Compared to the merry-go-round that was the 2017 season, things are a lot more stable on the bike and equipment front in the WorldTour in 2018.
Last year we saw three new WorldTour teams, with IAM Cycling and Tinkoff folding, Bahrain-Merida being created, Lampre-Merida becoming UAE Team Emirates, and Bora-Hansgrohe taking the step up to the top-rung of the sport with the signing of Peter Sagan.
Along with the new teams there were new partnerships with the world's leading bike brands. The bike sponsor merry-go-round began when UAE Team Emirates took the Lampre-Merida WorldTour licence but Bahrain-Merida retained the services of the title sponsor. UAE in turn signed up with legendary Italian brand Colnago and it is understood Specialized were a major factor in bringing Peter Sagan to Bora-Hansgrohe and thus replacing the then Pro Continental team's bike sponsor Argon18.
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2017 also saw Astana switch from Specialized to Argon18 and AG2R La Mondiale from Focus to Factor. So despite the three new teams and two new sponsorship deals, there was really only one winner and one loser: Colnago and Focus, respectively.
For the 2018 season we see a much more stable state of affairs. Every WorldTour team from 2017 stays at the top of the sport for 2018, and each team is also retaining the services of the brands that provided them with bikes this season.
During the 2017 season, Specialized, Trek, Merida, Lapierre, Cervelo, Pinarello, Colnago and BMC all launched new 2018 models, with nearly all of them available in both rim and disc brake options.
2018 pro bike galleries and specs
- Greg Van Avermaet's 2018 BMC Teammachine SLR01 Disc - Gallery
- Marcel Kittel's Canyon Aeroad CF SLX - Gallery
- Sonny Colbrelli's 2018 Merida Reacto - Gallery
- Alex Dowsett's 2018 Canyon Speedmax CF SLX - Gallery
- Tejay van Garderen's 2018 BMC Teammachine SLR01 Disc - Gallery
Who's on what
Disc brakes
Power meters and Shimano dominance
Top 5 - 2018 pro race bikes
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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