Fizik launch Arione R3 Team Edition Collection saddles

With the Giro d’Italia starting this weekend, Fizik is celebrating its sponsorship of nine professional teams with the special release of the Team Edition Collection, Arione R3 saddles finished in the colours of AG2R La Mondiale, Astana, Sky, BMC, Cannondale, Garmin-Sharp, Blanco, FDJ, Cofidis and Sojasun.

Underneath the new limited edition cover is the same Arione R3 that was released earlier this year. The R3 joined the more expensive R1 and 00, being a new entry-level Arione. It shares the same shape and fundamental design with the R1 and 00, but saves some pennies with a fiberglass thermoplastic composite shell and K:ium alloy rails are different too. It weighs 185g.

Here's the nine saddles in all their glory. Which is your favourite?

Arione R3 AG2R LA MONDIALE Arione R3 saddle with a central red cover and black side panels. Paired with black Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos. The price is £159.99 and they’re available now. They’re only available in limited numbers so don’t hang around if you want one.

Arione R3 Androni Giocattoli Arione R3 saddle with a central “Bianchi celeste” cover and black side panels. Paired with black Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 Astana Pro Team Arione R3 saddle with a central “Astana blue” cover and white side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 Team Blanco Arione R3 saddle with a central black cover and white side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 BMC Racing Team Arione R3 saddle with a central red cover and black side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 Cannondale Arione R3 saddle with a central “Cannondale green” cover and white side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 FDJ Arione R3 saddle with a central “FDJ blue” cover and white side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 Garmin-SHARP Arione R3 saddle with a central black cover and red side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos.

Arione R3 Sky Procycling Arione R3 saddle with a central black cover and black side panels. Paired with white Superlight bar tape with fi’zi:k logos. Where's the blue stripe you ask? Well, the prototype had one apparently, but it broke Team Sky's strict rules on the number of colours allowed on team components - two only, the saddle was black and Fizik's logo white so the stripe had to go… and yes we know, neither black nor white are technically colours, but Team Sky don't and that's what counted in this case.

More at www.fizik.it