CYCLING. Team Sky bike is 'best in the world' says Sir Dave Brailsford

A £12,000 bike developed for Team Sky by Jaguar is the "best in the world", according to team principal Sir Dave Brailsford.

Sky won the past two Tour de France races, with Sir Bradley Wiggins and current champion Chris Froome, and launched the Pinarello Dogma F8 at Jaguar's site in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Built to win

• Jaguar engineers developed the frame to improve the aerodynamics and reduce the drag of components, including the forks and seat post
• It was tested using the same methods used to optimise the aerodynamics of new Jaguar Land Rover cars
• The company says wind tunnel tests suggest the bike is 26.1% more aerodynamic than the previous model

Sir Dave said the bike, developed at the car maker's virtual innovation centre, is light, fast and aerodynamic.

The Tour starts in Leeds on 5 July.
'The best shot' Jaguar has previously supplied support cars for Team Sky but the company said this was its first involvement in bicycle engineering.
The model, which was a collaboration between Jaguar designers and Italian bicycle frame makers Pinarello, makes its competitive debut at the Critérium du Dauphiné race in France on 8 June.
Sir Dave said: "One of the challenges has been to try to create a bike that has the components of lightness, handling and aerodynamics all in one bike.
"That's the trick with this bike - it's the best on every level.
"I'm confident we will be able to give the Tour de France the best shot we can. We have the best bike and the best equipment.

The bike was tested using the same methods to optimise the aerodynamics of new Jaguar Land Rover road cars

"It's a three-week race and a lot of things can happen but we are going there confident we can defend our title."
Jon Darlington, head of aerodynamics at Jaguar, said: "Taking our level of engineering capability and applying it to a bike project is something that has not been done before."