In early July, Loubna Freih and Nathalie Monnier will set out on the Route des Grandes Alpes with a clear objective: to set a first women's duo benchmark on one of the world's most demanding routes. Beyond performance, this challenge is part of a wider dynamic: to contribute to the development of women's Ultra. To achieve this, every detail counts. Today, the choice of bike!
"With a bike, it's a bit like in love: either it works right away, or it never does. "
The Pinarello Dogma F, a bike designed for performance and comfort
As Nathalie and Loubna's project on the Route des Grandes Alpes took shape, so did the question of bikes. When it comes to crossing the Alps in performance mode, the choice of bike becomes almost as strategic as the training. The story of a love at first sight, Italian style...
How did you come to change bikes?
Nathalie:
I think it's a bit my fault! I've been working for a long time with a workshop that specializes in made-to-measure and distributes mainly Italian brands. Over the years, I've ridden several models: Bianchi, Officine Mattio, Basso... They've also always had Pinarello. It's a brand I think is magnificent, but I've often been told it's not necessarily the best choice for climbing.
When their new model (the Dogma F) came out, I started looking at it more closely. It's advertised as lighter, very responsive, and I thought: why not give it a try? I also wanted a bike that was different from my Basso, which is very much a climber.
At the outset, however, this bike wasn't intended for the Route des Grandes Alpes...
Exactly. At first, I even told Loubna that I probably wouldn't take this bike for the crossing. I thought it would be too demanding for the long alpine climbs. But as soon as I tried it... everything changed.
Loubna, how did you end up with the same bike?
It happened very spontaneously. I frequent the same workshop as Nathalie, and the bike had just arrived. With our sizes - Nathalie is 1.61 m, I'm 1.64 m, for around 50 to 52 kilos - it's easier to find the sizes available.
The timing was perfect: the next day, I was off to Lanzarote for a triathlon training camp. I thought to myself: this is the perfect opportunity to try it out. And then...
And then?
With a bike, it's a bit like in love: either it works right away, or it doesn't. You can't cheat. You can't cheat. And here, it worked immediately.
Result: we now both ride Pinarello Dogma Fs, the same size... and interchangeable!
Nathalie and Loubna in full preparation on their Pinarello Dogma F
Are these very customized bikes?
Loubna:
Yes, of course. The frames are ready and we're already riding them, but there are still a few adjustments to be made. For example, I still need to change the saddle to find the perfect position.
Nathalie:
We've also added several high-end components: carbon cranksets, ceramic bearings, and above all Campagnolo wheels optimized in the wind tunnel to be more stable in the wind. The complete bike weighs in at around 6.4 kilos, which is still very light for such an aerodynamic model.
After that, you have to know when to stop! The problem with riding with Nathalie and her husband Fabien is that they love to look for marginal gains: the lighter part, the technical detail... You can very quickly fall into a bottomless budget hole!
Finally, what do you look for in a bike for a challenge like this?
Nathalie:
Pure performance isn't enough. On such a long crossing, what really counts is overall efficiency. We're looking for a bike that doesn't demand more energy from us than it gives.
Loubna, have you ever tested this bike in difficult conditions?
Yes, in Lanzarote. For ten days, I rode in a very strong wind, sometimes really violent. It was a life-size test. And now I can say that I'm ready for windy conditions!
In conclusion?
On very steep slopes, it's perhaps not the most radical bike for climbing, like some ultralight models. But it relaunches very well and is extremely comfortable. And for an adventure like ours, it's exactly what you need.