Monday, not Sunday, is a day of relaxation down in Adelaide. A day of calm in between the ladies’s and males’s races on the Tour Down Under, which kicks off the 2025 race season. Noemi Rüegg clinched the womens general victory yesterday after some thrilling racing, however who is aware of who will triumph this 12 months within the males’s race.
We rolled out half 1 of our Tour Down Under tech gallery on Friday, and may now welcome you to half 2. The Cyclingnews group has been snapping away in Australia so we will carry you a wealthy dive into much more of the brand new season’s bikes, elements and tech curios.
This gallery takes a take a look at two group bikes that did not characteristic in our first gallery, the brand-new Picnic PostNL Lapierre Xelius DRS, and the Alpecin-Deceuninck Canyon Aeroad CFR. The freshly named Picnic PostNL squad modified from Scott bikes this winter, and the Alepcin riders will even be getting used to crucial new tools after their latest tyre sponsor change from Vittoria to Pirelli.
Elsewhere, there are attention-grabbing tech particulars, aftermarket elements and attention-grabbing private setups to pore over. This is the start of race tech for this 12 months, and I’m positive like us you possibly can’t wait to see what modifications happen over the following a number of months.
Alpecin-Deceuninck lately introduced a swap from Vittoria to Pirelli tyres. We anticipate to see riders racing on the P Zero Race TLR RS tyres more often than not.
The tan-coloured sidewalls of final 12 months are gone, changed by Pirelli black and yellow for 2025.
A brand new model of the Aeroad CFR was launched final 12 months, the headtube was narrowed and a brand new adjustable handlebar was rolled out for the bike. The laptop mount right here is 3D printed, and solely weights 13g.
The ‘Pace’ handlebar is width adjustable and even has two completely different bar drop choices: basic and aero. There are some pro-only adverse stem choices on the market too.
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Colour-matched Elite Custom race bottle cages match the team-issue paint job fairly properly.
The deep Canyon Aeroad fork leg has a blind via axle thread on the drive facet, one thing not each WorldTour race bike options and hopefully gives a small aero benefit.
Team Picnic PostNL will race on Lapierre Xelius DRS bikes this 12 months after the group switched from Scott machines. This is British racer Oscar Onley’s race bike.
The seat keep cluster, whereby the seat stays be part of to the highest tube fairly than the rear of the seat tube, is a calling card of Lapierre’s, and is alleged to enhance rear compliance. Spot Onley’s low-key identify sticker on the prime of the seat tube.
The built-in Lapierre handlebar seems to be clear, with a extra slender prime part in comparison with another manufacturers.
The group mechanics have marked the Vittoria Pro Corsa tyres. Answers on a postcard right here. Sealant ranges, date fitted, or a secret code?
The group will race on Ursus wheels for 2025, an Italian model. We do not know if this barely odd (and dare we are saying cryptic) emblem is right here to remain or whether or not a brand new one will likely be rolled someday quickly.
Spot the aero transition between the fork crown and decrease head tube. Also, professional riders with just a few spacers underneath the stem additionally appears to be changing into extra widespread these days. A better stack might make sustaining an aero place extra comfy, netting general positive factors.
This shot of the Xelius fork leg gives a pleasant comparability with the blind fork dropout of the Canyon Aeroad CFR.
This is the 2nd bike of Jhonatan Narváez, other than the headline-making Y1RS aero race bike. Expect to see fewer aftermarket elements on the UAE rider’s bikes this 12 months because the group’s new Shimano partnership means all drivetrain elements will seemingly be Dura-Ace.
The ‘two’ sticker and lack of race quantity present that is the Ecuadorian’s second machine, destined to spend so much of the season on the roof of a group automobile.
No spacers right here, Narváez runs his Enve built-in stem on prime of the headset-bearing topcap.
Spot the green-coloured brake pad backing plate on the disc caliper, this means aftermarket brake pads are being run on Yuhi Todome’s Cannondale SuperSix bike.
Pink Muc-Off tubeless valves for the group, maybe the ‘T3’ and ‘6’ stickers on both facet of the valve confer with sealant ranges or set up dates.
Aero 40-54T FSA chainrings are paired to a Power2Max energy meter and FSA Okay-Force carbon fibre crank arms on EF’s Cannondale SuperSix Evo Lab71 machines.
The wild design of the aero Bianchi Oltre RC extends to the seatstay and seat tube junction.
Another blind via axle dropout, this time on the rear drive-side of the bike.
And once more on the entrance fork legs. The two aero ridges on the decrease leg to assist decrease drag.
We suspect this can be a barely lighter aftermarket disc rotor lockring fitted to the Lidl-Trek group challenge Trek Madones. Either manner, it matches the Sram Red caliper properly.
These bottle cages are for the frame-specific Trek aero bottles. The Madone is slower with out them, however they don’t seem to be the identical bottles as utilized by impartial service and as such we not often see the group use them over conventional spherical bottles.
It seems the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team has additionally adopted the favored Carbon-Ti aftermarket chainrings.
The group are additionally working the Continental Aero 111 front-specific aero tyre. The advertising for the tyre claims an astounding 18 watt saving, however in our assessments we will at the very least say that is negated by a 3.8 watt rolling resistance penalty over a GP5000S TR.
Human Powered Health’s Black Inc. hubs obtain the Ceramic Speed bearing therapy.
As do the group’s backside brackets – Every watt helps proper, in addition to improved bearing longevity?
We would put this drivetrain within the spotless or model new class.
The Ineos Pinarello Dogma F machines characteristic aero-profiled fork legs with a small gap wherein to mount a race transponder behind the ‘tabs’ and the axle.
The silver, unpainted Roval group challenge hubs on the Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe group bikes are a refreshing change from a sea of black componentry.
Keep your eyes peeled this 12 months for Dan Bigham’s affect on the RedBull Bora-Hansgrohe group bikes as he begins his first 12 months as head of engineering for the squad.
Okay-Edge chain catchers assist avert catastrophe in essential moments.
Luke Plapp’s chrome chainstays would have been glinting underneath the Australian solar.
The bladed carbon fibre spokes of the group’s Cadex race wheels.
Plapp seems to be very aero on his bike, however even his setup has to fall inside the UCI laws, so no turned-in hoods to hassle the commissaires.
Canyon-SRAM gave the impression to be one of many few groups working thru-axle levers. These might enable a rider to take away their wheel while ready for a recent wheel, saving valuable time.
This latex interior tube transponder cowl enhances the group paint very properly.
SRAM Red AXS brake levers, with a really delicate rubber attain adjuster bolt cowl on the prime of the lever.
This is the extra aggressive Canyon ‘Pro’ Pace base bar on the Movistar Canyon Aeroad.
The Canyon Aeroad CFR cockpit now makes use of T25 Torx bolts solely, which means fewer instruments for the mechanics.
Casper Pederson’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 is prepped and able to go.
It’s changing into uncommon to see a separate handlebar and stem within the males’s WorldTour however they’re nonetheless on the market.
The Wolfpack, the identify Soudal-Quick Step offers itself, will come out swinging this 12 months, as at all times. This emblem on the highest tube should function a reminder.
Defending champion Stevie Williams is again to defend his general title. He makes use of a Power2Max energy meter to maintain observe of the numbers.
There’s one thing cool about having handlebars taped tall the best way to the stem, Williams should like to carry the tops as properly. Bradley Wiggins was additionally eager on this setup again within the day too.
Groupama FDJ can also be working Continental Aero 111 tyres up entrance on their Miche wheels, a brand new associate for 2025. The group will use wheels from the Miche Kleos vary.
And the very succesful GP5000 S TR mannequin on the again, because the Aero111 is front-specific.
The Orbea Orca Aero, just like the Bianchi Oltre RC, has a closely sculpted seat keep junction.
As properly as an uncommon chainstay design that appears to scoop across the rear derailleur.
It’s good to see Campagnolo again within the WorldTour – Here’s the rear of its Super Record WR wi-fi rear mech.
The solar was starting to set by this level, but it surely actually is not setting on the legendary Italian producer.
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