[Dadoflam]

During the 90’s Dario was contracted by Pinarello to build some of the frames for the teams Pinarello was sponsoring. This included the TIG welded frames for Banesto 1993-1997 and Telekom 1997 and possibly 1996.

Telekom was riding Merckx bikes in 1995 and these were not made by Pegoretti.

I have a 1997 Deutsche Telekom team bike – a custom Pinarello Paris which were the mainstay frames for the team that year. Erik Zabel confirmed that Dario was making their team frames and dealing directly with the riders regarding details that season.

Telekom was riding Pinarello Keral-Lite model frames in 1996 – this was an unusual ceramic-alloy tubing that was very hard to weld and resulted in very messy welds. I am not sure if Dario was responsible for these frames.

The frames that Dario made for Pro teams were tools of the trade and the welding was not as refined as was usual on the frames he built for the public. In part that was due to the large number of frames that needed to be built – 90 alone for Banesto in one season, and, famously, 25 for Pantani alone in one season. According to Dario it was also due to some of the tubing being used for some of the pro frames which was lighter, and more difficult to weld than stock tubing.

Apologies for the image - it doesn't want to attach the right way up.