Cannondale’s designers painted his race machine in green-white-and-orange tricolor livery with shamrock accents to celebrate Darren’s national title. Darren is proud to fly the Irish flag in his first-ever Giro.

“The Giro is extra special for me,” Darren says. “It was the only grand tour that ever came within driving distance of my home. We went and saw it when it started in Ireland in 2014. That was 11 years ago and got me the inspiration to make it to the Giro one day. Now, that day is tomorrow. I am buzzing. It should be a good grand tour. I am looking forward to giving folks back home something to smile about.”

Irish eyes will be smiling when they see the new paintjob on Darren’s bike.

“Cannondale did a really nice job with the new design,” Darren says. “I like the extra white and flecks of paint. It looks modern and nice. I've also got a set of shoes matched up with the bike color scheme and kit, so I think they should look pretty good together the next three weeks.”

With his Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO, Darren is ready to let fly in the mountains. Cannondale’s ultimate race bike is constructed from ultra-light Series 0 carbon. It’s been tested over and over in the windtunnel for optimal aerodynamics and on the road to perfect its geometry. From the Apennines to the Italian Alps, Darren will dive into corners with confidence from his SystemBar R-One cockpit, knowing the his bike will grip on the limit.

He rides 30mm Vittoria Corsa Pro tires for their super-low rolling resistance, excellent traction, and comfort – a key factor over the course of a three-week grand tour.

Darren will race the Giro on Vision’s new Metron 45RS wheels. These handmade race wheels are 200 grams lighter than their predecessors, thanks to their full-carbon construction. They also offer improved aerodynamics and faster, more efficient hub engagement, thanks to Vision’s 72-tooth Helical Clutch.

He rides 54 x 40 FSA cranks paired with an 11-34 cassette and Wahoo SPEEDPLAY AERO pedals, which he prefers for their ease of adjustment and best-in-the-peloton cornering clearance.

Darren will track his data during his debut Giro using his brand-new Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT 3, which is easier to read in the harsh conditions Darren is likely to face over the next three weeks, thanks its larger, high-contrast display.

Check out the full specs of Darren’s Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO Irish champion’s race bike.