Daily Star Sport travelled to Italy to tour the factory of Fizik, the saddle brand used by Tadej Pogacar, where around 1,500 saddles are produced every day.
A Peak with a Past
Monte Grappa towers over the flat plain below, with views from its summit stretching almost 100km to Venice on a clear day. The winding road leads to one of the Giro d'Italia's most famous climbs, passing a military memorial and ossuary commemorating those lost in both World Wars.
In Bassano del Grappa, nestled in the mountain's shadow, Daily Star Sport arrived as summer turned to autumn. The day before landing, Brandon McNulty closed the 2026 season by winning the Veneto Classic in the rainbow bands.
Inside the Factory
Fizik, based in Pozzoleone around 15 minutes south of Bassano del Grappa, was founded in 1996. At the 2026 Tour de France, three teams used its products, including Pogacar's team. Every Fizik saddle is made in Pozzoleone, with about 1,500 produced daily.
The centrepiece is the "One-to-One" project, offering riders bespoke saddles. Fizik Brand Manager Alex Locatelli told Daily Star Sport that 3D printing transformed their approach, allowing them to "create different zones within the same saddle and the same padding."
Bespoke and Beyond
Cyclists sit on a resistance saddle while pressure maps identify their needs, enabling a tailored saddle. Fizik also makes helmets and cycling shoes, with some shoe designs taking up to two years to develop.
The development team experiments with colours and shades to highlight the shoe's construction. The process is identical for professionals like Pogacar, McNulty and Isaac Del Toro as for everyday cyclists.
The Giro d'Italia returns to roads around Bassano del Grappa next year, with a sprint finish in Possagno, where fans could wear equipment made in the same small factory as the riders they cheer on.
