Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini partners with Chinese carbon wheel brand for 2025

Elitewheels, a leading manufacturer of carbon fibre wheels from China, has this week announced a partnership with UCI ProTeam, Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini. 

The recognised Italian squad, which competes in some of cycling's most prestigious events including the Giro d’Italia, praised the brand's dedication to making quality cycling products as well as to research and development. 

The team, home to Vuelta a España stage winners, Valerio Conti and Kristian Sbaragli, have already spent time rigorously testing Elitewheels’ range of wheelsets, which includes the Drive, Drive Helix SS, and Velo TT wheels. 

"We can compare Elitewheels for sure with top brands like Roval or Vision at the moment," proclaimed Italian Conti, whose history includes spells at Lampre-Merida and UAE Team Emirates, a stage win at the Vuelta a España, 2nd on a Giro d’Italia stage, and 2nd overall GC at the Tour of Turkey in a career that has spanned over a decade. "We're looking forward to using it in races,“ he added. 

Sbaragli, who has previously ridden for Alpecin-Deceuninck, Dimension Data, and Israel Cycling Academy, described the wheels as "really stiff, especially with carbon spokes."

The 34-year-old, who has also claimed a stage of the Vuelta, emphasised the importance of a lightweight wheelset in racing, adding that "Elitewheels combine both" weight and stiffness, before praising the "enthusiasm" that the brand puts on continually improving its product. 

Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini’s Race Wheelsets

Drive

The main wheelsets Vini Fantini will be racing on will be the Drive road wheels, which include the 40D, 50D, and 65D. These UCI-approved wheels start at only 1260 grams for the pair and feature replaceable carbon spokes and ceramic bearings. 

According to Conti, “For the races, I think the best compromise will be 50mm profile and the lighter wheels for mountain stages.”

Drive Helix

Released in 2024, Drive Helix SS wheels feature ratchet hubs, Sapim CX-Ray racing spokes, a reduced hook design, and an undulating, aerodynamic rim profile that reduces the effects of crosswinds. 

The wheels come in mixed depths to improve handling and aerodynamics and are wider to accommodate wider tyres. Just like the Drive wheels, Drive Helix wheels are all UCI-approved.

Velo TT

These wheels are designed for time trials and triathlons. Vini Fantini will be using the Velo TT Disc Brake Bundle wheelsets with an 82mm deep front wheel and a full disc rear wheel. The front wheel features aero-bladed Sapim CX-Ray spokes, while the rear wheel uses a lightweight PMI core to maximise stiffness.

Working together

Founded as a UCI Continental team in 2022, Team Solution Tech - Vini Fantini (then known as Team Corratec) quickly made its mark, taking 13 race and stage victories in its first year. Following this success, the team earned a UCI ProTeam license in 2023, and an invite to the Giro d'Italia.

While there, Czech climber Karel Vacek secured an impressive 2nd place on Stage 7, while elsewhere the team finished 3rd and 4th in the General Classification at the Tour of Qinghai Lake, and 5th overall at the Tour of Hainan, sweeping up three stage wins along the way.

In 2024, the team remained a ProTeam, but stepped up again in terms of its performances, competing in several prestigious WorldTour events, including the UAE Tour, Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Tour de Romandie, Tour de Suisse, and Il Lombardia. 

With the team on a clear ascendency, both the team and Elitewheels are looking for more than just a supply of wheels. The brand, whose parent company started making carbon wheels in 2013 and established the Elitewheels brand two years later, says the sponsorship will work both ways, and it is looking forward to a future working together. 

The team’s riders and mechanics will play a critical role in product development, providing valuable feedback, both objective and subjective. Not only will the team provide useful feedback that will go towards the development of new wheelsets, but the wheels will be ridden in the ultimate proving ground: WorldTour races. 

”From the team’s perspective," Sbaragli states, "we believe we can help the brand improve by giving feedback throughout the season.” 

Elitewheels is confident in the quality and performance of what it offers, and the brand says it is happy to know that the riders feel the same.

About Elitewheels, and the rise of Chinese cycling brands

One of the biggest things that has happened to the cycling industry in the last decade is the rise of brands from mainland China. While in the past, the cycling industry was dominated by European, American, and Japanese brands, there is a new player. This is no more apparent than with carbon wheels and frames. 

Over a decade ago, carbon manufacturing, which was primarily handled by OEMs in Taiwan, started to take off in mainland China. 

After gaining experience and confidence, these Chinese OEMs started their own brands. These brands had lower costs, mostly because there was no need for a middleman; cyclists could buy what they wanted directly from the manufacturer. 

While some were cautious at first, after several years, brands like Elitewheels managed to prove to the cycling community their products were not only more affordable but also of the same - or even better - standard when compared to the big brands. 

Since its inception, Elitewheels has grown into a well-recognised brand the world over. Not only are its wheels now trusted by UCI pro cycling teams on the biggest stage, but it has even gained the trust of British YouTube channel, Global Cycling Network, which now calls the brand its official wheel sponsor.

What truly sets Elitewheels apart though is that it designs, manufactures, and tests all of its own carbon fibre prepreg, resin, rims, hubs, and complete wheelsets in house. When it comes to products, its focus is not only on innovation, but also quality, reliability, and performance. 

"Our goal is simply to offer the best wheels possible without sacrifices," says the brand. 

Why you should consider Elitewheels

In order to achieve that goal, Elitewheels relies on its four brand principles. 

Putting Riders First

In every decision Elitewheels makes, the first consideration is always the needs of the riders. The brand seeks to be inclusive and not just offer what is trending. It aims to provide high-performance wheels that its own staff choose to ride, and all rider feedback is important and taken into consideration. In order to offer peace of mind, its wheels have a three-year warranty, crash replacement, free shipping, a growing worldwide service centre network, and helpful, easy-to-reach customer service agents via its website’s Live Chat.

Being Transparent

As riders themselves, those at Elitewheels know the importance of transparency when it comes to choosing a product. With so many wheel brands today, it can be difficult to know which ones are trustworthy and ethical. Rather than relying on outsourcing production and design, it engineers and manufactures its own carbon fibre pre-preg, rims, hubs, and wheels. For this reason, Elitewheels is confident in the materials used, quality, testing, and safety of its wheelsets. The rims are made at its headquarters in Xiamen, China, where engineers are able to closely monitor every step along the way.

Staying Humble

If there is one trap Elitewheels always tries to steer clear of, it is overconfidence. While always seeking to improve, the brand has been inspired by the many cycling brands, their products, and their accomplishments. While it is true that Elitewheels has come a long way since its founding, the brand's founders see themselves as lifelong learners, always with room to grow. Their aim is to always continue to improve their customer service, resources, and offerings.

Providing Value

Elitewheels believes it is important to go beyond the norm and push the cycling industry forward. The brand's founders aim to differentiate the brand from the pack and to do so in a way that provides real value to riders, rather than trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. 

Not only do they strive to offer premium products at reasonable prices, but to also incorporate new tech that truly improves performance. From replaceable carbon spokes and lightweight UNI carbon fibre, to innovative hub designs and carbon fibre layup. Elitewheels does what it takes to make wheels that are great to ride.