With the first WorldTour race kicking off down under, the Santos Tour Down Under provides the chance to catch a glimpse of all the new equipment of the professional peloton ahead of the upcoming season. So with that, we saddled up and headed over to Adelaide to bring you a profile of each team bike including the bike manufacturer, groupset, wheels and component choice for the 18 WorldTour teams, cue the bike envy!
AG2R LA MONDIALE
2018 is business as usual for French outfit AG2R La Mondial, continuing on Factor bikes for 2018, without any change in equipment.
Bike manufacturer: Factor
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Mavic
Cockpit: Black Inc.
ASTANA PRO TEAM
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 Italian-registered team returning to Corima wheels for 2018.
Bike manufacturer: Argon-18
Groupset: FSA / Shimano
Wheels: Vision
Cockpit: FSA
BAHRAIN–MERIDA
Bahrain Merida have run a similar set-up to last year but with a fresh slick of paint. A Shimano Di2 groupset and a Fulcrum wheelset complete the package for the team who run a mix of Merida Scultura lightweight and Reacto aero road frames.
Bike manufacturer: Merida
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Fulcrum
Cockpit: Vision
BMC RACING TEAM
BMC racing returns with a complete Shimano groupset, including tubular wheels and Shimano’s new power Dura-Ace power meter. The Swiss manufacturing company has been naming sponsor of its team since it’s inception.
Bike manufacturer: BMC
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: BMC/3T
BORA-HANSGROHE
The team of the World Champion Peter Sagan are aboard either one of Specialized's aero Venge ViAS or the new Tarmac SL6. The bikes are painted to match the new kit and feature Specialized's’ own power meters.
Bike manufacturer: Specialized
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Roval
Cockpit: Pro
TEAM DIMENSION-DATA
The South-African registered team has remained mostly unchanged, apart from a saddle swap to Astute saddles out of Italy. The fleet of Cervelo bikes are finished with Enve componentry and wheels keeping it all very tidy.
Bike manufacturer: Cervelo
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Enve
Cockpit: Enve
TEAM EDUCATION FIRST - DRAPAC P/B CANNONDALE
A subtle difference in the paint and a new saddle sponsor in Prologo sees the aptly named team race on the Cannondale SuperSix frame, completed with Shimano shifting and Vision wheels.
Bike manufacturer: Cannondale
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Vision
Cockpit: FSA
FDJ
The French team remains loyal to French brand Lapierre, whom it has been partnered with for 16 years. The bikes are all Shimano-equipped right down to the wheels, as well as Shimano’s in-house componentry brand PRO Bike Gear.
Bike manufacturer: Lapierre
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: PRO Bike Gear
TEAM KATUSHA ALPECIN
Red goes fast right? Katusha is aboard Canyon Aeroad CF SLX, complete with SRAM e-TAP electronic shifting and the new Zipp 454 NSW Wheels.
Bike manufacturer: Canyon
Groupset: SRAM
Wheels: ZIPP
Cockpit: Canyon
TEAM LOTTO NL-JUMBO
Italian outfit Bianchi provides the team with a fast Oltre X4 for another season, with Shimano shifting and wheels, the bikes are finished with a Vision cockpit.
Bike manufacturer: Bianchi
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: Vision
LOTTO SOUDAL
The unique looking Ridley frames are a feature of team Lotto Soudal, with componentry Campagnolo providing wheels and groupset, the build is an ode to Italian brands with Deda and Selle Italia to finish.
Bike manufacturer: Ridley
Groupset: Campagnolo
Wheels: Campagnolo
Cockpit: Deda
MOVISTAR TEAM
Flagship Spanish team Movistar boast a new coloured kit and a custom painted Canyon Aeroad CF SLX as well as the Ultimate CF SLX. A Campagnolo groupset, wheels and a proprietary Canyon cockpit all feature on the team bikes.
Bike manufacturer: Canyon
Groupset: Campagnolo
Wheels: Campagnolo
Cockpit: Canyon
MITCHELTON-SCOTT
Australia's own World Tour team have access to both the Scott Foil and Scott Addict frames, the former being the more aero version. Like many others, Shimano is the groupset of choice with touchpoints coming from Scott-owned Syncros.
Bike manufacturer: Scott
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: Syncros
QUICKSTEP FLOORS
Bringing with them a selection of both the Specialized Tarmac and new Venge ViAS Disc, the Quickstep Floors team can take their pick of both Shimano equipped bikes. The cockpit remains on brand with Shimano owned PRO Bike Gear.
Bike manufacturer: Specialized
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: PRO Bike Gear
TEAM SKY
Team Sky are the only World Tour team on Pinarello, this year featuring Pinarello’s own componentry brand, MOST. Groupset and wheels are all Shimano Di2.
Bike manufacturer: Pinarello
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Shimano
Cockpit: MOST
TEAM SUNWEB-GIANT
With a telling team name, it’s no surprise that Giant is the dominating force with wheels, cockpit and TCR Advanced SL frame all Giants own. Additionally, they are using Giants newest [Neostrack] cycling computer, a World Tour debut.
Bike manufacturer: Giant
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Giant
Cockpit: Giant
TREK-SEGAFREDO
The only bike (at present) that can be seen with disc brakes is the new Trek Emonda Disc, complete with Trek owned Bontrager componentry and wheels. Shimano Di2 again makes an appearance on these team bikes.
Bike manufacturer: Trek
Groupset: Shimano
Wheels: Bontrager
Cockpit: Bontrager
UAE-TEAM EMIRATES
A complete Italian package sees the Emirati-registered team ride Colnago frames coupled with Campagnolo groupset and wheels. True to form, the cockpit is provided by Italian company Deda.
Bike manufacturer: Colnago
Groupset: Campagnolo
Wheels: Campagnolo
Cockpit: Deda
Want more details about the bikes of the World Tour? Read a more in-depth version of the article CyclingTips.