And identical to that, the 2025 season and the gorgeous onslaught of recent tech, barely-dry paint, and contemporary package begins with the Tour Down Under. Adelaide performs host to the normal begin of the WorldTour season, with groups descending from their winter altitude camps to see which of their roster has made the very best of the low season.
We are primarily right here to have a look at {hardware}, nevertheless it’s value taking into consideration that the riders are going to be up towards vital 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 gear for the yr, the racing might be completely huge open and unpredictable.
In phrases of recent gear, the massive headlines would be the model new Ridley Noah Fast, as races underneath the Uno-X Mobility ladies’s squad, and the Chinese X-Lab bikes underneath XDS Astana. As effectively as as many group bikes as we might lay our arms on, we have additionally introduced you two standalone galleries of these bikes with lush, high-resolution pictures courtesy of the proficient Chris Auld.
Anyway, let’s dig into the bikes and tech that we’ll all be taking a look at 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 yr by signing celebrity rider Demi Vollering. Specialized 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 will probably be utilizing Shimano Dura-Ace.
As effectively as S-Works Tarmac SL8 frames, Specialized additionally gives the ending package and wheels. Here the silver hubs present that these are the ‘Team’ model of the Roval CLX II wheels, that are barely lighter and a hair extra aero.
It would not be a WorldTour group 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 yr the paint is a bit more subdued than final yr, however nonetheless removed from conservative.
Lab71 is Cannondale’s highest spec body designation, just like what S-Works is to Specialized. Note the gold pen on the seatpost to permit the mechanics to set the saddle top good each time.
While we now have seen a brand new Van Rysel just lately, within the type of the aero RCR-F, the ‘normal’ RCR remains to be one of many hottest WorldTour bikes of latest years due to its (comparatively) low worth.
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.
Integrated cockpits seldom have big stems anymore, however this Deda mannequin nonetheless seems to be to be within the 130mm vary.
No actual modifications within the Visma-Lease A Bike paddock this yr, with the group 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 Team 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 publish of the Trek Madone nonetheless turns heads.
After spending final season on primarily black bikes, the Bianchis of Arkea B&B Hotels have gone full celeste this yr, undoubtedly including a little bit of weight however pleasing followers of the model’s heritage on the similar time.
In a lot the identical method because the Cervélo S5, and the brand new Colnayo Y1Rs, the Bianchi Oltre options an uncommon, constructive rise cockpit to scale back frontal space.
The Wilier bikes of Groupama-FDJ this yr have swapped Shimano wheels for Miche choices.
We love the little particulars that always get missed. 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 yr.
No stranger to marginal beneficial properties – famously choosing aero ‘leg heaters’ to take advantage of a loophole within the UCI rules 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 quick 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 Cube 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 way more paying homage to basic bend bars, versus the extra fashionable form that Cube sells with the Litening aero bike.
From above one can see simply how far the Dutchman’s wrists must lengthen to put his arms within the criminal of the hoods.
The Orbea Orca Aero of the Ceratizit-WNT has already racked up a win this season underneath 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 Super Record wi-fi groupsets will probably be fitted to the Look aero bikes of Cofidis.
The groupset is the costliest choice available on the market from the massive three producers, at near $5,500.
French frames, Italian groupset, Italian wheels and right here we now have Italian tyres too from Vittoria within the type of the Corsa Pro.
Most of the time 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 group’s bikes is considerably refreshing.
No large componentry shifts for Israel-Premier Tech for 2025, however they do not less than have a contemporary search for their Factor bikes.
I’m 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 price a few grams they definitely tie a motorbike collectively visually.
Flashes of white have been added to the S-Works Tarmacs of Soudal-Quick Step, once more including a couple of grams however permitting the pink logos to pop a little bit extra.
This paint brush impact is a novel change from the same old easy fades we often see, and should effectively have been utilized with a paintbrush because it seems to be.
Individually numbered and labelled wheelsets – the mark of a meticulous group mechanic.
Despite accessing the Roval built-in cockpits, most of the Soudal riders go for a separate system, possible for bike match concerns.
While they do have entry to the Canyon Ultimate, 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 develop into more and more widespread within the peloton lately.
The newest Ridley Noah Fast has maybe the deepest head tube of latest years, particularly distinguished on the smaller bike of Anouska Koster.
The Noah Fast does have an built-in cockpit, however Kosta has opted for a separate system right here, prone to enhance her attain past what can be attainable.
Canyon-SRAM retains its crown because the jazziest paint scheme of the season to match the colourful group kits.
A 13g, 3D printed pc mount helps a Hammerhead bike pc, itself a product of a SRAM-owned firm.
Again, one other group using Time pedals, as Time is a SRAM-owned firm. With SRAM as a title sponsor, it stands to cause that each attainable SRAM product can be used.
Ergon saddles we see little or no of, although the model has a fantastic repute for consolation.
Last season the Colnago V4Rs bikes of UAE Team ADQ had a beautiful pastel fade on the fork legs and the bar tape, however this yr the group bikes are all black, although we perceive the Y1Rs aero bikes are all white, so there’s not less than 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 similar saddle.
With MAAP now sponsoring Jayco-AlUla the visible identification of the group has had a giant shift, and Luke Plapp’s Giant Propel is bound to catch the attention with its purple and chrome paint scheme.
Cadex wheels and tyres are provided by Giant’s in-house element model. The spokes have among the deepest blade profiles available on the market.
Here’s that bechromed rear finish, which should actually glint within the Australian solar.
While Soudal has a Tarmac with white flashes, the bikes of Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe are nearly totally white, which seems to be ace however might be a nightmare for the mechanics to maintain pristine.
Team-issued Roval CLX wheels right here, too.
Gone is the ‘Band Of Brothers’ motif on the highest tube, changed by a easy sponsor array.
As far as color schemes go this mix of navy, barely off-white, pink, and yellow is an actual winner.
Another 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 season.
Peeking betwixt the crank spider arms is the magnet for the ability 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.
Not to be outdone, Prologo’s 3D-printed saddles adorn most of the Ineos bikes.
A threaded backside bracket – albeit an Italian threaded one – is a part of a rising shift away from press-fit techniques due to client sentiment.
Is this the tastiest fade within the peloton? The Factor Ostro VAMs of Human Powered Health 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.
Colour-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’s one other take a look at that stunning fade on the fork legs.
Finally, 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 group’s jersey from final season with veins of gold all through.
Is there something we have missed? Let us know within the feedback beneath, 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 group on the bottom.
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