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Race Tech Gallery: Tour Down Under 2014

By David Rome

published 24 January 2014

New bikes at the first WorldTour race of the year

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Team Europcar are lucky enough to ride the Colnago C59 with Campagnolo Super Record EPS (Image credit: David Rome)

Team Sky hadn't announced its signing with Wahoo Fitness yet - but they weren't keeping it hidden(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Astana bikes are ready to roll(Image credit: David Rome)

An empty SRM Power Control computer mount is a sign of riders and/or coaches downloading the data after each ride(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Giant-Shimano are the only ProTour team currently using PRO (owned by Shimano) saddles. With Shimano's recent acquisition of bikefitting.com, expect big changes with Shimano's componentry brand(Image credit: David Rome)

Cadel Evans is known to have an aggressive position; this -17 degree stem keeps Evans real low (Image credit: David Rome)

Movistar and a team-issue Diadora Vortex-Pro shoe(Image credit: David Rome)

The young pocket rocket - Caleb Ewan - with a little Aussie trim on an otherwise blacked out aero-road helmet(Image credit: David Rome)

Another look at the new colours of team Giant-Shimano - expect big things from this team in 2014 with Marcel Kittel looking in form(Image credit: David Rome)

Lampre-Merida is newly sponsored by Champion Systems clothing - who launched a new 'Carbon Rear Zip Speedsuit' at TDU. Apparently two years development led to a wind-tunnel proven suit with compression qualities and great body temperature regulation(Image credit: David Rome)

A standard Shimano Dura-ace C35 front wheel without decals shows that Team BMC also had supply issues in getting new wheels(Image credit: David Rome)

A Team BMC rider with some un-marked Specialized S-Works shoes(Image credit: David Rome)

Cadel Evans and his bright Diadora Vortex-Pro shoes (Image credit: David Rome)

A bunch of Wahoo Kickr boxes show that Team Sky had just received them(Image credit: David Rome)

This is certainly one NOT to drive into the garage...(Image credit: David Rome)

Campagnolo EPS uses a removable magnet to tell the system to shut off power when not in use - the new EPS internal battery uses this strap to tell the system to switch off (Image credit: David Rome)

Campagnolo 80th anniversary wheels for Greipel - this is the bike he used when not contesting stage wins(Image credit: David Rome)

Greipel was at least consistent with his saddle choice - a custom San Marco Regal (Image credit: David Rome)

German Champion André Greipel was clearly being looked after by the team - for the hillier stages he rode a lighter Helium SL with custom paint(Image credit: David Rome)

High heat had Richie Porte of Team Sky wearing the new Rapha 'don't look at my nipples' jersey (Image credit: David Rome)

Team Cannondale's George Bennett runs a very long stem(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Cannondale were training with aluminium Vision clinchers and Kenda Kriterium Endurance training tyres(Image credit: David Rome)

George Bennett of Team Cannondale spins with Team Issue Sidi Wire Carbon shoes (Image credit: David Rome)

The owner of BMC Racing International and Phonak hearing systems - Andy Riis - riding a mid-range BMC Gran Fondo with Shimano Ultegra (Image credit: David Rome)

Not everything at the Santos Tour Down Under is high-tech(Image credit: David Rome)

For People's Choice Criterium, Steel von Hoffe was wearing his recently won Australian National Criterium Championship colours(Image credit: David Rome)

Garmin-Sharp's rider Steele von Hoffe uses the ovalized QXL rings – a claimed more efficient pedal stroke and greater power are some of the reasons behind this(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Garmin-Sharp rider Steele von Hoffe proves that you don't need the best equipment to go fast - note the Ultegra brake (Image credit: David Rome)

Not every team was on new equipment - team Garmin-Sharp had far older gear with them as evident by the older 10 speed Shimano 7970 Di2 (Image credit: David Rome)

Team Katusha are on Canyon bicycles - the Russian team were quiet amongst the local media (Image credit: David Rome)

Team Katusha is using Ritchey WCS kit, the older style 4-axis stem is a bit of a surprise(Image credit: David Rome)

Campagnolo EPS riders were seen with the new internal race battery - Lotto-Belisol had modified the frames for the battery recharging port(Image credit: David Rome)

A closer look at André 'the Gorilla' Greipel's custom painted Noah Fast(Image credit: David Rome)

Lampre-Merida were seen training with the light, yet not-so aero Fulcrum Racing Light XLR wheels(Image credit: David Rome)

SRM power is still the top choice amongst the pro teams for power measurement (Image credit: David Rome)

Movistar has made the move to Canyon, joining Katusha as the second team to be sponsored by the German brand (Image credit: David Rome)

Nathan Haas of team Garmin-Sharp was on an older R series Cervelo - older Dura-ace 7970 Di2 is zip-tied to the frame (Image credit: David Rome)

Another look at Nathan Haas' bike - the external battery was rarely seen with most riders now running lighter weight internal race batteries(Image credit: David Rome)

25mm tyres are becoming a common sight in the pro ranks - some teams didn't even bring 23c tyres with them (Image credit: David Rome)

Garmin-Sharp rider Thomas Dekker in the new POC Octal helmet(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Uni-SA were the only team to have bike stands at race starts - every other team just used the team car or a fence as stands(Image credit: David Rome)

Again Movistar show some unusual setups - a saddle pushed back on the rails isn't what one would expect to see at the ProTour level(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Movistar are on new bikes - an unbranded stem with a stack of spacers may be a sign of unconfirmed sizing(Image credit: David Rome)

Drapac Professional Cycling's team colours are red, white and black. These blue team bikes clearly identify the team's training bikes - these double as race-day spares too(Image credit: David Rome)

Team Garmin-Sharp recently signed with POC apparel - here Steele von Hoffe shows us his Octal Aero lid (Image credit: David Rome)

We also hate it when we can't find a matching pair of shoes - but as a local favourite, Steele von Hoffe can get away with it(Image credit: David Rome)

Another look at Belkin's new Bianchi infused colours (Image credit: David Rome)

A solid Rotor chainring is featured on this spare Lampre-Merida bike. Also seems plenty of teams are using Shimano Dura-ace 9000 pedals.(Image credit: David Rome)

Being at the beginning of the season, it's common that many teams experience supply issues with brands - here are some Shimano C50 wheels with generic stickers (Image credit: David Rome)

The People's Choice Criterium race saw many riders switch to more aerodynamic options. Some Movistar riders were going all-out with 80mm deep Campagnolo Bora Ultra wheels(Image credit: David Rome)

This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

As we found last year, logistical challenges of racing in another continent means many teams travel light and some even bring along older equipment, leaving it behind once the race is over.

But with a new season comes team changes, sponsor changes, new equipment to ride and a first chance for the public to see it all. We spotted Belkin's new Bianchi machines, the bikes ridden by the new Giant-Shimano team, Garmin's Steele Von Hoff sporting a POC Octal Aero helmet, Frank Schleck's interesting looking Bontrager shoes, and Adam Hansen's own design footwear.

Kick your feet up and have a click through our extensive Tour Down Under Image Gallery and see what’s new (and old) amongst the pros.