Check out the 2021 Vuelta a España race bikes

The 2021 Vuelta a España is your chance not only to see some of the best cyclists on the planet going head to head but also to gawp at the fastest bikes, and here they are in all their glory.

> 28 of the best and fastest 2021 aero road bikes

Team BikeExchange - Bianchi

The Australian GreenEdge setup that is now known as Team BikeExchange have been using Bianchi bikes this season: the Oltre XR4 Disc and the Specialissima (pictured). 

It's all about disc brakes for Team BikeExchange. They have Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets along with Dura-Ace wheels and Pirelli tyres.

Team DSM - Scott

Meanwhile, Team DSM riders are on Scott bikes this year.

> Review: Scott Addict RC 30 2020

Here we have the Addict which is the preferred model. The team also has the Foil for flatter days and it's a full disc setup with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets and wheels. The team has already been spotted using the as-yet-unreleased 9200 Series Dura-Ace Di2 so this could make an appearance in the Vuelta. We just don't know, so keep your eyes peeled.

Jumbo–Visma - Cervelo

 

 

 

 

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Jumbo–Visma have been riding Cervelos since the start of the season. This one is the R5 and is designed for the climbers. Jumbo–Visma has stayed with Shimano for 2021 but switched from rim brakes to disc brakes.

The sprinters will have the S5 which we reviewed just after its launch. FSA provides the finishing kit. 

Look out for the unreleased update of the Cervelo R5 too, which team members have been racing over the past few months

AG2R - BMC

BMC provides bikes for the AG2R team, with a full Campagnolo Super Record II EPS groupset and the Italian brand's WTO wheels wrapped in Pirelli tyres.

> Review: Campagnolo WTO 60 Disc

Intermarché–Wanty Gobert - Cube

Intermarché riders use the Lightning C:68X SLT. The Continental tyres and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset remain from previous years but the wheels are now from Newmen rather than Fulcrum.

Israel Start-Up Nation - Factor

Israel Start-Up Nation (ISUN) hasn't changed anything about its bikes from 2020.

Pictured above is the Factor Ostro VAM and, as ISUN rider Alex Dowsett covered in this overview video last year, the team isn't contracted to a particular groupset, allowing them to customise their componentry.

Interesting additions to the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc groupsets are SwissStop brake pads and rotors (we've reviewed them) along with a CeramicSpeed OSPW on the rear derailleur. 

> Should you buy ceramic bearings? Expert opinions polled

Factor's in-house brand Black Inc provides the wheels with tubeless and tubular options, while Maxxis covers the tyres. 

Deceuninck–Quick Step - Specialized

It's a case of one bike to rule them all for the Wolfpack with the Tarmac SL7 decked out with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc groupsets, 4iiii power meters, Roval wheels and S-Works finishing kit. Pro also gets involved, providing the handlebars.

The team won a hatful of stages in the Tour de France using Specialized's Turbo Cotton clinchers.

Astana–Premier Tech - Wilier

Astana riders go with the Wilier Filante SLR aero road bike, and the 0 SLR for the big mountain days. They have possibly the nicest paint job in the peloton. 

> First Ride Review - Wilier Zero SLR

In a change from the picture above, the Astana team uses Corima wheels. It's a lovely setup.

Bahrain Victorious - Merida

We've reviewed Bahrain Victorious's aero race bike, the Merida Reacto Team-E Disc, and it's really rather good.

> Review: Merida Reacto Team-E Disc

The only change from the test bike we rode to the race bike is that the Vision wheels for racing use tubular tyres.

BORA-Hansgrohe - Specialized

Bora sticks with the Tarmac SL7 and the bike is identical (save the paintwork) to the Deceuninck–Quick-Step setup (above). 

> Review: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 Dura-Ace

Cofidis - De Rosa

Guillaume Martin ensured that the bike was on our screens for the entire Vuelta last year as he went off in search of KoM points.

This Merak is equipped with a Campagnolo Super Record EPS Disc groupset, Fulcrum wheels and Michelin tyres.

EF Education–Nippo - Cannondale

EF race on Cannondale's SystemSix and SuperSix bikes.

> Review: Cannondale SuperSix Carbon Disc 105

Vision provides the wheels, Vittoria the tyres and Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 Disc groupset finds itself on yet another bike. One departure is the FSA PowerBox power meter mounted on Cannondale's SiSL cranks. Vision's Metron 5D bar ensures an aero front end.

Groupama - FDJ - Lapierre

It's all the same as last year for FDJ with Lapierre bikes, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc groupsets and wheels, and Pro finishing kit.

Ineos Grenadiers - Pinarello

Ineos Grenadiers have been riding the new Pinarello Dogma F since just before the start of the Tour de France.

Pinarello claims that the Dogma F frame is 9% lighter than that of the F12 and the fork is 16% lighter. It also says the rim brake version that Ineos Grenadiers use is “3.2% more aerodynamic” than the equivalent Dogma F12.

Ineos Grenadiers use Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets and Shimano's wheels most of the time, although riders will occasionally break out hoops from other brands (Lightweight and Princeton Carbon works have been used in the past) when they feel the time is right.

Lotto Soudal - Ridley

Big Belgian team, meet big Belgian bike brand. Ridley must be happy with the return it gets from Lotto Soudal.

Riders have the choice between the Helium and the Noah for hilly and flat days respectively. The rest is an all-Italian affair with Campagnolo Super Record EPS Disc groupsets, Bora wheels, Vittoria tyres and Deda finishing kit. Down at the bottom bracket, you'll find C-Bear ceramic bearings.

Movistar - Canyon

If you're a fan of SRAM then don't worry, Movistar sticks with the wireless shifting in 2021. Their bikes all get a Red AXS Disc groupset with a built-in power meter.

Video First Ride Review: 2021 Canyon Aeroad CFR Di2

The squad has access to the latest Aeroad (earlier tech problems having apparently been sorted) and they've got the Ultimate too, should they want something different for the climbs. Zipp wheels and Continental tyres finish the bike.

> Review: Canyon Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 8.0

Team Qhubeka NextHash - BMC

BMC provides the Team Qhubeka NextHash framesets which are built up using components from a mix of brands.

Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 Disc groupset features with a CeramicSpeed OSPW system, a Rotor power meter chainset and KMC chains.

> UK's Hunt reaches WorldTour level providing wheels for Qhubeka Assos

British brand Hunt makes a big step up to World Tour level, here providing its Limitless 48 wheels which we just awarded Editor's Choice in our Best Wheelsets of 2020. Goodyear's tyres feature. Sometimes the riders run tubeless and sometimes they use tubulars.

Trek–Segafredo - Trek

Trek provides its own team with the lightweight Emonda which is the primary bike for most races. That said, the more aero Madone also has a place.

> Review: 2021 Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro 

SRAM gets its second and final Vuelta team, providing its Red eTap AXS groupset. Bontrager provides the Aeolus wheels along with the integrated bar/stem and the wheels come from Pirelli.

UAE–Team Emirates - Colnago

Colnago's V3Rs is UAE–Team Emirates' daily driver for the majority of races, but we have seen a few riders rolling on the C64. For the flatter days they also have the Concept.

Campagnolo continues supplying its Super Record EPS groupset in both disc-brake and rim-brake forms along with Bora Ultra WTO wheels.

Alpecin-Fenix - Canyon

Alpecin-Fenix takes part in the Vuelta as the winner of the 2020 ProTeam ranking.

Like Movistar, Alpecin-Fenix use bikes from Canyon: usually the Aeroad (pictured) for the road stages and always the Speedmax for the time trials. 

After tech troubles earlier in the season, some riders at the Tour de France were using Aeroads with external cables while the higher-profile riders were provided with bikes with internal routing, Canyon saying that it had solved the issue. It'll be interesting to see whether its updated system is rolled out fully at the Vuelta.

Whereas Movistar uses SRAM groupsets, Alpecin-Fenix goes with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, including Dura-Ace wheels. At the time of writing, we don’t know if they’ll be on new 9200 Dura-Ace at the Vuelta, but it seems unlikely unless Shimano opts for blanket coverage across the peloton because larger teams will be closer to the front of the queue.

The tyres are from Vittoria, Selle Italia provides the saddle, and the bottles and cages come from Elite, so there are a few Italian brands represented here too.

Burgos-BH – BH

Not surprisingly, riders from UCI ProTeam Burgos-BH use BH bikes (the clue’s in the name): the Aerolight Disc for time trials and the G8 Disc for normal road stages.

The G8 is an aero frame that uses Kamm tail tube profiles, an internal seatpost clamp, and Vision/FSA’s ACR system where the cables/hoses pass through the inside of the handlebar, run along the stem and from there into the frame.

Burgos-BH is unique in the Vuelta in using FSA’s K-Force WE electronic groupset. FSA also provides the power meters and brakes (although the brakes on the TT bike are cable-operated TRP Spyres).

Read our review of FSA K-Force WE 

Prologo supplies the saddles, the wheels are from Vision, and the tyres are Michelins

Caja Rural - Seguros RGA – Guerciotti

Spain’s Team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rides bikes from Italian brand Guerciotti.

The Eclipse S Disc is a lightweight bike that features Guerciotti’s own integrated handlebar/stem with fully internal cables/hoses.

The wheels come from Ursus, another Italian company, and the team uses Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 groupset.

Euskaltel-Euskadi – Orbea

Euskaltel-Euskadi riders race on Orbea’s Orca road bike with cables and hoses routed inside an aero cover on the underside of the stem, an integrated fork crown and a hidden seatpost clamp.

The team from the Basque Country use Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets but with FSA chainsets/power meters and Vision Metron wheels. The saddles are from Prologo.

Groupsets

Shimano is very much the dominant provider of groupsets at this year's Vuelta a España with 16 of the 23 teams using Dura-Ace Di2. How many will get the as-yet unreleased 9200 version? All of them? None of them? We'll just have to wait and see.

Campagnolo is represented by four teams with SRAM providing the groupset components for two and FSA just one.