2015 WorldTour bikes: BMC TeamMachine SLR01

You could be forgiven for thinking you're looking at photos of BMC's 2014 race bikes, but these are photos of their 2015 race bikes. While some teams have changed bike suppliers and gained new suppliers over the winter, BMC rock up to the new season with exactly the same bikes and kit as they used last year.

The mainstay of the team will be the Swiss company's TeamMachine SLR01. We took a look at the specially painted TeamMachine that Cadel Evans is currently riding in the Tour Down Under as he brings the curtain down on his long career.

The TeamMachine has been in the range for many years. The latest version was introduced in 2013, with the lightest frame they’ve yet offered, a claimed weight of just 790g for a size 56, putting it right up there with the lightest frames in the peloton. Given the typical three-year life cycle of top-end race frames, we wouldn’t expect to see a replacement this year, but you can never be sure. It's a bike that certainly impressed a great deal when road.cc tested it last year.

If BMC are going to relaunch a bike this year, we’d suspect it would be the TimeMachine TMR01. This aero road bike was introduced to the world in 2012, just before the start of the Tour de France. It’s a bike that draws inspiration from the company’s time trial bike, with the front brake concealed behind what can only be described as an aero fairing. I’m always surprised that it’s a bike more of the BMC Racing Team don’t choose, most seemingly opting for the lightweight option in the TeamMachine.

And for time trials, the team have the BMC TimeMachine TM01 at their disposal. 

Whichever frame is used, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets will be fitted. Again they’ll be using the latest version of SRM’s Powermeter PC7 and 3T continue their support. They'll supply the team with the choice of Ergonova, Ergosum or Rotunda Team handlebars, depending on rider preference, along with the ARX Team stem. Fizik supply saddles, again with a choice of models depending on rider preference.

Wheels come from Shimano with four wheels available, which they will choose depending on the particular demands of stage. The C-24, C-35, C-50 an C-75 certainly provides the team with plenty of choice. The C-50 will most likely be the common wheelset for the majority of stages. Shimano also supply their Dura-Ace SPD-SL pedals.

View some more 2015 WorldTour bikes here.