Another lap of France is upon us, and there have been some exceptionally busy mechanics readying bikes for the best riders in the world. With one of the most exciting Tours about to begin, here is the complete list of what the men's teams will be using in 2022.
With the start of the 2022 Tour de France here and our excitement levels reaching the height of the Col du Galiber, it's time to take a look at what the teams will be riding for three weeks. Cinq, quatres, trois, deux, un...go!
AG2R Citroën Team: BMC
AG2R haven't changed much from the 2021 season and there's nothing special for the Tour which is surprising for a very French team. If it ain’t broke…
The BMC SLR 01 and TMR are both available to the AG2R Citroën riders, with the former being the all-rounder. Campag fans will be pleased to see the Record EPS Disc groupsets along with tubeless Bora Ultra WTO wheels. The team will use the 45 and 60mm depths mostly, and these are shod with Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR tyres.
Alpecin-Deceuninck
Deceo...Dekuni...Deceuninck is back as a title sponsor having left Quick-Step. They've been gone just long enough for us to forget how to spell the name but the team has been constantly at the front of races, and it isn't just a one-man show.
Yep, VDP is here and he is aboard his Canyon Aeroad once again. Van der Poel is one of the faces of Shimano so he's riding a SRAM Red eTap...only joking, it is full Dura-Ace for the team, including the groupset and wheels.
But keep an eye out for a new Ultimate. We know they're floating around, but with the flat nature of the opening stages, we're unlikely to see it until the first summit finish.
Arkea-Samsic
Quintana is here and will likely focus on stage wins rather than the GC. Just like Alpecin, they're riding Canyon bikes, so it is the Aeroad and Ultimate for the French squad.
Like Alpecin, the team is also on the latest 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2 with matching Shimano wheels. Interestingly, however, while Alpecin look like they're on tubeless tyres, Arkea's riders seem to prefer tubulars. These are the Continental Competition Pro Ltd. Arcahic Arkea?
Astana Qazaqstan Team: Wilier
> Review: Wilier Filante SLR
Wilier is still providing the bikes and the riders will have the Filante SLR and the 0 SLR to choose between. The bikes have been pictured with Dura-Ace R9100 groupsets, suggesting that Astana aren’t high up on the pecking order for the new stuff. The rear derailleur features a CeramicSpeed OSPW and wheel sponsor Corima has provided some very striking hoops in this pic, though we expect a more standard set to be used for races.
B&B Hotels
One team getting brand new bikes for the biggest race is B&B. Pierre Rolland will be on the hunt for polka points aboard a brand new KTM that we first spotted at the Criterium du Dauphine.
The bike is an aero meets lightweight design that we've seen a lot of over the past few years. B&B build it up with DT Swiss wheels, a Shimano Dura-Ace 12-speed Di2 groupset and an integrated Vision front end.
Hopefully we get to see Rolland in full polka dots with a polka dot bike later in the race.
Bahrain - Victorious: Merida
Bike sponsor Merida offers Bahrain - Victorious the Reacto and the Scultura for road stages, and this is another bike in this rundown with the R9200 Dura-Ace groupset. From the pictures that we’ve seen, the team looks to be pretty well stocked with the majority of riders on the new power meter too.
> Review: Merida Scultura V Team
Never mind us looking at the components that the team will be using, you can read our full reviews of both bikes.
> Review: Merida Reacto Team
BORA - Hansgrohe: Specialized
The first of a few teams to be using the Specialized SL7, Bora has been treated to a shiny new paint job, but not a lot else.
The new Shimano Dura-Ace is present, and Roval returns with the Rapide CLX II wheels. Tyres are an interesting one and this is something that we’ll be keeping a close eye on.
> Review: S-Works Tarmac SL7
The Roval wheels have gained a tubeless rim bed, so is a new tyre on the way from Specialized? Time will tell...
Cofidis: De Rosa
No change for Cofidis. They’re still on DeRosa’s Merak and SK models with the former pictured. Campagnolo’s Super Record EPS Disc groupset takes care of shifting and braking, while an SRM head unit provides all of the rider’s data. Corima offers carbon tubular wheels with Michelin Power tyres. Vision takes care of front-end integration with its Metron bar/stem.
It might be a bit of a mishmash of brands, but we like it a lot.
EF Education-EasyPost: Cannondale
Skateboard brand, Palace, is back for a collab with a very loud design that was painted by doktorbobby. The EF-EasyPost riders again have the SystemSix and SuperSix bikes at their disposal. Vision continues to supply the wheels and handlebars, while sister company FSA supplies the chainset with powermeter.
> First Ride: Cannondale SuperSix Evo 2020
Prologo saddles and bar tape should keep the riders comfy, and all riders are on the new Dura-Ace.
Groupama - FDJ: Lapierre
The lovely Lapierre bikes of FDJ are back again in a gorgeous navy blue.
> Review: Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 Groupset
Away from the looks, the team is using a mix of new and old. Dura-Ace R9200 is present, as are the latest Shimano power meters, but the team is still on the old-style C40 and C60 wheelsets.
INEOS Grenadiers: Pinarello
The Pinarello Dogma F of Ineos hasn't changed, but the team does have a new TT bike.
> Ineos Grenadiers are racing on disc brakes… finally
Shimano’s latest Dura-Ace is on pretty much every bike, and the team is using the latest editions of the Dura-Ace C40 and C60 wheels.
Just one frameset - the Dogma F - is available to the riders; but as race bikes go, that’s a pretty good one to have.
Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux: Cube
Quite how neon yellow has made it all the way through to 2022 we’re not quite sure, but it is at least easy to spot.
> Take a closer look at the Cube Lightening C:68X
The bikes of Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux (aaaannnd breathe) are supplied by Cube, with the new 2023 Lightning being the main road race option. The older 11-speed Shimano hints at the team’s status as one of the smaller World Tour setups, but it’s still a bike that we’d be happy to race on.
A CeramicSpeed OSPW system offers the potential for a small wattage saving, while one of the more interesting component choices is the wheelset. German brand Newmen provides the team with three depths of carbon wheels, and while the team was on tubular tyres last season, this bike looks to be a tubeless setup with Continental’s GP5000 S TR.
Israel - Premier Tech: Factor
Factor’s Ostro VAM is again the bike of choice for the majority of road races that Israel - Premier Tech will be participating in, and the team will continue to use Black Inc wheels and a one-piece handlebar.
> Review: Factor Ostro VAM
4iiii has departed and in comes Rotor as power meter supplier, resulting in new cranksets and chainrings. They even have ‘aero’ chainrings, which must make Alex Dowsett very happy.
SwissStop continues to supply the Catalyst rotors and RS34 disc pads, despite us speculating that ISN may return to Shimano when discussing Chris Froome's opinion on disc brakes again late last year.
Lotto Soudal: Ridley
While Lotto are sticking with their Ridley Noah and Helium framesets, they’ve made a pretty big move elsewhere... Campagnolo is out and Shimano is in.
We did see Caleb Ewan and Philippe Gilbert using modified shift lever setups, so the move might make it easier for the riders to shift gears when down in the drops, as Shimano offers its popular sprinter satellite shift buttons.
> Review: DT Swiss ERC 1400 Dicut 35 wheelset
With Campagnolo departing Lotto also needed to find some new wheels to roll on, so in comes DT Swiss with Vittoria providing some lovely tan wall Corsa G2.0 tubulars.
Movistar Team: Canyon
Movistar can do what it likes with their bikes, just as long as we get another season of the Netflix documentary. Canyon supplies the bikes, including the new Ultimate which we hope to see whel the race goes uphill and the Aeroad for the flatter stuff.
It’s SRAM Red eTap AXS taking care of shifting, braking and delivering power meter data too. That includes some pro-only chainring sizes to make the riders less dependant on the cassette’s 10T cog.
> First Ride Review: Canyon Aeroad CFR
Zipp also continues with the team, offering the 303 NSW wheelset in tubular and tubeless forms. Fizik supplies saddles and bar tape while Continental tyres handle grip.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team: Specialized
The S-Works SL7 has proven itself at the highest level, and this lovely frameset is decked out in the latest Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 groupset.
> Review: Roval Rapide CLX
While lots of the team use the Roval Rapide aero handlebar, some riders instead opts for a Pro Vibe Superlight bar with the round tubes suggesting that aero isn’t everything for some riders.
Again, we see the Roval Rapide CLX II wheelset feature with the same unmarked Specialized tyres as we saw with Bora.
Team BikeExchange Jayco: Giant
It's a brand new bike from Giant, but while we think it is a new Propel, we're not 100% sure.
> Review: Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 Disc 2021
The Propel and the TCR are the bikes that riders will be selecting from, and under the fast legs of Dylan Gronewegan, expect to see the new bike netting a win this year's race.
> New Giant Propel to debut at Tour de France
Wheels and finishing kit come from Giant, while Shimano provides the groupset. It’s Dura-Ace Di2 Disc, naturally, though that is an 11-speed crankset in the photo.
Team DSM: Scott
The new bikes are coming thick and fast now with Scott launching the 2023 Foil earlier this week.
> Review: Scott Addict RC
The new bike is faster, lighter and comfier according to Scott so we'll see if it can help their riders to some decent results. For the mountains, the riders also have the Addict.
Scott’s sub-brand Syncross provides the one-piece handlebar and the saddles. The only deviation from Scott and Shimano are the Vittoria tubeless tyres on the Shimano C38 wheels.
Team Jumbo-Visma: Cervelo
Jumbo-Visma have been pretty happy since they moved over to Cervelo bikes, and the team still have use of the R5 and S5 models, though the S5 has been updated to take advantage of the latest UCI frame design rules.
The S5 features a proprietary front end and seatpost, but the R5 is a little more traditional and allows you to fit a slightly more standard front end. FSA provides the bar and stems with the R5 using FSA’s ACR headset system to route the cables through the headtube. Most riders on the R5 have been using a K-Force bar and stem for a clean and lightweight setup.
> Review: Cervelo S5
It’s another appearance for R9200 Dura-Ace, and Shimano provides the wheels too. Tyres are the Corsa G2.0.
TotalEnergies: Specialized
With a certain Peter Sagan joining one of the most classically French teams ever, there were always going to be some big changes. Sagan is a rider of such stature that a brand like Specialized will follow him to whichever team he chooses.
Like all of the other Specialized-sponsored teams, TotalEnergies is using the S-Works Tarmac SL and we think that this is possibly the nicest paint job of the lot with a lovely red fade.
Away from the paint, the bike has a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, but this is the older 11-speed model. The team uses Ceramic Speed jockey wheels, but not the oversized cage system. The bike above uses the Roval Rapide CLX II wheels and unreleased tubeless tyres from Specialized who also provide the Romin Mirror saddle. A Roval Rapide bar completes a very nice build.
Trek - Segafredo: Take a guess!
> Review: Trek Emonda
The clue is in the name, and Trek isn’t changing much about the Emonda and Domane bikes but you will find a brand new Madone that features some jazzy aero frame design features.
> Trek releases radical Madone SLR, its “fastest road race bike ever”
You’ll find Bontrager wheels, handlebars, saddles and bar tape along with Pirelli tyres. SRAM has been signed as groupset sponsor for another few years so once again, it’s wireless shifting and hydraulic disc brakes for Mollema and co. We bet he’s delighted...
UAE-Team Emirates: Colnago
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar has a new bike to play with, but again, we're not sure on the name of this one. The bike is a lightweight design with obvious aero touches and we'd imagine that Pog can make it go quite quickly uphill, downhill and on the flat too.
> Review: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45
Colnago still provides the V3Rs as the main bike for the UAE team and the Tour de France champion has been using disc brakes on and off for a couple of seasons now. With the bike remaining mostly unchanged aside from a switch from Vittoria to Pirelli for tyres, the big question will be as to whether Pogacar makes a permanent jump to disc brakes.
Which one is your fave? Do let us know in the comments...
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