Lower than three years after he acquired it as a gift, Pope Francis’s particular version Pinarello has gone to public sale.
The bike, a Dogma F12, was gifted to the Pope by Egan Bernal following his Giro d’Italia victory in 2021. It’s colored within the nationwide flag of the supreme pontiff’s native Argentina, and geared up with a Shimano Ultegra groupset.
On the time of writing, the present bid on Dutch public sale web site Catawiki is simply €2,000 (£1,710, $2,178). The auctioneers estimate that it’s going to attain a sale value of as much as €30,000 (£25,655, $32,671), greater than twice the market worth of an ordinary Dogma F12.
When Bernal met the Pope in June 2021, he mentioned the second was “extra necessary than successful the Giro and the Tour”.
“I feel I’ve had many experiences in my life, however that is distinctive,” mentioned the Colombian, who’s a Catholic. “It’s probably the most lovely expertise I’ve had in my life.”
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Alongside the bike, Bernal additionally gave the Pope a signed Giro d’Italia maglia rosa, dimension XS, which is additionally accessible on the public sale website. He mentioned the presents had been “from all Colombians as a result of proper now they want your blessing,” referring to social protests in his dwelling nation on the time.
Within the public sale itemizing for the Pinarello, Catawiki describes the bike as a “distinctive piece on this planet, each for what it symbolizes and for its explicit design”. The positioning’s sports activities memorabilia knowledgeable, Ana Maria Covrig, additionally a former professional bike owner, mentioned it’s a “privilege” to public sale the merchandise. “It’s a really outstanding second for Catawiki,” she added.
The Dogma F12 is a dimension 53cm body, with Imaginative and prescient wheels, Pirelli P Zero tyres, and Most Talon Extremely handlebars. It’s unsure if the Pope has ever ridden the bike; nevertheless, the pristine state of the white bar tape suggests he has not.
The public sale ends this Sunday, 24 March, at 7pm CET (6pm GMT).
Each the bike and the jersey are listed by a personal vendor, who has requested to stay nameless. Biking Weekly has contacted the Vatican for touch upon when and why the bike left the Pope’s possession.
In 2020, a Specialised Venge given to Pope Francis by three-time world champion Peter Sagan, was auctioned off for charity. It will definitely bought for €30,000.
