Multiple World Champion Javier Gomez was considerate the favorite for the 2015 Challenge Dubai, but he fell ill the week before and did not recover in time. Here now is his stunning custom painted Specialized S-Works Shiv Tri.

Javier Gomez on the throttle at the inaugural Challenge Dubai.

We snagged the race bike of the fast Spaniard right after he took it out of transition after the race.

The theme for this paint scheme is fuel. But does it actually matter?

The attention to detail on this race bike is very impressive.

A little more subtle on the front end of the Shiv.

Javier Gomez rarely gets such low bib numbers.

The Specialized Shiv cockpit is completed with SRAM components and bar tape that shows hard hours on this machine.

A Polar V800 gave Javier Gomez data during the 56 mile bike segment and the tape on the stem is likely left over from a gel or two.

The 170mm Specialized Fact cranks hold a 54 tooth S-Works outer ring and Look Keo pedals.

Gomez is on the Specialized Sitero saddle when on his Shiv.

The cage mount under the saddle is pat of the Specialized Sitero offering and here holds a custom Javier Gomez Purist bottle.

During the ride he traded one of his personal Purist bottles for an aid station one and likely made a volunteer happy.

Gomez rides a Zipp 808 up front and a Zipp Disc in the back with 24mm Specialized Turbo tires.

All images © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com