2022 Cyclocross World Champion Tom Pidcock whipped and Superman-ed his way to a solo finish on a newly introduced Pinarello Crossista F.
Tom Pidcock, the Superman, celebrates his Elite Men’s win. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock races for INEOS Grenadiers on the road and up through the middle of this cyclocross season, his ‘cross bike was a Specialized S-Works Crux with SRAM AXS, a bike he was racing on for his U23 World Championship in 2019.
Pinarello is the INEOS Grenadiers bike sponsor, so just as Cervelo developed a cyclocross bike for new eight-time World Champion Marianne Vos and Wout van Aert, Pinarello developed a new cyclocross bike for Tom Pidcock.
We saw Pinarello’s previous foray into carbon cyclocross bikes at the Sea Otter Classic in April 2019.
The Crossista is Pinarello’s new race-designed cyclocross bike. Pinarello Crossista Cyclocross Bike. © C. Lee / Cyclocross Magazine
The new Crossista F is a significant re-design completely with Tom Pidcock’s input.
Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
Cyclocross Magazine’s man on the ground, Gavin Gould captured photos of the new World Champion’s new Pinarello Crossista F just after his win in Fayetteville.
Bottle in the Pit
Most visibly noticeable is the contour in the middle of the top tube at Pidcock’s request to easily put his arm through to shoulder the bike comfortably. Pidcock rides a small frame and we have seen him use both the around-the-headtube and under-the-downtube method of holding the bike when shouldering and running. Considering the amount of running up the 38 steps on the Fayetteville Worlds course, this is an important feature to the World Champion.
The top tube contour on Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
With warm conditions at race time, Pidcock was one of the few elite men who chose to start the race with a bottle. Curiously he chose downtube bottle placement and we watched him primarily use the under-the-downtube carry with the bottle placed in his armpit.
The new World Champion started with a bottle placed on the down tube. Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock had room to shoulder the bike despite the down tube-mounted water bottle, and had the top tube contour perfectly positioned for his shoulder and shouldering style.
The downtube water bottle was not a hindrance to winning the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Curvy Aerodynamics
The Crossista F frame design follows the aerodynamic cues of Pinarello’s flagship Dogma F 12 road bike with curvy low-mounted seatstays and curved chainstays. Surprisingly the fork blades are straight, considering Pinarello pioneered the S-curved Onda fork design almost a decade ago.
The original Crossista has a European style 6.5cm BB drop, considered high by American cross bike design standards, and we suspect the newer one is lower due to Pidcock’s input and familiarity with the CruX. The new model also has drain holes for the power washers.
The carbon seat post is an aero shape with a setback and a two-bolt seat clamp. Pidcock mounts his Fizik Arione saddle as far back as the carbon rails allow. An internal wedge secures the post into the frame, similar to the original Crossista. Pidcock’s slammed front end is a Pinarello one-piece Talon Lite carbon bar and stem with the pointed back of the stem and flat top section. It’s a 110mm length stem and 42cm-wide bar.
You can’t see any of the control lines, indicating a complete internal run of control lines from the levers.
Flashy gold accents and no spacers nor visible control lines on Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock may not be tall, but he appreciates a rearward saddle position.
Aero two-bolt seat post held in by an internal wedge on Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
Eleven, not Twelve
Tom Pidcock’s Crossista F has a complete 11-speed Dura-Ace 9100 Di2 drivetrain with a double 46X39 chainset, with 170mm crankarms. Pinarello US says Pidcock raced on an 11-30t cassette, but our cog-counting eyes thought it might be a 32 low gear on race day.
Even though the new DuraAce 9200 series 12 speed has just become available, we have not spotted any Shimano-sponsored cyclocross racers using it yet. Twin Shimano MT900 140mm rotors and Shimano 9100 XTR pedals round out the equipment.
Challenge Grifo Seta Extra tubulars glued to Shimano DuraAce WH9100-C40-TU carbon tubular wheels assured a smooth ride to the finish.
Challenge Silk Grifos on Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock had a silky ride to the finish, and never pitted.
Pidcock was dominant on his way to winning the Elite Men’s title. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
The only Crossista F’s available at the moment are in World Champion Tom Pidcock’s stable, in navy blue with metallic gold accents and a swath of British red, white and blue. Pinarello says the complete bike minus the water bottle is 7.4Kg and will be available to the public later this year.
The winner’s reminder to himself. Tom Pidcock’s winning Pinarello Crossista F cyclocross bike. 2022 Cyclocross World Championships. © G. Gould / Cyclocross Magazine
Frame: Carbon Fiber monocoque
Weight: 7.4Kg, 16.3 lbs.
Shifters: Shimano Dura Ace 9170 Di2 11 speed
Crankset: Shimano Dura Ace 9100 170mm arms, 46-39 T chainrings
Brakes: Dura Ace flat mount hydraulic calipers, MT-900 140mm rotors
Cockpit: Pinarello Talon Lite one-piece bar and stem, 11cm stem, 42cm bar
Seatpost: Pinarello aero section carbon, 2 bolt saddle clamp
Saddle: Fizik Arione, carbon rails
Wheels: Shimano Wh-R9170 C-40-TU, carbon tubular
Tires: Challenge Grifo Seta Extra, silk casing
See Pinarello’s promo video on the bike below:
