The largest bike race on the earth isn’t simply the perfect stage for riders to shine. It’s additionally the place the place bikes, elements and equipment obtain loads of consideration. A 3-week lengthy store window, producers are liable to launch a slew of equipment simply forward of the race. However the bikes are extra than simply gadgets on the market. They too turn into gamers within the unfolding drama, supporting the contenders of their quest for glory.
So what’s new for ‘24? Leaks level to at the very least two new fashions possible being ridden in France, whereas this 12 months can even see ENVE and Van Rysel compete within the Tour for the primary time, with the Melee and RCR Professional fashions respectively.
However a lot stays the identical. Shimano is as soon as once more the groupset of alternative with 18 groups driving its range-topping Dura-Ace Di2. The remainder of the race’s gear altering will come courtesy of SRAM, with Campagnolo not current. One other prevalent model is Prologo, with the Italian saddle not simply the popular perch of race favorite Tadej Pogačar however provider to 6 different groups.
This is a listing of the bikes we’re anticipating to be at first line in Florence…
Alpecin – Deceuninck
Bikes: Canyon Aeroad CFR, Speedmax CFR Disc (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Shimano
On condition that the Belgian staff may have each Mathieu van Der Poel and Jasper Philipsen in its TdF line up, it is protected to imagine that the staff bikes will get loads of publicity. Van der Poel, sizzling off the again of a Classics marketing campaign for the ages that noticed him win De Ronde, Paris-Roubaix and the ES Saxo Traditional, will certainly gentle up the race sooner or later. Philipsen was the dominant sprinter in France a 12 months in the past and might be seeking to each defend his inexperienced jersey and add to his six stage wins.
In terms of the highway levels, each males might be driving the Canyon Aeroad CFR (fairly in all probability a brand new mannequin that was leaked on the Dauphiné), outfitted with Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and its wheels. The latter might be shod in Vittoria tires, possible the Corsa Professional within the 28mm width. Different elements embrace Sella Italia saddles. Canyon’s CFR Disc time trial bike can even get an airing, most crucially over the past stage of the Tour, a 34km race in opposition to the clock from Monaco to Good.
Arkéa – B&B Inns
Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima RC / Oltre RC / Aquila (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Imaginative and prescient
The French squad will head to the Grand Depart in Italy on a largely unchanged set-up. For the highway levels meaning selecting between Bianchi’s two choices, the light-weight Specialissima RC and the aero-enhanced Oltre RC. For the race’s two time trials, the Italian model’s Aquila TT bike will come into play. Shimano once more offers the groupset within the form of 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2, with Imaginative and prescient wheels now paired with Vittoria tires. Elsewhere Selle Italia are the staff’s saddle of alternative.
We must always get a great take a look at the bikes all through the Tour, with the homegrown staff absolutely obligated to get into loads of breakaways to present their sponsors some air time. Nonetheless, whether or not new recruit Arnaud Démare can recapture the shape that noticed him win three levels on the 2022 Giro on his approach to the factors jersey stays to be seen.
Astana Qazaqstan Workforce
Bikes: Wilier Triestina Filante SLR / 0 SLR / Turbine (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Imaginative and prescient
Sir Mark Cavendish is scheduled to be again on the Tour, with a brand new title to his title and a possibility so as to add to his record-tying 34 stage wins. Surpassing Eddie Merckx on the age of 39 can be the stuff of goals for Sir Cav however regardless the staff’s Wilier bikes ought to get some publicity with each Alexey Lutsenko and Davide Ballerini additionally penciled in to begin.
Like final 12 months, the staff from Kazakhstan might be driving Wilier’s trio of race-ready bikes (what probably seems like a brand new climbing bike has additionally been noticed on the Dauphiné) all decked out in one of many peloton’s most eye-catching paint jobs. Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 stays the chosen groupset whereas Imaginative and prescient wheels and Vittoria tires are each new additions for 2024.
Bahrain – Victorious
Bikes: Merida Scultura / Reacto / Time Warp (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Imaginative and prescient
With Pello Bilbao, Phil Bauhaus, Matej Mohorič and Fred Wright all attributable to begin the race, the Bahrain – Victorious staff ought to make loads of noise in France (and Italy after all!). As soon as once more, they will be doing so aboard Merida’s race bike duo of the Scultura and the Reacto, with the Time Warp TT bike used in opposition to the clock.
In terms of elements it is a case of ‘if it ain’t broke’, with Shimano as soon as once more supplying the Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets alongside Imaginative and prescient wheels, Continental tires and Prologo saddles.
Bora-Hansgrohe
Bikes: Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL8 / Shiv (TT)
Groupset: SRAM Pink AXS
Wheels: Roval
The Bora staff enter this 12 months’s Tour with its suppliers unchanged. This implies they will be doing battle on CW’s Race Bike of the Yr, the exceptional S-Works SL8, with the Shiv used for the time trial levels. SRAM offers the groupset within the form of its 12-speed wi-fi Pink AXS, which has seen an improve in latest occasions. Elsewhere it is Specialised’s in-house model Roval that completes the bike with its wheels and cockpit each in play.
Bora’s lineup does have a big addition although, within the form of a number of Grand Tour winner Primož Roglič. If his efficiency on the latest Dauphiné, which he received whereas taking two stage victories alongside the best way, is something to go by he ought to be a distinguished determine within the race for the yellow jersey. With Jai Hindley and Aleksandr Vlasov additionally set to experience, it ought to equate to loads of publicity for each staff and tools.
Cofidis
Bikes: Look 795 Blade RS / 796 Monoblade RS (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Wheels: Corima
Cofidis might be hoping they’ll emulate final 12 months’s Tour, the place the French outfit received its first stage in 15 years due to Victor Lafay’s victory in stage 2, earlier than proving it was no fluke with a second stage courtesy of the Basque rider Ion Izagirre.
Their pursuit of additional stage wins will happen aboard Look’s 795 Blade RS, which was not too long ago named as CW’s finest aero bike within the Race Bike of the Yr awards. Elsewhere it is a similar-looking set-up as final 12 months with Shimano groupsets, Corima wheels, Michelin tires and Prologo saddles.
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Workforce
Bikes: Van Rysel RCR Professional / XCR (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Swiss Facet Hadron2 Final
The newly-minted Decathlon staff are flying in 2024. They’ve already racked up 24 victories, with sprinter Sam Bennett dominating the 4 Days of Dunkirk race and the French duo of Benoît Cosnefroy and Aurélien Paret-Peintre accounting for 9 different wins, together with Paret-Peintre’s stage on the Giro.
They will head to the beginning line in Florence aboard one the 12 months’s most talked about bikes, Van Rysel’s RCR Professional, alongside its TT providing, the XCR. As soon as once more the groupset is Shimano’s Dura Ace Di2, whereas the wheels are Swiss Facet’s Hadron2 Final mannequin, shod with Continnetal tires. Elsewhere the staff might be driving the Italian combo of Deda bars and Fizik saddles.
EF Training – EasyPost
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 / SuperSlice (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Imaginative and prescient
EF-Training are usually onerous to overlook on the tour, due to a mix of its distinctive equipment and attacking driving. Producing the latter will possible fall to the trio of Richard Carapaz, Ben Healy and Neilson Powless, whereas the previous is down the tried-and-tested mixture of Cannondale’s SuperSix Evo race bike decked out in colors that match the staff’s Rapha jersey.
Like final 12 months, the SuperSix Evo is the LAB71 mannequin, which makes use of the US model’s lightest grade of carbon, whereas the SuperSlice might be used for the TTs. Each bikes are decked out in Shimano Dura-Ace with FSA chainsets, Imaginative and prescient wheels, Vittoria rubber and Prologo saddles.
Groupama – FDJ
Bikes: Wilier Filante SLR / 0 SLR / Supersonica (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Shimano
For the 2024 season, Groupama – FDJ has changed Lapierre bikes with these made by Wilier. This implies the French staff may have the selection of the Filante SLR, the 0 SLR and the brand new TT bike, the Supersonica, developed at the side of staff rider Stefan Küng, in France.
Küng might be hoping to make an impression within the stage 7 time trial from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, as will David Gaudu within the race for the GC top-10. They will be doing so supported by tech from Shimano, within the form of groupsets and wheels, alongside Continental tires and Prologo saddles.
INEOS Grenadiers
Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F / Bolide (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Shimano
Ineos have been noticed driving what seems like a brand new Dogma F and it is possible this can the bike that they experience throughout the three weeks in France. As normal the Pinarello frameset might be accompanied by MOST bars and Shimano wheels and groupsets, with the Princeton CarbonWorks hoops dropped for the ’24 season.
Whereas staff lineups have but to be confirmed, the ‘penciled in’ mixture of Tom Pidcock, Carlos Rodriguez, Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas ought to translate to luggage of airtime for the Dogma F, whether or not its an up to date mannequin or not.
Intermarché – Wanty
Bikes: Dice Litening C:68X Professional / C:68X Air / Aerium (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Newmen Superior SL
It is enterprise as normal for the Belgian outfit relating to staff tools. Like final 12 months they will be driving Dice bikes and can once more selected between the Litening C:68X Professional and Air relying on the stage profile, whereas the Aerium might be used for each time trials. The groupset is once more Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, with wheels equipped by Newmen, tires by Conti and saddles by Prologo.
Israel – Premier Tech
Bikes: Issue Ostro VAM / 02 VAM / Hanzo (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Black Inc
The IPT outfit will head to France with an identical wanting quiver as final 12 months. With Issue remaining because it bike provider riders such Dylan Teuns and Pascal Ackermann may have the selection of the Ostro VAM and O2 VAM for highway levels – the previous is the aero bike, the later the climbing mannequin – alongside the Hanzo for these two levels in opposition to the clock. As soon as once more it is Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 caring for the shifting, with Issue’s in-house part model Black Inc supplying the wheels and cockpit.
Lidl – Trek
Bikes: Trek Émonda SLR / Madone SLR / Pace Idea (TT)
Groupset: SRAM Pink AXS
Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus
Leaks of a brand new Trek race bike imply that the Lidl-Trek staff might be aboard one thing apart from the Gen 7 Madone SLR that Mads Pedersen rode to victory in Stage 8 of final 12 months’s race. As for the time trials issues look like unchanged with Trek’s Pace Idea TT bike in play.
Pedersen and teammates might be supported by the brand new SRAM Pink AXS groupset, Bontrager wheels and ending equipment and Pirelli tires. Might or not it’s a mix that add to the US-based groups already spectacular whole of 27 victories this season?
Lotto Dstny
Bikes: Orbea Orca Aero, Orca / Ordu (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Oquo
Will probably be slightly odd to not see the Lotto Dstny staff on Ridley bikes at this 12 months’s race. The Belgium outfit broke from its 12-year partnership firstly of the ’24 season, shifting to a cope with Basque-based Orbea. The change means the staff may have the Orca Aero, the Orca and Ordu at their disposal, outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets, Orbea-inhouse Oquo wheels, Vittoria tires and Selle Italia saddles.
Movistar Workforce
Bikes: Canyon Aeroad CFR / Speedmax CF SLX (TT)
Groupset: SRAM Pink AXS
Wheels: Zipp
Movistar’s tools stays pretty related for this 12 months’s tour, though they might be one other staff driving what seems to be a brand new Aeroad if latest leaks are something to go by. Outdoors of Canyon framesets and cockpits, it is as soon as once more SRAM Pink AXS groupsets, sister-brand Zipp’s vary of wheels, Continental tires and Fizik saddles. Nonetheless the eagle-eyed amongst you may discover a change in pedals, with the Spanish outfit shifting from Look to Time.
Soudal Fast-Step
Bikes: Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL8 / Roubaix / Shiv (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Roval
Whereas Remco Evenepoel’s early season crash has disrupted the staff’s TdF plans they will at the very least head to the race on acquainted tools. As soon as once more it is dominated by Specialised and its in-house Roval model. The Tarmac SL8 will do the lion’s share of the work, with the Shiv used in opposition to the clock. Spesh and Roval provide the wheels, tires and ending equipment, with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 the groupset of alternative.
If Evenepoel fails to ignite the GC race, count on to see the Belgian star flip his consideration to stage looking, with the final day’s TT additionally proper up his alley. Both method, count on to see loads of the SL8 decked out in Soudal Fast-Step colors.
Workforce dsm-firmenich PostNL
Bikes: Scott Foil RC / Plasma 5 (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Shimano
Whereas Workforce dsm-firmenich PostNL will as soon as once more be driving Scott bikes in France, they will be decked out in a beautiful new colourway for the eleventh version of the race. Highway levels will see the Foil RC in motion, whereas the Plasma 5 will report for responsibility for the time trials. Shimano are suppliers of each groupset – Dura-Ace Di2 naturally – and wheels, whereas Syncros care for the ending equipment and Vittoria the tires.
In Roman Bardet and Warren Barguil the staff has two French favourites in addition to riders who’ll be seeking to get in to loads of breakaways when the roads begin to level up. For dash levels, count on Fabio Jakobsen to be concerned. Mixed it ought to imply a good quantity of protection for one of many best-looking bikes within the peloton.
Workforce Jayco AlUla
Bikes: Big Propel Superior SL / TCR Superior SL / Trinity Superior Professional (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: Cadex 36, 42, 65
The three-pronged assault of Simon Yates, Michael Matthews and Dylan Groenewegen ought to see the Aussie staff aggressive throughout a spread of levels on the 12 months’s race. If that’s the case it means loads of alternative to get pleasure from each the Big Propel and TCR Superior race bikes – the latter has simply received CW’s Climbing Bike of the Yr award – in addition to the model’s Trinity Superior Professional TT machine. What’s extra the brand new staff colors have translated to some stunning wanting framesets.
All three might be outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Cadex wheels and ending equipment and Continental tires.
Workforce Visma | Lease a Bike
Bikes: Cervélo R5 Disc / S5 / P5 (TT)
Groupset: SRAM Pink AXS
Wheels: Reserve 52/63
Defending the yellow jersey will not come simple, particularly with Jonas Vingegarrd’s preparation derailed with a horrific early season crash. Nonetheless the Dane might be making an attempt a hat-trick of TdF wins utilizing tried-and-tested tools. Once more he’ll be aboard Cervélo’s trio of bikes, the R5, the S5 and the P5 (TT). SRAM once more offers the groupset within the form of its newly-updated Pink AXS, with Reserve and Continental supplying the wheels and tires respectively.
TotalEnergies
Bikes: ENVE Melee / Specialised Shiv (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: ENVE
Regardless of not having the companies of Peter Sagan at is disposal TotalEnergies stays an fascinating proposition in France. This time round nonetheless it is due largely to the bike the French staff might be racing – the Enve Melee. It is CW’s Most Fascinating Bike of the Yr, and it is an actual head turner. Naturally the body is decked out with wheels and ending equipment from the Utah-based carbon specialists, whereas the groupset is equipped by Shimano.
UAE Workforce Emirates
Bikes: Colnago V4Rs / TT1 (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: ENVE
Whereas the Tour de France throws up many compelling storylines every year, this race will possible be dominated by Tadej Pogačar’s pursuit of the Giro-Tour double. If he achieves it, he’ll be the primary man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win each Grand Excursions in the identical season, and solely the eighth rider in historical past to take action.
He’ll be making an attempt the exceptional feat aboard Colnago’s elegant V4Rs race bike, outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, ENVE bars and wheels, Pirelli tires and a Prologo saddle. However UAE are removed from a one-man staff, with Adam Yates and João Almeida’s spectacular exhibiting within the latest Tour de Suisse proof that Pog may have ample assist within the mountains.
Uno-X Mobility
Bikes: Dare VSRu / TSRf (TT)
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace
Wheels: DT Swiss
Uno-X Mobility’s Dare VSRu is probably going essentially the most unfamiliar bike within the peloton. The direct-to-consumer model will once more be supplying the staff with each its VSRu and TSRf fashions, for highway and TT levels respectively. The bikes will outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets, fitted with CeramicSpeed jockey wheels, DT Swiss wheels and Schwalbe tires.
Nonetheless, any staff that options Magnus Cort within the line-up ought to obtain loads of publicity. The Dane, who not too long ago received a stage on the ’24 Dauphiné, might be wanting so as to add to his two Tdf levels, with the final coming in 2022.