the Ardennes Classics. The bike’s balance of stiffness and comfort made it especially suited to all-rounders like Valverde, who relied on its responsiveness in sprint finishes and its stability on descents.
The Caisse d’Epargne team bikes were finished in a distinctive black-white-and-red livery, with bold team graphics and subtle white accents that reflected both the team’s identity and Pinarello’s Italian flair. The bike’s Campagnolo Record groupset, paired with MOST (Pinarello’s in-house component brand) handlebars and stems, ensured mechanical precision and aesthetic harmony.
The ride quality was notably smooth for its time, with excellent torsional rigidity under power and a planted feel in high-speed corners. Many professionals praised its ability to translate effort directly into forward motion, a testament to both its frame design and meticulous hand-built construction in Treviso, Italy.
Today, the first-generation Pinarello Prince Carbon occupies a special place in cycling history. Its combination of innovative engineering, distinctive style, and proven racing pedigree made it a defining bike of the late 2000s—and a lasting icon of the Pinarello legacy.
Size: 55cm horizontal top tube
