Team Katusha has swapped from Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 to SRAM’s new eTap wireless drivetrain for the 2016 race season.
– SRAM launches Red eTap wireless groupset
The 2016 pro race season is right around the corner and we’re starting to see some of the new race bikes and equipment get its first airing at winter training camps. Photos shared by Team Katusha on its Facebook page (where there also looks to be a new logo as well) show the team getting together in Calpe for the first training camp in preparation for the 2016 season.
– Your complete guide to SRAM 2016 road bike groupsets
While Katusha remains with German bicycle brand Canyon Bicycles for another season, it has come as a surprise that the team has transitioned from the tried-and-tested Di2 groupset to the relatively unknown eTap.
SRAM has given the new groupset, the first and only wireless groupset currently available, a long development period. The AG2R team raced it on and off this year and accumulated many thousands of miles before SRAM was confident enough to officially launch it.
This is certainly good news for SRAM. It has seen its share of the professional peloton dwindle in recent years and Shimano has become the most popular choice for all teams. Will Katusha, and presumably AG2R, be the only teams on eTap, or could we see a few more developments in the coming weeks?
As well as the eTap groupset, it appears Katusha will be using SRAM’s Quarq crank-based power meters and Garmin Edge computers. Finally, Mavic wheels are out and in come Zipp.
8 thoughts on “Katusha swap from Shimano Di2 to SRAM eTap for 2016 race season”
Can you imagine some
Can you imagine some unscrupulous muppet blocking or interfering with the wifi link at a critical point in a race
CXR94Di2 wrote:
Please read SRAMs press release.
They have stated again and again that the system used is a SRAM proprietory system, not one on the open market.
They are as confident as possible it cannot be hacked.
They are as confident as
They are as confident as possible it cannot be hacked.
How any times have we heard our system is hack proof. ? 😀
CXR94Di2 wrote:
You don’t need to hack it to cause trouble though, it just needs jamming with broadband white noise and they won’t be able to change gear…
Well it’s a much cooler name
Well it’s a much cooler name than Di2…
Well the women’s team Canyon
Well the women’s team Canyon/SRAM will be on Red eTap aswell I believe, but that is never going to make waves in cycling news because it’s a womens team……
Funny how odd those bikes
Funny how odd those bikes look without the rear derailleur cable.
I wonder what Shimano will do to counter the etap system
sram e tap
Having read all the reviews it seems a good reliable system. Having spoken to people who’ve ridden it the biggest compliment was “you’d never know there’s no wire connecting it” this led me to the realisation that although it’s very easy to fit (and swap quickly for pro teams) I can save a lot of money by simply fitting di2 (which was remarkably simple) and I have very similar performance with much better battery life. Simple decision.