Zipp also managed to find its way on to the riders of T-Mobile, most of whom spent the first week on the company's deep-section 606 tubulars (with nearly all of the decals removed). The team is officially sponsored by Shimano, and one T-Mobile mechanic was quick to point out that no 'official' relationship exists between the team and Zipp. He simply explained that, "We always try to use the best wheels, and Zipp is the best aerodynamic wheel for now. So we use them for the flat stages." So be it, but we can only imagine how Shimano feels about it.
T-Mobile has shown that it isn't terribly hesitant in making such substitutions if it means its riders can go faster. Some riders were also spotted using a new deeper version of HED's iconic three-spoke wheel for the opening prologue, and all of the team bikes we saw were rather surprisingly conspicuously fitted with red-anodized FSA MegaExo Ceramic bottom brackets mated to the team-issue Dura-Ace cranksets.
