The newly merged team Cannondale-Garmin unveiled their line-up in New York City on Wednesday evening, and with it the weapons set to be at the team's disposal for the 2015 season. It was out with Cervélo – bike supplier to MTN-Qhubeka this year – and in with new title sponsor Cannondale's bikes for the new season.
While the riders showed off their new black and green kit, which is the result of the merger between 2014 squads Garmin-Sharp and Cannondale Pro Cycling, the team's new bikes – the Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod, the Synapse Hi-Mod and the Slice RS for time trials – were also on display.
“The riders will be able to choose whichever bike they like for each race,” Murray Washburn, Cannondale's global director of product marketing, explained to BikeRadar. “For grand tours and smoother pavement, the SuperSix EVO is the bike of choice. When we introduced it, it really set the standard for the modern race bike with its blend of racing rigidity and efficiency."
“The Synapse, meanwhile, is built specifically for absorbing more shock, and giving you a little bit of a more upright riding position, while the geometry's a little more stable, with a longer wheelbase is a little longer,” Washburn continued, “which means that it really does absorb a lot more of the imperfections on the road.”
The SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod will be one of two road bikes for the team
That translates to the team mainly using the Synapse for races where they expect to encounter some rougher roads and cobbles – in other words, at the spring Classics.
“When we look at the two bikes, the SuperSix EVO is really our race-prepped track car, if you like, while the Synapse is a bit more like our grand-touring automobile. So riders have the option,” said Washburn.
The bikes will be shod with Mavic wheels and Shimano components, and although the riders will have the choice between Di2 and mechanical Dura-Ace, Washburn expects most to go for the electronic option.
“Plus we often have to look at creative ways to add weight to the bikes [to bring them up to the UCI's minimum weight limit of 6.8kg], so there's no weight disincentive for the riders to run Di2,” he said. “And once you've ridden it, it's pretty hard to go back to riding mechanical.”
Other partners that have remained from Garmin-Sharp include Castelli clothing and POC helmets, while FSA and Vision bars, stems and seatposts come across from the 2014 Cannondale team. Fizik previously supplied saddles and bar tape for both teams, and are on board again, and there's also a new sponsor in Kinetic trainers.
POC goes green for 2015
Castelli unveiled new shorts – the Free Aero Race Bib Short – to be used by the team for the 2015 season, along with other items of clothing that have been developed with the help of the Garmin team, and which will now be used by Cannondale-Garmin this season.
“We’ve concentrated our efforts on improving comfort and aerodynamics with the new short, and making sure the team has a competitive advantage in any adverse weather conditions,” said Castelli's race performance director Andrea Peron. “There are 11 new garments in the team’s equipment line-up, each one the result of development with the riders and staff as well as Castelli’s internal research.”
Aside from the new shorts, those new products include a Gabba Light rain jersey, and an update to the fit and cut of Castelli's lightweight Climber's Jersey.
A new name, new kit, new bikes and a new look, Cannondale-Garmin – 'The Green Argyle' – will be a team to watch in 2015.
Castelli's rain-resistant and highly insulating Gabba jerseys are back
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