The bikes and team kit for the new Canyon//SRAM women’s professional race team, with clothing supplied by Rapha, has been revealed today. And it’s clear the team wants to stand out as the bikes and team kit feature very bold designs. Shy retiring types look away now.
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The new Canyon//SRAM team was revealed in November at a launch in London, but lips were tightlipped about the bikes, equipment and team kit the UCI Women’s WorldTour team would be race in 2016.
Rapha says the design has been "inspired by the tessellated effect of layered hazard tape." It's also not a million miles away from the Data Print jersey design that the London-based company released last year.
The clothing will be available to buy in March 2016, and a wider collection, including a men's version, will be available in 2017.
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German direct-sales brand Canyon will supply the team with the latest Ultimate WMN CF SLX race bike, and headline sponsor SRAM will equip the bikes with its brand new eTap wireless groupset. They’ll also be using Zipp wheels.
- Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 2016 first ride
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Rapha is supplying the team kit, with a striking and modern coloured pattern design that is also used on the bikes. The nine riders that make up the new team have assembled in Majorca for their first training camp this week.
- First Ride: SRAM Red eTap wireless groupset
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Team newcomer and American talent, Alexis Ryan, summed up her initial impressions of the Ultimate WMN CF SLX: “It’s so responsive. I hardly have to think about where I want to go and I’m accelerating off in that direction. Because of the aero profile, I’m able to have a much more aggressive position than past frames I’ve ridden. The whole design is really impressive, I believe it will serve our team well in every style of racing.”
Well, she would say that wouldn't she. It is likely Canyon will offer a replica of this bike at some stage as it has done with other team bikes. You can buy an Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 Di2 WMN model for £3,199, which uses the same frame but with different parts, and standard paint jobs.
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Tour of Flanders hopeful, Elena Cecchini adds: “Canyon was able to combine the two most important aspects for a road bike: they are fast and cool. You just can’t stop staring at them.”
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The bikes will be equipped with SRAM’s own crank-based Quarq power meters. They’ll be using Speedplay pedals and Continental tyres. Other equipment sponsors include Giro, Oakley, Ergon, Zwift, Wahoo, Boa Technology and Morgan Blue.
The team now has a website (: www.WMNcycling.com) where you can follow them for more information.
What do you think?
David has worked on the road.cc tech team since July 2012. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds.