Originally Posted by RandyMcD
I don't think it's that big of a deal, aside from a chuckle. The riders aren't brand-loyal - they're after performance. They're paid to advertise their sponsor's brand, not prove it's worth in competition (depending on the sponsorship contract, of course).
Actually I think it does matter. Manufactures gain a lot of exposer from the Tour. Newbies will look at the bike that their hero is riding and think that they can go buy it. I could care less that Cippo rides a different stem that what comes on his Specialized. I do care when he "re-badges" that stem to try to fool the viewing public.
I know enough about bikes to look at a saddle or stem and tell that it is or isn't the one being sold on the "pro" model but not everyone is. I also find it a bit desperate for Specialized or any bike company to feel the need to recover a Selle San Marcos saddle as one of their own.