The Wilier Triestina Filante SLR will be Mark Cavendish’s bike for 2023 and we now have pictures of the bike from Astana Qazaqstan’s training camp in Calpe, Spain.
The Manx Missile’s contract with Quick-step Alpha Vinyl ended last year and, after much speculation, it was confirmed this week that he would head to Astana Qazaqstan.
The official announcement of Cavendish’s move confirmed he would swap from Specialized bikes, which he has ridden for six of his 17 seasons as a professional cyclist, to Wilier.
Filante SLR over the Zero SLR
Wilier provides Astana Qazaqstan with two bikes – the Filante SLR and Zero SLR.
It’s no surprise to see the sprinter opt for the Filante SLR, which is Wilier’s aero road bike. The Zero SLR is pitched as more of an all-rounder.
Wilier says the bike is “perfect to support Manx Missile's seasonal (and career) goals”.
The subtext to this is likely the fact Cavendish is currently level with Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 Tour de France stage wins after he claimed four victories at the 2021 edition of the race and is likely to try to beat the record this year.
Pro spec
Cavendish’s bike is decked out with all the pro trimmings, from a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset paired with a Shimano power meter to Corima 41WS Black wheels.
The pulley wheels on the rear derailleur have been swapped for the SLF Motion Speed System, which features oversize pulley wheels and ceramic bearings.
The wheels are wrapped in tan wall Vittoria Corsa Speed 700x28mm road bike tyres.
In terms of finishing kit, Cavendish has a Filante one-piece, carbon handlebar and a carbon seatpost custom-made by Wilier.
The bike is completed with a Prologo saddle, Tacx water bottles, Look KEO Blade carbon pedals and, of course, Cavendish’s name stickers.
The bike has the chrome-plated graphite paintjob used across the Astana Qazaqstan team.
New British champion kit
The pictures released by Wilier also show Cavendish’s new British champion kit, which he has been wearing since he won the championship race last June around Castle Douglas, Scotland.
The kit features a familiar banded design on a white background. But instead of the cycling jersey being completely white, there is a fade towards the bottom.
The pictures also reveal Cavendish continues to wear Nike road bike shoes, but he seems to have misplaced his Oakleys – or maybe that sponsorship deal is up in the air now he’s at Astana Qazaqstan, whose sponsors include the sunglasses brand Scicon.
Cavendish’s Wilier Filante SLR full specification
- Frameset: Filante SLR carbon monocoque HUS Mod and Crystal Liquid Polymer
- Handlebar: Filante Bar Integrated Carbon
- Seatpost: Filante SLR Carbon
- Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270 with Shimano power meter
- Wheels: Corima 47WS Black
- Pulley wheel: SLF Motion Speed System
- Bottom bracket: SLF Motion BB86
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Speed 700x28mm
- Saddle: Prologo Scratch 2
- Bar tape: Prologo
- Bottle cage: Tacx
- Pedals: Look KEO Blade carbon
The original story continues below (03/01/2023)
Mark Cavendish looks set to ride Wilier bikes this year in Astana Qazaqstan colours and a new eye-catching “chrome-plated graphite-livery” revealed by the bike brand.
The heavily rumoured – but unconfirmed – signing would see the British national champion move from Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl and swap from Specialized, with whom Cavendish has enjoyed a long-standing relationship through his career.
Cavendish’s Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl contract expired at the end of 2022, with the rumour mill going into overdrive concerning the Manx Missile’s next destination as he looks to become the outright record holder for Tour de France stage wins. Cavendish’s four victories at the 2021 Tour saw him draw level with Eddy Merckx on 34 wins.
The 37-year-old had been rumoured to be heading for Jérôme Pineau’s B&B Hotels-KTM squad but, with the team folding, Astana Qazaqstan has emerged as the likely destination.
If Cavendish does head to Alexander Vinokourov’s team, these are the bikes he’ll have at his disposal.
Which Wilier bike could Mark Cavendish ride?
Wilier supplies Astana Qazaqstan with two road bikes.
The Filante SLR is a lightweight, aero road bike, while the Zero SLR is more of an all-rounder and used for the majority of the team’s racing.
If we see Cavendish in Astana kit, it’s more likely he’ll be on the Filante SLR, which is better suited to sprinting thanks to its more aero shape.
While the frames are unchanged, Wilier has released new colourways for the team for the 2023 campaign.
The 'chrome-plated graphite livery' matches Astana Qazaqstan’s 'azzurro' (light blue) strip, in keeping with the team’s Italian roots.
Towards the rear of the frame, the matt marble effect gives way to silver on the Filante SLR and a darker blue on the Zero SLR.
The team’s bikes are specced with 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200, Corima 47 MC WS+ wheels and Vittoria Corsa tyres. We believe there could be a new tan-wall Vittoria Corsa ‘Pro’ tubeless tyre on the way in 2023.
New team, new bike brand
If Cavendish joins Astana Qazaqstan, it will be the seventh top-tier team of his professional cycling career, and, in riding a Wilier, the eighth bike brand he has been associated with.
2006 – Giant
2007 – Giant
2008 – Giant
2009 – Scott
2010 – Scott
2011 – Specialized
2012 – Pinarello
2013 – Specialized
2014 – Specialized
2015 – Specialized
2016 – Cervélo
2017 – Cervélo
2018 – Cervélo
2019 – BMC
2020 – Merida
2021 – Specialized
2022 – Specialized
2023 – Wilier?
Specialized has provided both of Mark Cavendish’s green jersey bikes: the now-discontinued Specialized S-Works Venge in 2011 (the year Cavendish also won the UCI Road World Championships) and the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 in 2021, upon which he equalled Eddy Merkcx’s Tour de France stage wins record.
Cavendish started his pro career in 2006 on the T-Mobile team, riding a Giant, securing his first Tour de France stage on the Giant TCR in 2008.
Two prolific years followed on a Scott bike, with six Tour de France stages in 2009 and five in 2010, before the team, now known as HTC-Highroad, switched to Specialized for 2011.
One year at Team Sky saw Cavendish on a Pinarello, followed by another three years with Specialized at Omega Pharma–Quick-Step.
The Manxman secured four wins at the Tour in 2016 aboard a Cervélo representing Team Dimension Data, who then swapped to BMC for Cavendish’s three final years with the team. A move to Bahrain-Merida in 2020 saw Cavendish on a Merida Reacto for a year, before a return to Deceuninck–Quick-Step came with another two seasons on a Specialized.
We’ll have to wait and see if a new bike and team sees Cavendish return to winning ways at the Tour de France in 2023.
