On May 4th the Giro d’Italia, ‘the most brutal yet beautiful of Grand Tours’, departed for the 101st time to challenge those who ride it in ever more arduous ways. Challenging the best riders in the world, as they target the maglia rosa, lie the vast hills and plains of Sicily, the unforgiving Monte Zoncolan and Colle delle Finestre, and the new challenges of Israel – the first time a Grand Tour has ever graced a country beyond Europe’s borders.
In celebration of this milestone edition of the Corsa Rosa, fi’zi:k has designed a ‘custom shoe fit to grace the winner in Rome’ – a limited edition of its high-performance Aria R3 racing shoe. The Aria 101, as this version is called, is emblazoned with a striking hand-painted design that aims to evoke the spirit of this most enigmatic of tours.
The fi’zi:k team found the expression of this historic occasion in the penmanship of Artful Kicks footwear artist Simon Fellows.
“I have been creating bespoke cycling products for two years now with the ambition of being able to create a range for a worldwide company,” says Artful Kicks’ Simon Fellows. “Having hand-painted many pairs of fi’zi:k cycling shoes for customers around the world, it was an honour to have been approached directly by fi’zi:k to produce a unique design, on a pair of shoes and a saddle, to celebrate the 101st Giro d’Italia.
“I gain a lot of inspiration from abstract and geometric shapes and combine these with bright colours and sharp lines. The pink accents along the design represent the major towns and cities along the route of the first edition of the Giro in 1909 and of course, we all know the colour of the winner’s jersey!”
He continued, “The whole experience of collaborating with fi’zi:k has been fantastic and I hope we can work on more projects in the future. To those who purchase the Aria 101, enjoy!”
“Of course the Giro d’Italia is a huge race for us every year; it’s the peak of the cycling calendar’s excitement in the country of our headquarters,” added fi’zi:k’s Brand Director Luca Bertoncello. “But this year’s 101st Edition is just that bit different, extending beyond Europe’s borders and it’s a unique and important moment for us to commemorate in the best way we know how, with a very special design. Tremendous thanks to Simon Fellows for his creativity.”
The Aria 101, like the R3 from fi’zi:k, brings together brand new technologies specifically engineered by the Italian company. The Aria 101 features fi’zi:k’s proprietary Volume Control technology, which uses micro-adjustable Boa IP1-B dials running light steel-coated nylon laces to adapt the shape of each shoe to any rider’s foot for optimum fit and comfort.
The pliable yet protective laser-perforated Microtex upper is just 1.2mm thick and fits snugly around the foot with no seam-rub or pressure points, helping to create a strong, light, breathable and flexible shoe for all-season racing and riding.
Aria 101’s uni-directional full carbon outsole is lightweight and laterally stiff for transferring watts into the pedals, while the insole is subtly cushioned with a supportive heel-cup, aiding rider comfort and performance. A discreet toe stud and removable double heel stud provide purchase when off the bike.
- Materials: Microtex Laser Perforated
- Design: Unique creation by Artful Kicks
- Outsole: UD Carbon Fibre
- Closure system: Double Boa IP1-B Dials
- Insole: fi’zi:k cycling insole
- Weight: 243g (size 42.5)
- Price: €290.00
The release of this custom version of the Aria R3 is limited to just 101 pairs – one for every edition of the Giro d’Italia
