And identical to that, the 2025 season and the attractive onslaught of latest tech, barely-dry paint, and contemporary equipment begins with the Tour Down Beneath. Adelaide performs host to the standard begin of the WorldTour season, with groups descending from their winter altitude camps to see which of their roster has made the most effective of the low season.
We’re primarily right here to take a look at {hardware}, however it’s value allowing for that the riders are going to be up towards important warmth stress, particularly if they’ve come straight from a northern European winter. Coupled with the excessive potential for jet lag, and plenty of riders on new tools for the 12 months, the racing might be completely extensive open and unpredictable.
When it comes to new gear, the large headlines would be the model new Ridley Noah Quick, as races below the Uno-X Mobility ladies’s squad, and the Chinese language X-Lab bikes below XDS Astana. In addition to as many staff bikes as we may lay our fingers on, we have additionally introduced you two standalone galleries of these bikes with lush, high-resolution photos courtesy of the proficient Chris Auld.
Anyway, let’s dig into the bikes and tech that we’ll all be for the subsequent 12 months, and for these of us within the northern hemisphere we will additionally soak in some Australian solar, digitally talking.
FDJ-SUEZ made a splash on the finish of final 12 months by signing famous person rider Demi Vollering. Specialised swiftly adopted the Dutch rider, although additionally stays a sponsor of SD-Worx.
Vollering has spent the previous few seasons utilizing SRAM, however the FDJ-SUEZ squads might be utilizing Shimano Dura-Ace.
In addition to S-Works Tarmac SL8 frames, Specialised additionally supplies the ending equipment and wheels. Right here the silver hubs present that these are the ‘Group’ model of the Roval CLX II wheels, that are barely lighter and a hair extra aero.
It would not be a WorldTour staff bike with out a motivational phrase on the highest tube.
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The Cannondale SuperSix Evo Lab71 bikes of the EF squads are all the time eye-catching. This 12 months the paint is a bit more subdued than final 12 months, however nonetheless removed from conservative.
Lab71 is Cannondale’s highest spec body designation, much like what S-Works is to Specialised. Word the gold pen on the seatpost to permit the mechanics to set the saddle top excellent each time.
Whereas now we have seen a brand new Van Rysel just lately, within the type of the aero RCR-F, the ‘customary’ RCR remains to be one of many hottest WorldTour bikes of current years due to its (comparatively) low value.
3D saddles are quick changing into a longtime norm within the professional ranks. They declare to supply consolation benefits, however we suspect they’re primarily fitted to maintain system weights decrease.
Built-in cockpits seldom have big stems anymore, however this Deda mannequin nonetheless appears to be like to be within the 130mm vary.
No actual modifications within the Visma-Lease A Bike paddock this 12 months, with the staff riders tending to go for the extra aero Cervélo S5 more often than not.
As a SRAM-sponsored squad, Visma riders have the choice of including wi-fi shifter blips wherever they select.
Wahoo’s Speedplay Aero pedals forego the dual-sided entry in favour of added aerodynamic effectivity.
One sponsor swap for the season was Fizik leaving the Visma fold for UAE Group Emirates XRG, with Prologo filling the void.
A equally related setup for Lidl-Trek for 2025 in comparison with 2024.
Even so, the IsoFlow gap within the seat tube and cantilevered seat put up of the Trek Madone nonetheless turns heads.
After spending final season on primarily black bikes, the Bianchis of Arkea B&B Resorts have gone full celeste this 12 months, undoubtedly including a little bit of weight however pleasing followers of the model’s heritage on the identical time.
In a lot the identical method because the Cervélo S5, and the brand new Colnayo Y1Rs, the Bianchi Oltre options an uncommon, optimistic rise cockpit to scale back frontal space.
The Wilier bikes of Groupama-FDJ this 12 months have swapped Shimano wheels for Miche choices.
We love the little particulars that usually get ignored. Aftermarket centre-lock rotor lockrings are unlikely to make a lot distinction in efficiency phrases, however they appear cool nonetheless.
Taco Van der Hoorn is a powerful contender already for essentially the most aggressive place of the 12 months.
No stranger to marginal beneficial properties – famously choosing aero ‘leg heaters’ to take advantage of a loophole within the UCI laws in 2023 – the Dutchman is choosing bigger aftermarket chainrings for larger drivetrain effectivity.
Tyre valves aren’t all that aerodynamic, so Van der Hoorn has opted for tubes (we suspect latex) with brief valves, inflated utilizing a valve extender, after which eliminated the extender for a small aero win. Our personal testing exhibits there’s little between tubeless and latex tubes in wattage phrases, however there’s definitely an elevated puncture threat.
This built-in cockpit from Dice is not obtainable on this configuration on the model’s web site, and is sort of definitely a customized mannequin for Van der Hoorn. The stem is lengthy and the form of the bars is rather more paying homage to traditional bend bars, versus the extra fashionable form that Dice sells with the Litening aero bike.
From above one can see simply how far the Dutchman’s wrists must lengthen to put his fingers within the criminal of the hoods.
The Orbea Orca Aero of the Ceratizit-WNT has already racked up a win this season below Daniek Hengeveld.
Rubber bumpers assist to easy the airflow on the transition between the bar and the stem.
Campagnolo returns to the WorldTour after a one-year hiatus. Its Tremendous Report wi-fi groupsets might be fitted to the Look aero bikes of Cofidis.
The groupset is the costliest choice available on the market from the large three producers, at near $5,500.
French frames, Italian groupset, Italian wheels and right here now we have Italian tyres too from Vittoria within the type of the Corsa Professional.
More often than not we see the riders of Bahrain-Victorious aboard the aero Merida Reacto, however right here Roman Ermakov has opted for the extra light-weight Scultura mannequin.
In distinction to the ocean of black bikes, the white and turquoise paint of the staff’s bikes is considerably refreshing.
No large componentry shifts for Israel-Premier Tech for 2025, however they do at the very least have a contemporary search for their Issue bikes.
I am undecided what to name this sample… snakeskin-adjacent? In any case, it is neat and matches the higher portion of the seat tube.
Painted seat posts are comparatively unusual too, and whereas they do value a few grams they definitely tie a motorbike collectively visually.
Flashes of white have been added to the S-Works Tarmacs of Soudal-Fast Step, once more including a number of grams however permitting the purple logos to pop just a little extra.
This paint brush impact is a novel change from the same old easy fades we often see, and will effectively have been utilized with a paintbrush because it appears to be like.
Individually numbered and labelled wheelsets – the mark of a meticulous staff mechanic.
Regardless of getting access to the Roval built-in cockpits, lots of the Soudal riders go for a separate system, possible for bike match issues.
Whereas they do have entry to the Canyon Final, most Movistar riders go for the most recent Canyon Aeroad.
Time pedals haven’t got fairly the identical consumer uptake as these from Shimano, Look, and Wahoo, however they’ve turn into more and more widespread within the peloton lately.
The newest Ridley Noah Quick has maybe the deepest head tube of current years, particularly distinguished on the smaller bike of Anouska Koster.
The Noah Quick does have an built-in cockpit, however Kosta has opted for a separate system right here, prone to improve her attain past what can be potential.
Canyon-SRAM retains its crown because the jazziest paint scheme of the season to match the colourful staff kits.
A 13g, 3D printed pc mount helps a Hammerhead bike pc, itself a product of a SRAM-owned firm.
Once more, one other staff using Time pedals, as Time is a SRAM-owned firm. With SRAM as a title sponsor, it stands to cause that each potential SRAM product can be used.
Ergon saddles we see little or no of, although the model has an important status for consolation.
Final season the Colnago V4Rs bikes of UAE Group ADQ had a beautiful pastel fade on the fork legs and the bar tape, however this 12 months the staff bikes are all black, although we perceive the Y1Rs aero bikes are all white, so there’s at the very least a distinction there.
Enve SES 3.4 wheels hit a center floor of weight vs aero.
No, this is not the identical image from the highest of the web page, however sure it’s the identical saddle.
With MAAP now sponsoring Jayco-AlUla the visible id of the staff has had a giant shift, and Luke Plapp’s Big Propel is certain to catch the attention with its purple and chrome paint scheme.
Cadex wheels and tyres are equipped by Big’s in-house element model. The spokes have a few of the deepest blade profiles available on the market.
Here is that bechromed rear finish, which should actually glint within the Australian solar.
Whereas Soudal has a Tarmac with white flashes, the bikes of Pink Bull Bora-Hansgrohe are nearly totally white, which appears to be like ace however might be a nightmare for the mechanics to maintain pristine.
Group-issued Roval CLX wheels right here, too.
Gone is the ‘Band Of Brothers’ motif on the highest tube, changed by a easy sponsor array.
So far as color schemes go this mix of navy, barely off-white, purple, and yellow is an actual winner.
One other wi-fi blip place to be spied tucked proper within the criminal of the bars.
The Pinarello Dogmas of Ineos are one other comparatively new mannequin, with the all-around Italian frameset receiving an replace final summer time.
Peeking betwixt the crank spider arms is the magnet for the facility meter to measure cadence.
The tabs on the finish of the fork legs have a small bolt gap into which the race transponder chips might be mounted for a slight aero benefit over mounting them to the fork legs.
To not be outdone, Prologo’s 3D-printed saddles adorn lots of the Ineos bikes.
A threaded backside bracket – albeit an Italian threaded one – is a part of a rising shift away from press-fit programs due to client sentiment.
Is that this the tastiest fade within the peloton? The Issue Ostro VAMs of Human Powered Well being do look the half.
Proprietary aero bottle cages have gotten the norm on many bikes, and assist to easy the airflow over the down tube.
Color-matching pc decals aren’t one thing we see a lot of, however the place we do see it it is all the time appreciated.
The Mags saddle from Wove is one thing we have not seen earlier than within the peloton.
Here is one other have a look at that stunning fade on the fork legs.
Lastly, we have got the X-Lab bikes of XDS-Astana. This is not the same old paint, however a customized choice for Henok Mulubrhan, present African Continental champion.
The geological paint mirrors the staff’s jersey from final season with veins of gold all through.
Is there something we have missed? Tell us within the feedback under, and keep tuned to Cyclingnews for our second a part of the TDU mega gallery, together with all of the race outcomes, information and options from our staff on the bottom.
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