We love nothing more than checking out the latest bikes being raced by the pro peleton, especially when they are bikes made by brands we’re proud to partner with. No less than 6 of bike brands we stock & sell in our Girona store are World Tour team sponsors. In this blog we compare the […]
We love nothing more than checking out the latest bikes being raced by the pro peleton, especially when they are bikes made by brands we’re proud to partner with. No less than 6 of bike brands we stock & sell in our Girona store are World Tour team sponsors. In this blog we compare the bikes on offer & share our insights into which bikes you, our customers, are most excited about.
Jumbo-Visma (TJV) – Cervélo R5 / S5 / Caledonia
With lead riders like Vos, Van Aert & Roglic & super-domestiques like Laporte, Vingegaard & Gesink, Cervélo bikes have already been ridden to multiple victories this season. Marc Hirsche put the S5 in the spotlight with his epic solo breakaway on Stage 9 of the 2020 Tour de France for Team Sunweb. Since then S5 sales have taken off in our shop. The release of the new R5 brings the tech in line with the price point. The 4th edition of the bike has fully integrated cabling & uber-clean lines. As a top of the line climbing bike the R5 of course flys up mountains but what Cervélo say differentiates the bike is it’s unmatched poise & handling on the descents. All eyes on Roglic & the R5 in the 2022 Tour de France!
Jumbo-Visma have their Cervélo’s built with the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 12 speed.
UAE Team Emirates (UAD) – Colnago V3Rs / Concept / C64
Perhaps the biggest rivals this year to Jumbo Visma at the Tour de France, UAE Team Emirates are likewise racking up their victories on their Colnago bikes. The most popular bike on the team, & the bike of choice of superstar Pojacar, is the Colnago V3Rs. However, with rumours flying around the bike industry about an update to the iconic C64, we’ll have to wait & see which bike will dominte the 2022 Tour de France.
The V3 is a top seller at Eat Sleep Cycle. It’s a beautifully made bike & sister machine to the V3Rs, a perfect bike for us mortal cyclists who want all the benefits of the V3 & don’t notice a few grams extra on the weight of the frame.
UAE’s Colnago bikes are built with (what else) Campagnolo Super Record EPS.
Lotto-Soudal (LTS) – Ridley Noah Fast / Ridley Helium SLX
Lotto-Soudal have enjoyed a long partnershop with Ridley Bikes. Riders this year get to choose from the Noah Fast, Ridley’s all round aero bike & the Ridley Helium, Ridley’s super-light climbing bike. In the Spring Classics the Noah Fast takes precedence, but the Helium SLX is the bike of choice when the roads head skywards.
Caleb Ewan is a rider who showcases what the Noah Fast is all about – a couple of weeks ago he powered to vicotry on his Noah Fast on a sprint stage of the Tirreno Adriatico. Whilst here in Girona local cyclists tend to to opt for the Helium SLX to take on our local climbs, the Noah Fast is perfect for riders who know exactly what they are looking for in a bike: speed, responsiveness & aerodynamics.
Lotto Soudal race with Shimano Dura Ace, DT Swiss wheelsets & 4iii power meters.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco (BEX) – Giant TCR Advanced SL / Propel Advanced
Bike Exchange mix good vibes with hardcore racing & it’s always great to see the team celebrate when they claim a win. Their sprinters have been racking up the early season victories – Kaden Groves & Michael Matthews took back to back wins in the Volta Cataluyna aboard their Giant TCR SL Advanced bikes. The TCR SL Advanced is Giant’s take on an ‘ultimate all-round race bike’ & with 30 years of victories, it’s hard to argue with. On the shop floor the TCR offers an an amazing package for the price point – the only thing holding it back from bestseller status is that Giant have not yet made the move to fully integrated cables.
Bike Exchange race with Shimano Dura Ace Di2.
Israel-Premier Tech (IPT) – Factor Ostro VAM / O2 VAM / One
Israel-Premier Tech are one of the newest teams in the World Tour & are sponsored by high end British brand, Factor. Their bikes are a best seller on the Eat Sleep Cycle shop floor & are the envy of the peloton. IPT have been busy building a roster of super star names – the likes of Chris Froome, Sep Vanmarke & Michael Woods are just three of the riders bringing regular headlines in.
The team held a pre-season training camp this year in Girona & the Ostro was the visible bike of choice for the IPT riders. This trickles down to what amateur riders are looking for in a modern bike. The Ostro is perhaps the best all-rounder on the market combining the best of the uber-lightweight O2 VAM with the aerodynamics & stiffness of the One. The design of the seatstays ensures the bike is also comfortable to ride. It’s a tough bike to beat for our customers & for the IPT riders.
IPT Factor bikes are built with Rotor Aldhu chainsets, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 shifters & Black Inc wheelsets.
Cofidis (COF) – De Rosa Merak – Campagnolo Super Record EPS
Last but not least is Team Cofidis & their De Rosa Merak. De Rosa is a boutique Italian brand, the Merak is their equivalent of the Ostro – an awesome all-round race bike. It’s light, responsive (stiff) & comfortable too. Guillame Martin rode his to a strong 8th place in the Volta Catalunya – Cofidis achieved World Tour status in 2020 – a huge deal reflecting the ambition perseverance & sacrifice of the team.
On the shop floor the Merak turns heads amongst our customers. It’s a bike suited to those in the know, for those who appreciate Italian made quality & timeless design & for those who choose not to follow the latest trend on instagram.
Cofidis’ De Rosa Bikes are built with Campagnolo Super Record EPS.
Want to learn more about these beautiful bikes?
Visit us in our Girona Hub to see these amazing machines first hand. During the cycling season we’re open 7 days a week, 09:00 – 14:00 / 16:00 – 19:00. We have a number of the bikes also available to hire – see our available bike hire options & treat yourself to a test ride.
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