Sonny Colbrelli’s successful season in Sidi shoes
23 November 2021
By Nicki Giles
Bahrain Victorious’ Sonny Colbrelli has had a bumper year and recently paid a visit to Sidi, whose shoes he said have “had a great influence” on his results.
They say that behind every great cyclist is a great pair of shoes. Okay, maybe they don’t – but they should! Formidable sprinter Sonny Colbrelli certainly subscribes to this view.
It’s safe to say that 2021 has been a bumper year for "The Cobra", who kicked off his winning streak at the Italian Road Race Championships, then came third in the GC at The Tour, before out-sprinting Belgian Remco Evenepoel at the European Championships. Fittingly, he crowned his success by storming to victory at the Queen of Classics. Every time he mounted the podium, his Sidi Wire 2 shoes went too.
There are many factors that contribute towards a successful season. Dedication to training and remaining injury free are of course huge influences, but diet, mental fitness, tactical awareness, luck and equipment choices also play a part. For sprinters especially, the right footwear can make all the difference.
Colbrelli himself said before the Tour started, “Last Sunday in Imola (at the Italian Championships) I really experienced an unforgettable moment and the shoes had a great influence on the result. Many riders needed to refresh their feet while pouring some water, as the temperature was very high, but I didn’t even suffer for a moment.”
This endorsement doesn’t come as a surprise, since the sole of the Sidi Wire 2 Carbon Road Shoe comes with an integrated vent and air channels to ensure airflow round the foot. Importantly for sprinters, it’s handmade from carbon fibre with a small degree of flex in the toe area, so that along with plantar tendon protection and improved circulation, it delivers truly outstanding power transfer.
Just as vital is a good fit, to stop the foot from sliding around when the pros really put pedal to the metal near the finish line. The Sidi heel cup and adjustable heel device work together to clamp the heel firmly in place and maximise power transfer, while the Tecno-3 Push System cinches in the upper in around the foot so that shoe and rider meld together as one.
Colbrelli says the Wire 2 “fits me perfectly and it helps my foot exert all the power on the pedals”. He expanded on this during his recent celebratory tour of Sidi’s Maser headquarters, saying, “My feet have a particular conformation (that’s) not easy to dress, but Sidi is always ready to meet my requests.
“At the Tour de France, when I got the special shoes displaying the colours of my national flag, I wore them immediately. I know that they make the shoes to the millimetre, and I am really satisfied with their products.”
It's fitting that Rosella Signori, Director of Sidi and daughter of founder Dino Signori, acted as Colbrelli’s guide at the factory, since the brand’s continued success after more than 60 years of shoemaking owes a lot to its close ties with pro cyclists like the sprinter, who test out the brand’s footwear in the most extreme conditions possible. In return for cultivating their talent, Sidi gains valuable feedback that helps the company to develop and refine its cutting-edge products.
The brand’s shoes don’t just benefit elite athletes lucky enough to merit private fittings, though. BikeRadar gave the Sidi Wire 2 Road Shoe 4.5 out of 5 stars, with their Technical Writer commenting, “When adjusted, the Wire 2 is like having your feet held within a softly padded vice, as energy transmission from feet to pedals is superbly efficient, and their well shaped uppers are easy to live with day after day.”
VeloNews concurred, saying “Right out of the box, the Wire 2 Carbons feel like they’re broken in and conformed to your foot. In terms of fit, these shoes hit all the right points.”
So, whether you’re a top sprinter like Sonny Calbrelli or simply an avid cyclist who wants a shoe that will let you ride in comfort, but also deliver a shot of pure power when you want to compete or impress your friends by dropping them all with a devastating attack, the Wire 2 Carbon Road Shoe has what it takes to make your dreams come true.
