Since early 2024, we provide Formula 1 pilot Carlos Sainz with our best bikes and equipment to complete his most demanding training sessions and to enjoy the social side of road cycling together with his “Team 55”.
Cycling and Formula 1 share a relentless pursuit of speed, precision, and technological excellence. In both sports, aerodynamics, geometry, and fine-tuned adjustments can make the difference between winning and losing. With this philosophy in mind, this Tarmac SL8 reflects the extreme attention to detail found in F1, where every gram, every component, and every design decision contributes to maximum performance.
Over the past year, you have probably spotted Carlos riding his S-Works Tarmac SL8 bikes around Monaco, Madrid, or even in the Formula 1 circuits around the world. We wanted to take it a step further and offered him the exclusive opportunity to customize a bike that embodied the character of his personal brand.
Every Detail Counts
We got to work and contacted Tyler Angelo Marchesano from the Design Team at Specialized in California, who is responsible for some of our most iconic recent designs. The result: a true masterpiece thanks to the painting work of Color Monkey, who perfectly captured the colors and every detail beautifully crafted by Marchesano.
His nickname 'Chilli' – red pepper – his slogan 'Smooth Operator,' or his number 55 are details we wanted to include in this very special frame, which looks simple and elegant with dark and gray tones.