Becoming world number one should be something to shout about. 

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) topped the rider rankings at the end of the 2012 UCI WorldTour calendar after a stunning season that brought victories in Monument Classics and Grand Tours.

Sadly for ‘Purito’, the UCI does not have a jersey for its world number one, unlike the rainbow stripes it bestows upon its world champions: winners, conceivably, on just one day.

Canyon, bike supplier to the Katusha squad with whom Rodriguez will continue to ride in 2013, however, have commemorated their star rider’s achievements with this special edition of their Aeroad CF race bike, presented at yesterday’s opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya.

Let’s take a closer look.

The diminutive Rodriguez stands just 5’7″ tall and rides his Canyon Aeroad CF in an XS frame size – that’s 50cm

The headtube on Purito’s machine measures 110mm tall: just enough room for a graphic to celebrate his achivement

Rodriguez earned his nickname by making a smoking gesture as he passed his team-mates on a training ride. They had their revenge by forcing him to smoke cigars (‘puritos’)

Even WorldTour teams have to wait their turn for the latest kit: Purito’s machine is equipped with Shimano’s superseded Dura Ace 7900 Di2 derailleurs

And here’s the machine it replaced – we snapped Rodriguez’ Maglia Rosa liveried steed at the London Bike Show