Alpecin-Deceuninck

This Belgian outfit burst onto the scene in 2019 when they turned their focus from CX to road racing. 

They immediately caused waves in the pro peloton, taking an impressive 21 wins in 2019 - despite a limited road programme - and a further 16 in 2020. The majority of these big wins came courtesy of their darling Dutchman, Mathieu van der Poel. 

While Van der Poel may still call the shots at the team, he’s not the only rider that has tasted a lot of success in Alpecin’s navy colours. Sprinters Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen have shone too, taking a combined 31 wins in the last two years. 

Despite still being a ProTeam in 2022, they switched title sponsor mid-season to Alpecin-Deceuninck and became a force to be reckoned with in the mountains, with Zwift Academy winner Jay Vine picking up a brace of Vuelta a España stage wins. The brighter they shone as a team, however, the more attention they drew from bigger teams who, in the 2022/23 off-season, ransacked their squad of some of its biggest talents, including Tim Merlier and Vine. 

Now a WorldTour outfit themselves, the team have been able to attract a number of promising riders to their 2023 roster, including Kaden Groves, Quinten Hermans, and Søren Kragh Andersen, and partly fill the hole left by Merlier and Vine. They also have Tour de France green jersey winner Jasper Philipsen in their ranks.

Tech

Pro Bikes

Vuelta a España pro bike: Kaden Groves’ Canyon Aeroad CFR

Kaden Groves wins stage 4 of Vuelta a España atop Canyon Aeroad CFR specced with Shimano Dura-Ace components.

Kaden Groves' Canyon Aeroad CFR bike for the Vuelta a España

. Most have skipped the race due to the gruelling route, but a handful have braved the vicious Spanish climbs for the rare sprint opportunities at the race.

 (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and it’s already proved to be a fruitful decision for the Australian who 

. He took that win atop the Canyon Aeroad CFR, and we managed to get our hands on his bike earlier in the race. Here is the breakdown:

’s lightest ever aero road bike. It’ll be familiar to many having been ridden to plenty of success this season by 

. In 2023, together with the team, the bike has won two Monuments - Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix - one stage of the Giro d’Italia (through Groves), four stages of the Tour de France, plus the men’s road race at the World Championships. Courtesy of Groves’ victory on stage 4 of the Vuelta, it now boasts a Grand Tour clean sweep this season.

Canyon says that the bike was “developed for WorldTour wins” and that’s certainly proved to be the case this season. As is to be expected with an aero race bike, much of the performance is driven by its aerodynamic design. Developed in collaboration with aerodynamic experts Swiss Side, the German brand says that every tube and component has been optimised to reduce drag. We can’t put that to the test, but it definitely looks fast – especially at the hands of Groves.

As is becoming common as the lines between bike categories blur, the Aeroad CFR is also light - the lightest it’s ever been - saving over 200g over the previous flagship model, the CF SLX.

As a part of its collaboration with the team, Canyon has released multiple special-edition colourways of the Aeroad CFR this year, both ridden by and centred around Mathieu van der Poel. The first celebrated his 

None of those designs are on show at the Vuelta a España, with Groves and his teammates riding bikes with standard team-issue colours. The stylish design merges shades of blue and purple, closely resembling the team’s kit. It’s a great design, although it was only a blur as Groves sprinted to victory.

We encountered Groves’ bike ahead of stage 3, the day before he took his victory. That was a mountain stage, so we can be fairly certain that some elements of his bike build will have changed.

 cassette he used was probably swapped out for a more compact option, with something a little smaller than a 34t largest cog. That cassette was paired with a 54/40 Shimano Dura-Ace chainset, a common size in the pro peloton.

For the high mountains, Groves used the Shimano Dura-Ace C50 wheels. Their 50mm rims are fairly deep, although the Australian may have swapped them for the C60s for his sprint victory.

Those wheels were paired with Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR in a 28mm width, the most popular size from what we’ve seen at the race - they also have tan sidewalls which is always a winner with us.

Finishing components include Canyon’s integrated bar and stem, an area of the bike the brand put a particular focus on when developing the bike.

’s Pro Team saddle sits atop Canyon’s aero seatpost, while the team also uses Elite bottle cages.

Discover more bikes from the Vuelta a España in our pro bike section, 

Jasper Philipsen

Mathieu van der Poel

Kaden Groves

Søren Kragh Andersen

Gianni Vermeersch

Stefano Oldani

Lionel Taminiaux

Quinten Hermans

Dries De Bondt

Jakub Mareczko

Robbe Ghys

Kristian Sbaragli

Nicola Conci

Jason Osborne

Xandro Meurisse

Jensen Plowright

Edward Planckaert

Tobias Bayer

Maurice Ballerstedt

Michael Gogl

Robert Stannard

Alexander Krieger

Silvan Dillier

Oscar Riesebeek

Fabio Van den Bossche

Jimmy Janssens

Jonas Rickaert

Senne Leysen

Ramon Sinkeldam

Samuel Gaze

Features

Tech Features

2024 Men's WorldTour bikes: A guide to the bikes, groupsets, and tech of the top-tier teams

 is set to deliver another year of unforgettable racing.

Like at the beginning of every season, there will be a short period of familiarisation as teams emerge from their winter hibernations with new riders, kit and, for some, names – It will take us a while, for example, to get used to 

Luckily, there is much more consistency in the realms of 

, where teams only tend to make major changes every few seasons when their current brand partnerships come to an end. 2024 is no different, with most teams riding the same bikes, groupsets and wheels as the previous season, although there are some notable changes.

Here’s a complete guide to all of the bikes, groupsets, wheels and tyres that every team at Men’s WorldTour level will use during the 2024 season.

Tech partnerships can change at any time, so we’ll keep this guide updated as and when any more new partnerships are announced.

Best men's WorldTour bikes of 2023: Which brand won the most races?

WorldTour bike sponsorship changes for 2024

, the bike brand transfer merry-go-round isn’t quite as intense, so there’s always a degree of stability and familiarity. Most teams sign multi-year deals with their selected brands, so the opportunity to swap to a different one only comes around every few seasons - unless a team is willing to break a partnership off early, but that can lead to some public spats, as Lotto Dstny found out in 2023.

Ridley hits back at Lotto Dstny ‘disloyalty’ over early ending of partnership

Luckily, there doesn’t appear to be any such animosity between 

 called an end to their 22-year partnership ahead of the 2024 season

, which also sponsors fellow WorldTour team Astana Qazaqstan. Groupama-FDJ are one of only two men’s WorldTour that swapped bike sponsors for 2024.

 joined them on this list after switching to Decathlon-owned Van Rysel bikes from BMC. AG2R have been partnered with 

 since 2021 and the Swiss brand has been an ever-present in the WorldTour peloton for over a decade.

Lapierre and Groupama-FDJ split after 22 years of collaboration

Elsewhere, there are no changes. That means that the two most successful teams, UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike, will continue to ride 

 bikes, respectively. Ineos Grenadiers’ long-standing partnership with 

 have been joined by Wilier in the list of brands which sponsor more than one team. Canyon is partnered with Alpecin-Deceuninck and Movistar, while Specialized is a long-term partner of Soudal Quick-Step and Bora-Hansgrohe.

Shimano dominance continues, Campagnolo clings to WorldTour status

While Canyon and Specialized win the popularity stakes for bikes, 

 completely eclipses it on the groupset front. The Japanese manufacturer has dominated the WorldTour peloton for a number of years now and it only appears to be getting stronger.

Fourteen of the 18 men's WorldTour teams used the Dura-Ace groupset in 2023 and that number hasn't budged in 2024, although its line-up has changed with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale hopping aboard from Campagnolo while Bora-Hansgrohe have headed to SRAM.

Mechanical Shimano 105 goes 12-speed and is disc-brake only

 sponsored three teams in 2023 but that is up to four with the addition of Bora. Among the other SRAM-sponsored teams are Visma-Lease a Bike, Lidl-Trek and Movistar. Despite its inferior numbers, SRAM boasts a flawless Grand Tour record in 2023, teaming up with Jumbo-Visma to win the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España.

’s stay at WorldTour level came to an end after AG2R made the switch to Shimano as a part of its partnership with Van Rysel. The historic Italian brand is also absent from the 

Why will Campagnolo be absent from WorldTour level in 2024? GCN Tech Show

Canyon’s bikes have topped the podium at multiple Monuments and Grand Tours over the last few seasons, usually at the hands of either 

. Last year’s palmarès included wins at both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, before Philipsen topped off a four-stage haul with the green jersey at the Tour de France.

All of those victories came atop the aero-focussed Aeroad, but the team also uses the lightweight Ultimate for climbing stages.

Ollie Bridgewood’s new Canyon Aeroad CFR in Alpecin-Deceuninck team colours

Few bike brands have as much pedigree within the sport as 

. Its Celeste colourway has become a fan favourite but, beyond the looks, the Italian brand’s bikes have teamed up with some of the biggest names in cycling’s history, including Fausto Coppi.

After Jayco-AlUla jumped to Giant for 2022, Bianchi was briefly left without a home in the WorldTour, but it made a comeback with 

Bianchi launches updated 6.6kg Specialissima road bike

 will be hoping that the Manx Missile can make history by breaking the record for Tour de France stages win in 2024. He’ll attempt to do it atop a 

 bike. Italian brand Wilier and the Kazakh team have been working together since 2020. 

Last season there was some confusion over the team's wheel sponsor with both Corima and HED wheelsets making an appearance, but this year the team has switched to Vision.

Mark Cavendish's Wilier Filante SLR: New pedals, saddle, and wheels for 2024

 since the team’s inception in 2017 and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon. The pair extended the partnership into 2022 to an undisclosed time, only stating that it is a “multi-year partnership”. As a minimum, the team will race Merida bikes during the 2024 season, when it will be hoping to build on its 12 WorldTour wins in 2023.

 who added another achievement to the Merida palmarès late in the season when he won the Gravel World Championships atop a then-unreleased 

Bahrain Victorious pro bike: Jack Haig’s Merida Reacto

headlines in late 2023 when they signed Primož Roglič from Jumbo-Visma

. The Slovenian will head up their GC ambitions at the Tour de France where he’ll hope to depose former teammate Jonas Vingegaard.

With a new team comes a new bike in the form of the 

. Released in August of 2023, it’s the latest version of Specialized’s do-it-all superbike. Unlike other brands, Specialized doesn’t offer dedicated climbing and aero bikes, instead packing everything into one machine.

The team also stole the tech headlines over the winter through their 

, which may have been influenced by the arrival of Roglič, who has been using the American brand's groupsets over the last few seasons.

Sam Welsford’s Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8

’ long, 15-year wait for a Tour de France victory to an end in 2023. He delivered the victory atop the 

 795 Blade RS which only broke cover at Eurobike in June, although the team had been riding it since swapping over from De Rosa at the beginning of the season.

Having only linked up for the 2023 season, it appears that it’s already been a 

 partnership for Cofidis, but can it propel them to more victories in 2024?

Bryan Coquard's Look 795 Blade RS: Cofidis’ Do-It-All Superbike

AG2R Citroën is one of the rare teams to switch bike brands for 2024 after Decathlon jumped on-board as co-title sponsors, bringing 

. The team previously rode Decathlon bikes between 2000 and 2007.

That move brought to an end the team's three-year partnership with BMC who will be absent from WorldTour level for the first time in over a decade. The team's switch to Shimano also means that Campagnolo is without a WorldTour team for 2024.

Having previously worked with the now Jayco-AlUla team, 

 in 2021 and the partnership was extended by an extra two years at the beginning of 2023. Along with its Foil, Addict and Plasma bikes, the team also uses finishing kit from Scott’s in-house Syncros brand, including saddles and cockpits. 

This was extended to include time-trial wheels

 in 2023 after Syncros released its Capital SL wheelset.

Racing

News

Race News

Mathieu van der Poel spits at booing spectators on way to Hulst World Cup win

Mathieu van der Poel faced booing from spectators at his home World Cup in Hulst

 has expressed his dismay at booing spectators after he was seen spitting at the crowd in 

 on his way to a UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup victory.

Riding in his home nation of the Netherlands for the first time this season, the world champion’s win in Hulst should have been a big home victory, but was instead marred by an incident that saw him spit at a group of fans on the final lap.

Cyclo-cross World Cup: Mathieu van der Poel continues dominant streak with Hulst solo raid

Asked about the incident after the race, Van der Poel said the spectators had been booing at him throughout the day, including during his warm-up laps. The Dutchman was reportedly also booed during the previous World Cup round in Hulst.

“They were just a bunch of booers. I'm done with that,” he said at the finish, using the Dutch term ‘boeroepers’.

“It was continuous, during the recon already. It’s better to stay at home.”

Asked what the spectators were saying, Van der Poel declined to comment on the nature of the comments made.

“It's better to ask them yourself. I'm not going to repeat that. These were not things that belong in sport. Booing is not appropriate for anyone,” he said. “After a while it was enough, also for me.”

No sanction has yet been made against Van der Poel, but it possible he could receive a fine. Under section 5.6.001 of the UCI’s cyclo-cross regulations, item 17 prohibits “insults, threats, inappropriate behaviour” with infringements carrying a 50 to 200 CHF fine in World Cup events.

Tom Pidcock was also shown headbutting a fellow rider in an attempt to get past him, as the Brit tried to recover his race after crashing and damaging his bike in the very first corner.

Despite the incident, Van der Poel soloed to the win in Hulst, racking up his seventh victory in a season which is yet to see him beaten. He will race again in Baal on Monday.

Racing Features

Preview: UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Hulst

Mathieu van der Poel is perhaps the biggest favourite for the win in Hulst on Saturday

The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup continues on Saturday, as the round in 

 draws to a close the busy festive period which features five races in five days. Hulst is the fifth, and as a World Cup is one of the most important, meaning it’s attracting a field as stacked as what we saw in a thrilling round in 

Returning in full force for the first time since Gavere, all of the men’s 'big three' will be in action in Hulst, with 

) all opting to close out their 2023 in a muddy field in the Netherlands. On the women’s side, 

 (Alpecin-Deceuninck) have been pushing them hard this winter.

Cyclo-cross World Cup: Unstoppable Mathieu van der Poel solos to fourth straight victory in Gavere

Cyclo-cross World Cup: Powerful Puck Pieterse takes first win of the season in Gavere

The course in Hulst is a tricky one, with several treacherous ascents and descents on a lap where both top fitness and refined technical skills are going to be key. With so many places to make a mistake, nothing is guaranteed on this course, and even a 30-second lead could be erased with one wrong pedal stroke. 

As the final CX race of 2023, Hulst is sure to be a big one - here’s what you need to know about the elite races on Saturday.

The Hulst course is one defined by its slopes, with the treacherous descents as important as the super-steep climbs. The main climb is so steep it’s physically impossible to ride up, and even walking up carrying one’s bike can be a tricky task in the slippery mud. The key descent is wide and off-camber, narrowing towards the bottom, and crucially very steep, making it a real challenge in bike handling, and often the site of crashes or mishaps.

As well as the big ups and downs, there are lots of little, steep rises or descents on this course, and various off-camber sections that can throw riders off. As if the natural challenges weren’t difficult enough, Hulst also has three man-made bridges thrown in, plus a set of barriers, making this a technical and testing course.

There’s a big corner just before the finish, so if more than one rider comes towards the finale together, this turn can prove crucial, so a wise sprint is as important as a fast one.

In the men’s race, it’s hard to look past the so-called ‘big three’ as contenders for the win. In fact, it’s hard to even look past one man, Mathieu van der Poel. Not only is the Dutch rider unbeaten in CX so far this season, but this is his first race in the Netherlands this winter, so support and motivation will surely be on his side. Van der Poel has looked fairly unbeatable so far, putting in big solo moves to win four times already, so it’s not hard to imagine that happening again on Saturday.

Where will Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock clash this winter?

Wout van Aert will have taken some confidence from his 

victory in the Superprestige Heusden-Zolder

, but that was without the presence of Van der Poel and Pidcock, and we’re still waiting for the Belgian to really go head-to-head with his old rival. Pidcock, on the other hand, has been struggling through injury and illness, but looks to be returning to a good level, only hampered by some poor starts, though he’s very good and climbing back through a field.

Outside of the big three, Lars van der Haar and Joris Nieuwenhuis (both Baloise Trek Lions) are looking the most on-form, whilst Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) and his consistent style can almost be guaranteed to be somewhere in the action. The likes of Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwel Sauzen-Bingoal), Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) also can’t be overlooked, but they have definitely been bumped down the hierarchy since the big three started their campaigns.

In the women’s race, it looks like another battle between Fem van Empel and Puck Pieterse is on the cards. Both have taken victories already this festive period, and look to be just a little bit above the likes of Lucinda Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. Van Empel had an off-day in Gavere, losing her winning streak and giving way for Pieterse to take her first win of the season. The world champion wasn’t off form for long, though, and quickly came back to take the win in Heusden-Zolder the following day, albeit without Pieterse, though it was much closer with Alvarado than it sometimes is.

It’s difficult to say whether Van Empel will be back with a vengeance in Hulst, or if the effects of a long campaign are becoming clear, but what’s known is that the world champion is never far from the front of the race. Pieterse is the defending champion in Hulst, however, and has looked somewhat fresher than her compatriot this festive period, so will be gunning for a second consecutive World Cup victory.

With the World Cup overall standings on the line, Alvarado will definitely be near the front and looking for a top result, as will Brand, though the veteran rider has looked slower compared to the young stars in the last few races. Shirin van Anrooij (Baloise Trek Lions) is likely to miss the race in Hulst, having broken a rib and bruised another in training recently.

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Name	Age	UCI Career Wins	UCI Points
Jasper Philipsen	26	56	4745
Mathieu van der Poel	29	53	4640
Kaden Groves	25	22	1662
Søren Kragh Andersen	29	15	714
Gianni Vermeersch	31	3	551

Alpecin-Deceuninck

Alpecin-Deceuninck

The Team

Team Bikes

Vuelta a España pro bike: Kaden Groves’ Canyon Aeroad CFR

Top Alpecin-Deceuninck Stories

2024 Men's WorldTour bikes: A guide to the bikes, groupsets, and tech of the top-tier teams

Mathieu van der Poel spits at booing spectators on way to Hulst World Cup win

Preview: UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Hulst

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