It has been the busiest week in the world of cycling tech for ages, with new “game-changing” products, a major recall at Cube, a row about AI at Specialized, and some very fancy Colnago bikes fetching eye-watering sums at auction. Here’s the rest of this week’s cycling tech news…
Legendary motorbike brand to launch new high-performance bicycle range
Riding a Ducati, why would I want to do that? Cycling’s the sport for us, why would we need a motorbike? Well, it might not be long until going for a spin on a Ducati could mean less leather, more Lycra (other cycling clothing materials are available).
Two of the biggest names in Italian cycling’s recent history Vincenzo Nibali and Elia Viviani are part of this project to bring iconic motorcycle brand Ducati into the world of pedal-powered bikes. We don’t know too much about the actual bikes yet, but Ducati says it will be launching a new high-performance bicycle range from March 2026 and it will be “inspired by its principles of style, sophistication and performance”.
Our pals over at off.road.cc are interested in this too, the announcement also teasing a new e-MTB and gravel bike range.
We’ve been here before with Ducati, the brand having previously released its Futa e-road bike (which didn’t look much like an e-bike at all) and even included an Italian flag-waving Campag Super Record build option too.
With this launch we’re also expecting a line of accessories and technical apparel although, like with the bikes, exactly what remains to be seen.
“After concluding my professional career, I was looking for a project that could excite me and represent a new challenge,” Viviani explained. “The long-term goal is to bring Ducati’s sporting soul into cycling, creating bicycles that embody the brand’s values and the essence of the sport.”
Nibali added: “I’m thrilled to be part of this ambitious project. I’ve always had a great passion for motorsport, and Ducati has always been a benchmark for performance, innovation, and design. Contributing to the growth of such an iconic brand in the cycling world is truly an honour.”
The off-road part of the project has called in multiple Italian Downhill Champion Lorenzo Suding. The move back into cycling is in collaboration with Diamant, also an Italian company which includes brands such as DMT shoes, Alè Cycling clothing, and a carbon and composite component manufacturer. Ducati’s Futa e-bike was produced in collaboration with Thok, although the company has confirmed the brands won’t be working together on this project.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati Motor Holding Spa: “With this new project, we aim to strengthen our presence in the cycling sector. The collaboration with Diamant, together with the contribution of Italian cycling champions such as Vincenzo Nibali, Elia Viviani, and Lorenzo Suding, allows us to develop high-performance bicycles designed to offer enthusiasts a level of quality and excitement comparable to that of our motorcycles. This step comes after a journey built with Thok, whom I wish to thank for the valuable work done together over the years.”
Intriguing times, let’s see what is announced officially come the spring.
A new endurance road bike packing in plenty of bang for your buck has hit the market
Polygon launched its Strattos C this week, the range of endurance bikes continuing the brand’s approach of trying to bring customers value for money. It starts at $2,899, although in Europe the price is €3,299, the 8.6kg C7 featuring Shimano 105 Di2 shifting. At €3,799 you can get the C8 with Ultegra, or for €4,499 the 7.9kg C9 with SRAM Force AXS.
So, yep, there is electronic shifting and carbon wheels throughout, as well as space for up to 34mm tyres. Tempted?
The UK’s most popular road bike brand is… Giant (according to Strava)
It’s the time of year when Spotify, Strava, Garmin and even Zwift will tell you exactly how many times you listened to that guilty pleasure, skipped an outdoor ride because it was raining, or rode your favourite segment. The ‘Spotify Wrapped effect’ means in 2025 you get personalised annual stats round-ups all over the place.
Strava’s Year in Sport is slightly different, you can normally get your personalised round-up on the app, but this is the ride-sharing giant crunching the numbers on its users’ data worldwide for an in-depth report filled with statistical nuggets.
Interestingly, based off the data, Strava reckons the UK’s top road bike brand is Giant, followed by Trek and Specialized, while globally it shifts to Trek, then Specialized and Giant. In the UK’s mountain bike scene, Trek leads the way, followed by Specialized and Giant. I’m starting to see a bit of a pattern here…
Muc-Off expands with its House of Speed
If you’re in Girona, Muc-Off reckons you should check out its new ‘House of Speed’, officially named the Muc-Off Performance Lab by Velodrom, what it calls: “A new home for high-performance bicycle servicing and precision bike maintenance”.
“It isn’t a backroom workshop: it’s a front-and-centre experience, open to the street, connected to the buzz of the city, and built for riders who expect their bike to look, feel, and ride at pro level,” Muc-Off tells us.
The pro cycling merry-go-round continues: Merida, Scott, Factor, Pinarello and Bianchi all on the move
With no racing on the road until the new year and most of the transfer deals now signed, there’s not loads to get too excited about for cycling fans apart from cyclocross and, of course, the seemingly never-ending merry-go-round of bike sponsors. Bianchi this week confirmed it would be sponsoring Bahrain Victorious from the start of next season, as part of a multi-year deal, following several seasons of the team riding Merida bikes.
Then we also had NSN (formerly Israel-Premier Tech) moving to Scott after Factor had ended its relationship with the previous iteration of the team.
That followed Scott themselves being given the nudge as Pinarello-Q36.5 accepted… well, Pinarello as its new bike sponsor, renewing Tom Pidcock’s relationship with the iconic Italian manufacturer. It all leaves Factor and Merida out the game and Scott and Bianchi in new territory.
In case you missed it:
- “Game-changing” Q36.5 x SRM collaboration promises “the most direct and efficient pedalling system on the market”
- The cycling industry is not sustainable by design
- 8 expensive upgrades to make you faster and more comfortable (and some budget-friendly alternatives)
- Four ultra-rare Colnagos – including Pogačar’s Ventoux (not Toulouse*) Y1Rs – go under the hammer at Sotheby’s
- Boardman’s do-it-all SLR 9.4 might be the best value £3k road bike around (so good that it’s out of stock); plus Hunt wheels and Hutchinson tyres impress in our latest road.cc Recommends update
- Specialized blames faulty GIF for much-ridiculed website image of bizarre front wheel cassette, not AI
- “Use must stop with immediate effect”: Cube recalls Agree C:62 road bikes over reports of cracked forks
- Aero race bikes, gravel races bike and endurance bikes! Five cool things coming soon from Specialized, BMC, Wilier, Merida and 3T
- Brooks digs up “forgotten” leather, and turns it into limited run of £330 “exceedingly rare and unrepeatable” saddles
- Bottom brackets with no brackets, clipping into clipless pedals, and saddles held up by seatposts: the mysterious world of bike part naming
