2015 WorldTour bikes: Katusha’s Canyon Aeroad and Ultimate race bikes

Here's a look at the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX and Ultimate CF SLX bikes that Team Katusha will race this season, unveiled at a recent early season training camp. Canyon support two teams in the professional peloton, Movistar and Katusha, they've been sponsoring Katusha since 2012 when they replaced Focus. Canyon’s bikes have evolved dramatically in that time, and the new Aeroad is perhaps the best expression of this rapid development.

For most stages and races the Ultimate will be the first choice for the team. It’s the lightest and most comfortable frame in Canyon’s line-up, is naturally suited to climbing and challenging terrain, and long days in the saddle. The Ultimate goes into 2015 unchanged from last season, this latest model was first introduced in 2013 so we don't’ expect to see another iteration for a while. It's a bike that blew our little cotton socks off when we tested it back in 2013.

Canyon have massively overhauled their Aeroad this year. With these changes, and based on our impression when we reviewed it at the end of last year, the lower weight, increased comfort and advances in aerodynamics will make it a more popular choice with many of the team. Previously aero road bikes have sacrificed weight and comfort in pursuit of aerodynamics, the new Aeroad lessens the gap to the Ultimate. We expect it to be a familiar sight in the peloton.

You can read all about the changes to the new Aeroad in our in-depth review here.

Once again Katusha will use Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrains with Mavic wheels and tyres, and for the first time they’ll be using Canyon’s new range of own-brand bars, stem and seatposts. Canyon released a new integrated bar and stem at the bikes launch last summer, it’ll be interesting to see if all the bikes are specced with them come race day. Saddles will be from Selle Italia.

A noticeable change is a new paint job. They’ve got a lot more red. You'll have to be careful you don't get them mixed up with the new red Trek team bikes... Last year there was just a sliver of red along the top tube and head tube, and a predominantly black frame. Canyon have, perhaps unfairly, been criticised for their conservative paint jobs in the past so it looks like they’re starting to embrace a bit more colour - we were certainly impressed with the paint job on the Aeroad we tested.

And this Katusha paint job doesn’t look to be a restricted team only finish either, Canyon are one of the few companies that allow you to buy the exact same bike the team race aboard. You can buy an identically specced Aeroad, in the same colour, but without the sponsor logos on the chainstay, for a £5,399. That might be a lot of money, but it’s a genuine race-ready bike. Try buying a Formula 1 car… The range starts at just £2,699 as well, same frame, different parts.