2016 Pro Bike: Richie Porte shows of his new BMC TeamMachine SLR01 bike

Having left Team Sky for BMC Racing Team, Australian Richie Porte swaps from a Pinarello Dogma F8 to the BMC TeamMachine SLR01. And here he is with his new bike, ready for the upcoming 2016 race season. Doesn't he look happy? Few things beat that new bike feeling.

The former Team Sky rider has his sights on a Grand Tour win and the TeamMachine SLR01 is a capable bike and up to that task: Cadel Evans rode this bike to Tour de France victory in 2011, and it’s won a slew of other races since at the hands of Philippe Gilbert, Taylor Phinney and  Greg Van Avermaet.

- Review: BMC Team Machine SLR01

Yes, the TeamMachine has been around for a while. Looking back at photos of Cadel’s Tour winning bike, it doesn’t look like much has changed with Porte’s 2016 version. It was updated in 2013, and while visually it retained the same distinctive features that set it apart from other bikes, it went on a hefty diet. The frame weighs a claimed 790g.

When we tested a Dura-Ace shod 56cm bike it came in at 6.45kg (14.21lb). Very light. Porte’s small frame will likely need some ballast to keep the UCI blazers happy.

- BMC unveils limited edition TeamMachine with naked carbon finish

Shimano still supplies the team with its range-topping Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, with the only departure being the SRM Power Meter. As well as the drivetrain, it’s Shimano for the wheels too, in this case the familiar Dura-Ace C50 50mm carbon fibre tubular wheels.

The wheels are wrapped with Continental Competition Pro Ltd tyres. The handlebar and stem come from Italian company 3T and Fizik supplies the team with saddles; Porte opts for an Arione Versus. The carbon fibre seatpost is BMC’s own design.

His bike is finished in quite a plain paint job, certainly not as flash as the new Tinkoff Specialized bikes, nor as custom as Peter Sagan's new Venge Vias.