Pro Gear: The 2021 World Tour Team Bikes

Astana-Premier Tech (Kazakhstan)

Riders to watch: Jakob Fuglsang, Alexey Lutsenko, Alexander Vlasov

The Astana team keeps its main partners, and in 2021 will mainly ride the Wilier Filante SLR, the Italian brand’s versatile model, both light and aerodynamic, paired with French Corima wheels. In certain races, riders can use the lighter Zero SLR, and of course the Turbine for time trials. Look, Prologo and Vittoria are the team’s other main partners.

Bahrain-Victorious (Bahrain)

Riders to watch: Mikel Landa, Wout Poels, Dylan Theuns, Sonny Colbrelli

The Bahrain team keeps the same equipment as in 2020, with Merida Scultura or Reacto Disc bikes depending on the profile, Time Wrap bikes for time trials, Vision wheels of different depths, FSA cockpits (for the Scultura) or Vision Metron for the Reacto, and Prologo saddles.

Bike Exchange (Australia)

Riders to watch: Simon Yates, Esteban Chaves, Michael Matthews

Now the Team Bike Exchange, the former Mitchelton-Scott changes its frame partner but stays loyal to an all-Shimano setup (groupsets, wheels and pedals). Already on great form in previous years with Jumbo-Visma, the Italian brand Bianchi should help the riders of the Australian team shine, with the Oltre XR4 for flat and rolling terrain, the Specialissima for mountains and the Aquila for time trials. Unlike 2020, every Bianchi bike you will see in races will have disc brakes.

Bora-Hansgrohe (Germany)

Riders to watch: Peter Sagan, Wilco Kelderman, Pascal Ackermann, Lennard Kamna

Presented in late July 2020 and the most prolific bike in terms of wins in the second half of the season, the Specialized Tarmac S-Works SL7 is still the riders’ favorite at Bora-Hansgrohe, thanks to its extreme versatility. At Paris-Roubaix it will of course be replaced by the Roubaix S-Works, and the riders will use the Shiv TT Disc for individual time trials. As for wheels, they will use Roval, depending on the circumstances clinchers, tubeless or tubulars.

Cofidis-Solutions Crédits (France)

Riders to watch: Guillaume Martin, Elia Viviani, Christophe Laporte, Nicolas Edet

Cofidis stays loyal to its equipment partners: De Rosa and Campagnolo for frames and groupset, Fulcrum for wheels, SRM for power meters and Selle Italia for saddles. Riders will have the choice between the Merak for the most demanding races and the SK Pininfarina for flatter courses. For time trials, the TT03 will be used.

Deceuninck-Quick Step (Belgium)

Riders to watch: Julian Alaphilippe, Remco Evenepoel, João Almeida, Kasper Asgreen, Mark Cavendish

As in the second half of 2020, Deceuninck-Quick Step will mainly ride the Tarmac S-Works SL7, a bike that is light, stiff and aerodynamic, fitted with Roval wheels, depending on the circumstances clinchers, tubeless or tubulars. Note the special version dedicated to Julian Alaphilippe, to match his world champion jersey. The Shiv TT Disc should be one of the favorite weapons of the phenomenon Remco Evenepoel.

EF Education-Nippo (USA)

Riders to watch: Sergio Higuita, Rigoberto Uran, Alberto Bettiol, Michael Valgren

EF Education stays loyal to Cannondale, mainly using two bikes: the SuperSix Evo for its versatility, and the SystemSix for its aerodynamics. The SuperSlice will take center stage for time trials. The bikes are also fitted with Shimano groupsets, Vision wheels and FSA/Vision cockpits.

Groupama-FDJ (France)

Riders to watch: Arnaud Démare, Thibaut Pinot, David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas, Stefan Küng

The FDJ team and Lapierre have been partners for nearly 20 years, and 2020 saw the arrival of the new Aircode DRS, which allowed Arnaud Démare to be the most prolific rider of the season with 14 wins. Groupama-FDJ is also a long-standing partner of Shimano: the Aircode DRS (aerodynamic bike), Xelius SL (for climbers) and Aerostorm (time trial) are fitted with groupsets and wheels from the Japanese brand, as well as Pro cockpits.

Ineos-Grenadiers (Great Britain)

Riders to watch: Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas, Richard Carapaz, Adam Yates, Michał Kwiatkowski, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Thomas Pidcock, Pavel Sivakov, Dani Martinez, Filippo Ganna, Rohan Dennis, Richie Porte

On paper, Ineos-Grenadiers still look like the strongest team in the peloton. The equipment is the same as in 2020, with the Pinarello Dogma F12, used on all terrain except time trials, where riders can use the Bolide. On certain mountain stages, to get as close as possible to the UCI weight limit, the Ineos riders will still ride Lightweight wheels. The Pinarellos will be the only bikes in the World Tour peloton still fitted with rim brakes, at least outside mountain stages, where other leaders may also choose to do so.

Intermarché-Wanty Gobert (Belgium)

Riders to watch: Jan Bakelants, Loïc Vliegen, Louis Meintjes, Rein Taaramäe

By acquiring the World Tour license of the now-defunct CCC team, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert gains access to the elite and, automatically, to the biggest races in the world. It is also an opportunity to highlight the partnership begun seven years ago with the German brand Cube, which supplies riders with a stiff, aerodynamic and versatile bike in the Litening C:68X, fitted with Shimano and Newmen wheels.

Israel Start-Up Nation (Israel)

Riders to watch: Chris Froome, Dan Martin, Sep Vanmarcke, Rudy Barbier, Michael Woods, Daryl Impey, Alessandro De Marchi

In his new team, Chris Froome will have the choice between four Factor bikes depending on the circumstances: the versatile Ostro VAM, the aerodynamic One, the O2 VAM climber and the Slick time trial machine. Israel Start-Up Nation riders will also use Factor-related components, the Black Inc. wheels and cockpits. Note one oddity here: Maxxis tyres, as well as Shimano groupsets “upgraded” with CeramicSpeed bearings.

Jumbo-Visma (Netherlands)

Riders to watch: Primož Roglič, Wout van Aert, Steven Kruijswijk, Sepp Kuss

The giants Primož Roglič and Wout van Aert benefit from the arrival of a new equipment partner, the Canadian brand Cervélo, which will supply the S5 for rolling courses, the R5 for mountains, the Caledonia 5 for cobbled classics and the superb P5 for time trials. Jumbo-Visma stays loyal to a complete Shimano setup (groupsets, wheels, pedals, power meters) and switches to disc brakes, since Cervélo no longer has any rim-brake bikes in its range.

Lotto-Soudal (Belgium)

Riders to watch: Tim Wellens, Philippe Gilbert, Caleb Ewan, John Degenkolb, Thomas De Gendt

For 2021, Ridley is giving its main Lotto-Soudal riders custom paint schemes that should turn heads in the peloton. Between the Noah Fast (the all-rounder) and the Helium SLX (for the mountains), the riders of the Belgian team get superb machines, equipped with 12-speed Campagnolo, along with the brand’s full range of wheels. Note also the Deda Elementi cockpits, while most bikes in the peloton are fitted with handlebars from the same brand as the frame.

Movistar (Spain)

Riders to watch: Alejandro Valverde, Enric Mas, Miguel Angel Lopez, Marc Soler

Movistar will still ride in 2021 with veteran Alejandro Valverde (probably in his last season) and on Canyon bikes, with the new Aeroad CFR for mixed terrain and the Ultimate CFR for mountains. The SRAM Red eTap AXS groupsets will be fitted with chainring combinations not sold commercially, 54-41 and 52-39, with a 12-speed cassette starting at 10 teeth. This choice mainly comes from the fact that riders (sprinters in particular) do not really like using the 10-tooth sprocket, which creates a very big gap with the 11. Otherwise, riders will use the full range of Zipp wheels (303, 404, 454…) in tubular or tubeless.

Qhubeka-Assos (South Africa)

Riders to watch: Fabio Aru, Domenico Pozzovivo, Sergio Henao, Simon Clarke, Victor Campenaerts

The former NTT team changes its name and sponsors but keeps its partnership with BMC, and will continue to use the Roadmachine SLR01, Timemachine Road and Timemachine. What makes these bikes special is that they use components from various sources, such as Hunt wheels (new at this level), Rotor cranksets and power meters, KMC chains, with Shimano electronic shifting. There are also Goodyear tyres, again brand new at this level of competition.

Team DSM (Germany)

Riders to watch: Romain Bardet, Jai Hindley, Nicholas Roche, Chris Hamilton

Team DSM (formerly Sunweb) switches from Cervélo to Scott, and gets the Addict RC for very hilly courses, the Foil for rolling courses, and the Plasma for time trials. But the team stays loyal to Shimano, with groupsets, wheels and pedals, and with disc brakes.

Trek-Segafredo (USA)

Riders to watch: Vincenzo Nibali, Mads Pedersen, Giulio Ciccone, Bauke Maullema, Kenny Elissonde, Julien Bernard

Trek-Segafredo of course stays loyal to its Trek bikes, with the new Emonda unveiled last year (the light and relatively aero bike), the Madone SLR for rouleurs, the Domane for cobbled classics, and the Speed Concept for time trials. Equipped with SRAM AXS, the riders’ bikes are mostly fitted with 54-41 and 52-39 chainring combinations (with a 12-speed cassette starting at 10 teeth) rather than the combinations sold commercially.