Italian manufacturer Colnago is known for lovely road bikes, but has long had a mountain bike in the range because, rumour has it, Ernesto Colnago quite likes riding them. Colnago introduced a monocoque 29er for 2012 and has just snuck out a top-end race version, the C29 Italia, which made its debut under Eva Lechner over the weekend as she won the Italian national championships.

According to Aldo Bertoni at Pianeta Mountain Bike, who kindly gave us permission to use these pics, Lechner received the new bike from Colnago HQ in Cambiago. Racers don’t usually roll out at a national championships on a brand new bike, but Lechner wanted to test it ahead of the Olympic mountain bike race.

Dubbed the C29, the new frame is made at Colnago’s HQ in Cambiago, Italy. Claimed weight is 1,150g, which isn’t ultra-light by current standards, but Colnago has always said he’s more concerned about safety and durability than chasing down the gram-count.

The tubes are bonded into Colnago’s carbon fiber lugs, with reinforcing internal ribs in some spots to increase rigidity. Each tube comprises multiple layers of both woven and unidirectional carbon, with a 3K weave top layer.

The lugged construction allows for frame customisation, while to make the frame future-proof, Colnago has gone with a 1.5 inch head tube, fitted with a spacer at the top to accommodate a steerer that tapers to 1 1/8 inch.

There’s no word yet as to price, though we’d guess it’ll be in the same  ballpark as the £3.5k C59 road frame.