With the first WorldTour race launching down under, the eyes of the world’s cycling media once again turn to the hills of Adelaide with the Santos Tour Down Under providing the opportunity to glimpse all the new kits, riders and equipment that make up the professional peloton for the upcoming season.
So, as is now tradition, we snuck our way into the pits and bring you a profile of each team bike including the bike manufacturer, groupset, wheels and component choice for the 18 WorldTour teams.
AG2R LA MONDIALE
Having saddled up on Factor bikes for the previous two seasons, French outfit AG2R La Mondiale has made the switch to Belgian-designed Eddy Merckx frames. Previously seen under the riders from Quick-Step Floors back in 2011, Eddy Merckx bikes have recently been acquired by Belgium Cycling Factory, so we’re eagerly awaiting confirmation of new models under the squad as the year progresses.
The only manufacturer to carry over from the previous year is Mavic, who provide the wheelsets, with Campagnolo providing partial groupsets, Rotor providing cranksets and powermeters while KMC chains and Deda Elementi finishing kits complete the build kit.
Bike manufacturer: Eddy Merckx
Groupset: Campagnolo / ROTOR / KMC
Wheels: Mavic
Cockpit: Deda Elementi
ASTANA PRO TEAM
One of the few teams to carry on without change, Canadian bike brand Argon-18 remains as the bike sponsor for Astana. The bikes are outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 shifting, FSA cockpit, and cranks with the team continuing their use of Corima wheels for the coming season.
Bike manufacturer: Argon-18
Groupset: FSA / Shimano
Wheels: Corima
Cockpit: FSA
BAHRAIN–MERIDA
Bahrain Merida once again continues to use bikes courtesy of their title sponsor, Merida. Riders have a choice between both the lightweight Scultura and aerodynamic Reacto. Shimano Di2 groupsets, complete with slick SRM powermeters and Fulcrum wheelsets complete the package for the team.
Bike manufacturer: Merida
Groupset: Shimano / SRM
Wheels: Fulcrum
Cockpit: Vision
BORA-HANSGROHE
A true sign of where the road cycling industry is headed, German outfit Bora-Hansgrohe has gone all in on disc brakes, with no rim brake options available for its riders, which includes three-time world champion, Peter Sagan. The team makes use of the recently unveiled S-Works Venge aero bike, with the lightweight SL6 Tarmac Disc also available at the teams' disposal.
Specialized also handle much of the build kit with frames, forks, powermeters, and wheelsets all coming courtesy of the American company, whilst Shimano groupsets, PRO cockpits finish off each bike.
Bike manufacturer: Specialized
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Roval
Cockpit: PRO Bike Gear
CCC TEAM
The newest squad to hit the WorldTour, the CCC Team carries over from the now-defunct BMC Racing outfit, and with a new name, title sponsor and rider line-up, comes a new range of equipment.
Giant has made the switch from Sunweb to the American registered team, providing both its aerodynamic Propel and lightweight TCR along with wheelsets, cockpits, saddles, computers, and bidon cages for 2019. Shimano provides its 9150 Dura Ace Di2 groupsets with matching powermeters, whilst Italian outfit Vittoria provides the rubber.
Bike manufacturer: Giant
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Giant
Cockpit: Giant
DECEUNINCK QUICK-STEP
The winningest team of the 2018 season with 90 victories continue into the new year with a choice of either the lightweight Specialized Tarmac SL6 Disc or aero Venge steeds. Shimano once again provides the shifting with the team now also utilising its powermeters while Specialized's in-house wheel brand Roval provide the rolling stock. The cockpit remains on brand with Shimano's proprietary component brand PRO providing bars and stems to the team.
Bike manufacturer: Specialized
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: PRO Bike Gear
TEAM DIMENSION-DATA
South-African registered team Dimension Data is one of four outfits to change bike manufacturer, making the change over to BMC. The team is expected to alternate the recently released aerodynamic TimeMachine and the race proven TeamMachine.
The rest of the build kit is a high-end affair with ENVE providing the wheelsets and cockpit, ROTOR providing the crankset and powermeter with Shimano taking care of the shifting and KMC chains tying the whole package together.
Bike manufacturer: BMC
Groupset: Shimano / ROTOR / KMC
Wheels: Enve
Cockpit: Enve
EF PRO CYCLING
With slick new paint schemes, a new aero steed to choose from, and one of the most polarizing kits in the peloton, EF Pro Cycling is back, bigger and bolder. Sticking with Cannondale bikes, the riders will alternate between its perennial race machine, the Supersix Evo, and the recently unveiled aerodynamic SystemSix.
Shimano stays on as groupset provider with FSA cranksets and cockpits, Power2Max powermeters and Vision wheelsets shod with Vittoria rubber.
Bike manufacturer: Cannondale
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Vision
Cockpit: FSA
Groupama-FDJ
The French team remains loyal to French brand Lapierre, with whom it has been partnered for 17 years. The bikes are all Shimano-equipped right down to the wheels, this follows up to the cockpit, with Shimano’s in-house componentry brand PRO Bike Gear providing bars and stems.
Riders will alternate between the aerodynamic Aircode SL and lightweight Xelius SL.
Bike manufacturer: Lapierre
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: PRO Bike Gear
TEAM JUMBO-VISMA
Dutch outfit Jumbo-Visma may have a title sponsor change, however, with little change in equipment save for a new powermeter sponsor, with Shimano providing its Dura Ace powermeter units to the team. Italian outfit Bianchi once again provides its Oltre XR4 (aero), Specialissima (lightweight), and Infinito (endurance) framesets to the team while the groupsets are from Shimano and finishing kits courtesy of Vision.
Bike manufacturer: Bianchi
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: Vision
KATUSHA-ALPECIN
Katusha continues its partnership with German direct-to-customer outfit Canyon, offering up its Aeroad CF SLX Disc (aero), and Ultimate CF CLX Disc (lightweight) framesets complete with SRAM eTAP electronic shifting. The bikes look to be using prototype 12-speed eTAP groupsets, complete with updated cranksets, we expect to hear news of a market-wide release soon.
Canyon also provides the cockpit componentry with wheelsets coming courtesy of Zipp and saddles from Selle Italia.
Bike manufacturer: Canyon
Groupset: SRAM
Wheels: ZIPP
Cockpit: Canyon
LOTTO SOUDAL
Proud Belgian squad Lotto-Soudal continues aboard Ridley bikes, with the team alternating between the aero Noah Fast and lightweight Helium SLX framesets. Industry pioneers Campagnolo provide the groupsets, with the team rolling on a yet to be released EPS version of the recently unveiled 12-Speed Super Record groupset. Campagnolo wheels match the groupsets with Deda, SRM and Selle Italia providing the cockpit, powermeter, and saddles.
Bike manufacturer: Ridley
Groupset: Campagnolo
Wheels: Campagnolo
Cockpit: Deda
MITCHELTON-SCOTT
Australia's own WorldTour team have access to both the Scott Foil (aero) and Scott Addict (lightweight) frames. Like many others in the peloton, Shimano is the groupset of choice with touchpoints coming from Scott's own proprietary component brand Syncros.
Interestingly, Mitchelton-Scott is the only squad in the WorldTour rolling on Pirelli rubber, with the iconic Italian company re-entering the sport in 2018.
Bike manufacturer: Scott
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: Syncros
MOVISTAR TEAM
Whilst rival Canyon squad Katusha-Alpecin has gone all-in on discs, Spanish outfit Movistar look set to continue exclusively on rim-braked models of the Aeroad CF SLX and Ultimate CF SLX for the coming season. As is the case with other Campagnolo backed teams in the peloton, the squad is using new 12-speed EPS Super Record groupsets. Power2Max carry over as powermeter supplier whilst team colour matched Campagnolo Bora wheels also feature.
Bike manufacturer: Canyon
Groupset: Campagnolo
Wheels: Campagnolo
Cockpit: Canyon
TEAM SKY
After recently announcing that would be the last year Team Sky would run as we have come to know it, the Grand Tour specialist squad kicks off the new season with largely the same equipment as the previous year. Pinarello remains the bike supplier with the squad rolling on F10 Dogma framesets. Shimano carries over as groupset, powermeter and wheelset supplier whilst Pinarello’s in-house componentry brand MØST provide the cockpit.
Bike manufacturer: Pinarello
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: MØST
TEAM SUNWEB
Same name, radically different equipment. Dutch outfit Sunweb rolls in with a host of equipment changes from the previous year. Now rolling on Cervelo framesets, the team has their choice of the recently overhauled aero S5 and lightweight R5 bikes for the upcoming season. Shimano provides the groupset, powermeter, and wheelsets whilst its in-house componentry brand PRO provides the handlebars (where applicable), stems, and saddles.
Bike manufacturer: Cervelo
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: Cervelo / PRO Bike Gear
TREK-SEGAFREDO
The U.S. based squad continue with title sponsor Trek bike frames in the form of the Emonda Disc, the recently overhauled Madone SLR Disc (aero) and Domane (endurance). The main change sees the squad change groupset supplier from Shimano to SRAM, with the team rolling on the same unreleased 12-speed eTAP groupsets as rival SRAM squad, Katusha-Alpecin.
Trek’s own in-house componentry brand Bontrager supplies the cockpits, saddles, and rolling stock with Continental handling rubber duties.
Bike manufacturer: Trek
Groupset: SRAM
Wheels: Bontrager
Cockpit: Bontrager
UAE-TEAM EMIRATES
The most iconically Italian package in the WorldTour peloton has to be the Emirati-based squad of UAE-Team Emirates. Colnago supplies a mix of Concept, V2-R and C64 frames coupled with 12-speed Campagnolo EPS groupsets and Bora wheels. Continuing with the Italian theme, Deda Elementi provides the cockpit, whilst Prologo continues as the saddle sponsor.
Bike manufacturer: Colnago
Groupset: Campagnolo
Wheels: Campagnolo
Cockpit: Deda Elementi
