Tour Down Under tech gallery part 1: Brand new bikes, custom paint, and one hugely aggressive setup

FDJ-SUEZ made a splash at the end of last year by signing superstar rider Demi Vollering. Specialized swiftly followed the Dutch rider, though also remains a sponsor of SD-Worx.

Vollering has spent the past few seasons using SRAM, but the FDJ-SUEZ squads will be using Shimano Dura-Ace.

As well as S-Works Tarmac SL8 frames, Specialized also provides the finishing kit and wheels. Here the silver hubs show that these are the 'Team' version of the Roval CLX II wheels, which are slightly lighter and a hair more aero.

It wouldn't be a WorldTour team bike without a motivational phrase on the top tube.

The Cannondale SuperSix Evo Lab71 bikes of the EF squads are always eye-catching. This year the paint is a little more subdued than last year, but still far from conservative.

Lab71 is Cannondale's highest spec frame designation, similar to what S-Works is to Specialized. Note the gold pen on the seatpost to allow the mechanics to set the saddle height just right every time.

While we have seen a new Van Rysel recently, in the form of the aero RCR-F, the 'standard' RCR is still one of the hottest WorldTour bikes of recent years thanks to its (relatively) low price.

3D saddles are fast becoming an established norm in the pro ranks. They claim to offer comfort advantages, but we suspect they are primarily fitted to keep system weights lower.

Integrated cockpits seldom have giant stems anymore, but this Deda model still looks to be in the 130mm range.

No real changes in the Visma-Lease A Bike paddock this year, with the team riders tending to opt for the more aero Cervélo S5 most of the time.

As a SRAM-sponsored squad, Visma riders have the option of adding wireless shifter blips wherever they choose.

Wahoo's Speedplay Aero pedals forego the dual-sided entry in favour of added aerodynamic efficiency.

One sponsor swap for the season was Fizik leaving the Visma fold for UAE Team Emirates XRG, with Prologo filling the void.

A similarly similar setup for Lidl-Trek for 2025 compared to 2024.

Even so, the IsoFlow hole in the seat tube and cantilevered seat post of the Trek Madone still turns heads.

After spending last season on primarily black bikes, the Bianchis of Arkea B&B Hotels have gone full celeste this year, undoubtedly adding a bit of weight but pleasing fans of the brand's heritage at the same time.

In much the same way as the Cervélo S5, and the new Colnayo Y1Rs, the Bianchi Oltre features an unusual, positive rise cockpit to reduce frontal area.

The Wilier bikes of Groupama-FDJ this year have swapped Shimano wheels for Miche options.

We love the little details that often get overlooked. Aftermarket centre-lock rotor lockrings are unlikely to make much difference in performance terms, but they look cool nonetheless.

Taco Van der Hoorn is a strong contender already for the most aggressive position of the year.

No stranger to marginal gains - famously opting for aero 'leg warmers' to exploit a loophole in the UCI regulations in 2023 - the Dutchman is opting for larger aftermarket chainrings for greater drivetrain efficiency.

Tyre valves aren't all that aerodynamic, so Van der Hoorn has opted for tubes (we suspect latex) with short valves, inflated using a valve extender, and then removed the extender for a small aero win. Our own testing shows there is little between tubeless and latex tubes in wattage terms, but there is certainly an increased puncture risk.

This integrated cockpit from Cube isn't available in this configuration on the brand's website, and is almost certainly a custom model for Van der Hoorn. The stem is long and the shape of the bars is much more reminiscent of classic bend bars, as opposed to the more modern shape that Cube sells with the Litening aero bike.

From above one can see just how far the Dutchman's wrists will have to extend to place his hands in the crook of the hoods.

The Orbea Orca Aero of the Ceratizit-WNT has already racked up a win this season under Daniek Hengeveld.

Rubber bumpers help to smooth the airflow at the transition between the bar and the stem.

Campagnolo returns to the WorldTour after a one-year hiatus. Its Super Record wireless groupsets will be fitted to the Look aero bikes of Cofidis.

The groupset is the most expensive option on the market from the big three manufacturers, at close to $5,500.

French frames, Italian groupset, Italian wheels and here we have Italian tyres too from Vittoria in the form of the Corsa Pro.

Most of the time we see the riders of Bahrain-Victorious aboard the aero Merida Reacto, but here Roman Ermakov has opted for the more lightweight Scultura model.

In contrast to the sea of black bikes, the white and turquoise paint of the team's bikes is somewhat refreshing.

No massive componentry shifts for Israel-Premier Tech for 2025, but they do at least have a fresh look for their Factor bikes.

I'm not sure what to call this pattern... snakeskin-adjacent? In any case, it's neat and matches the upper portion of the seat tube.

Painted seat posts are relatively uncommon too, and while they do cost a couple of grams they certainly tie a bike together visually.

Flashes of white have been added to the S-Works Tarmacs of Soudal-Quick Step, again adding a few grams but allowing the red logos to pop a little more.

This paint brush effect is a novel change from the usual smooth fades we usually see, and may well have been applied with a paintbrush as it looks.

Individually numbered and labelled wheelsets – the mark of a meticulous team mechanic.

Despite having access to the Roval integrated cockpits, many of the Soudal riders opt for a separate system, likely for bike fit considerations.

While they do have access to the Canyon Ultimate, most Movistar riders opt for the latest Canyon Aeroad.

Time pedals don't have quite the same user uptake as those from Shimano, Look, and Wahoo, but they have become increasingly common in the peloton in recent years.

The latest Ridley Noah Fast has perhaps the deepest head tube of recent years, especially prominent on the smaller bike of Anouska Koster.

The Noah Fast does have an integrated cockpit, but Kosta has opted for a separate system here, likely to increase her reach beyond what would be possible.

Canyon-SRAM retains its crown as the jazziest paint scheme of the season to match the vibrant team kits.

A 13g, 3D printed computer mount supports a Hammerhead bike computer, itself a product of a SRAM-owned company.

Again, another team riding Time pedals, as Time is a SRAM-owned company. With SRAM as a title sponsor, it stands to reason that every possible SRAM product would be used.

Ergon saddles we see very little of, though the brand has a great reputation for comfort.

Last season the Colnago V4Rs bikes of UAE Team ADQ had a lovely pastel fade on the fork legs and the bar tape, but this year the team bikes are all black, though we understand the Y1Rs aero bikes are all white, so there is at least a contrast there.

Enve SES 3.4 wheels hit a middle ground of weight vs aero.

No, this isn't the same picture from the top of the page, but yes it is the same saddle.

With MAAP now sponsoring Jayco-AlUla the visual identity of the team has had a big shift, and Luke Plapp's Giant Propel is sure to catch the eye with its purple and chrome paint scheme.

Cadex wheels and tyres are supplied by Giant's in-house component brand. The spokes have some of the deepest blade profiles on the market.

Here's that bechromed rear end, which must really glint in the Australian sun.

While Soudal has a Tarmac with white flashes, the bikes of Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe are almost entirely white, which looks ace but is probably a nightmare for the mechanics to keep pristine.

Team-issued Roval CLX wheels here, too.

Gone is the 'Band Of Brothers' motif on the top tube, replaced by a simple sponsor array.

As far as colour schemes go this combination of navy, slightly off-white, red, and yellow is a real winner.

Another wireless blip position to be spied tucked right in the crook of the bars.

The Pinarello Dogmas of Ineos are another relatively new model, with the all-around Italian frameset receiving an update last summer.

Peeking betwixt the crank spider arms is the magnet for the power meter to measure cadence.

The tabs at the end of the fork legs have a small bolt hole into which the race transponder chips can be mounted for a slight aero advantage over mounting them to the fork legs.

Not to be outdone, Prologo's 3D-printed saddles adorn many of the Ineos bikes.

A threaded bottom bracket - albeit an Italian threaded one - is part of a growing shift away from press-fit systems thanks to consumer sentiment.

Is this the tastiest fade in the peloton? The Factor Ostro VAMs of Human Powered Health do look the part.

Proprietary aero bottle cages are becoming the norm on many bikes, and help to smooth the airflow over the down tube.

Colour-matching computer decals aren't something we see much of, but where we do see it it's always appreciated.

The Mags saddle from Wove is something we've not seen before in the peloton.

Here's another look at that beautiful fade on the fork legs.

Finally, we've got the X-Lab bikes of XDS-Astana. This isn't the usual paint, but a custom option for Henok Mulubrhan, current African Continental champion.

The geological paint mirrors the team's jersey from last season with veins of gold throughout.