Professional road racing is well and truly up and running with the Tour Down Under and Santos Women's Tour underway in the southern hemisphere. All over the UK, cyclists are stirring as motivation starts to snowball. Road racing is back on our screens, people! What's more, both the equinox and New Year have disappeared beneath our wheels, so spring is finally on its way. If you're after one more ingredient to add to the inspiration hotpot, here's a list of just some of the pro bikes we have in stock, and look carefully because some of them have massive discounts tacked on.
Trek Boone
U23 2016 world champion Evie Richards cemented her status as one to watch after completing a season of U23 World Cup cross-country MTB racing last year. With a steady season already under her belt and off-season indulgence well overdue, Richards swapped her mountain bike for the Trek Boone and finished 2017 with her first elite cyclocross World Cup victory. If that doesn't get you going, I don't know what will!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc0QHzwHrUQ/?hl=en&taken-by=eviee_alicee
{:A2772}
Specialized Epic
Jaroslav Kulhavy is a name known to cross-country mountain bike fans and racers alike. In 2017, he raced the eponymous S-Works Epic to second place at the Absa Cape Epic with former pro Christoph Sauser and continues to wow on the MTB world stage with epic *sorry* displays of strength, whatever the terrain.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BR6gDT1Fowo/?hl=en&taken-by=jaroslavkulhavy
{:A1469,A1462,A1458}
Trek Emonda
British-based women's pro team Trek-Drops has seen the American bike manufacturer up their participation to named sponsor for 2018 and signed a handful of big name riders - including Tayler Wiles, Eva Buurman and Molly Weaver - to boost their strength throughout the season. Riding on the now iconic Miami Green Trek Emonda road bikes, the Trek-Drops pro women will bound up and over any hurdles the season can throw at them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdyPuL3nb0w/?hl=en&taken-by=trekdrops
Joining the Trek-Drops women's cycling team on Trek bikes is the WorldTour men's squad Trek-Segafredo. Wrapped in their smart and familiar red livery, John Degenkolb, Jarlinson Pantano and Bauke Mollema are this year joined by Irish champ Ryan Mullen and 2016 pink jersey wearer Gianluca Brambilla. When not on the feather-light Emonda, the Trek-Segafredo team will choose between the Madone speed machine and the endurance optimised Domane for the Classics.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bds-a24nb1v/?taken-by=treksegafredo
{:A2491,A2617,A2590,A4677,97134,97127}
Specialized Tarmac
Last but very definitely not least is the fleet from Specialized. Quick-Step Floors, Bora-Hansgrohe and Boels-Dolmans Pro Cycling Team all have a veritable pick-and-mix of awesome bikes to choose from. For training and most races, the pick of the bunch is likely to be the newly revamped S-Works Tarmac optimised for unisex use via extensive research.
{:A1395,A1383,A1332}
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdAIohUj9zO/?hl=en&taken-by=quickstep_team
Depending on the race, the teams may opt for something a little different. For instance, Peter Sagan and Philippe Gilbert may opt to take the pioneering Roubaix to the Spring Classics, complete with its innovative Future Shock technology in the head tube. Meanwhile at the Grand Tours and flat finishes, the likes of Sam Bennett, Fernando Gaviria, and new Quick-Step signing Elia Viviani, are likely to pick the Venge out of the mechanics truck.
{:A1479,A1503,A5457}
It's time to dust of your race bike and prepare for the year ahead. The only way is up from here!
