Lotto Soudal to ride disc brakes only in 2020
Ridley to provide Campagnolo disc-brake-equipped Helium SLX and Noah Fast bikes for 2020 season
In an increasingly common move, Lotto Soudal has today announced the team will solely ride aboard disc brakes for the upcoming 2020 season. The Belgian team's bike sponsor, Ridley, will provide its lightweight Helium SLX Disc and the aero Noah Fast Disc, equipped with Campagnolo Super Record EPS disc groupsets.
Four of the team's leading riders, Caleb Ewan, John Degenkolb, Philippe Gilbert, and Tim Wellens will also be given the opportunity to customise their own bike's colours ahead of different races throughout the season.
The Helium SLX Disc will be ridden by Tim Wellens, who makes the switch over from rim brakes, as well as new recruit Philippe Gilbert, who joins the team from Deceuninck QuickStep.
"The Helium SLX Disc claims it's the King of the Racers. It didn't steal its name," said Gilbert. "Its agile steering and overall stiffness feel so good, it's perfect for me. I could also select the colours for this bike myself. Because of this, this Ridley already has a special sentiment for me."
Caleb Ewan took three Tour de France stage victories aboard a rim-brake-equipped Ridley Noah Fast in 2019, but will also make the switch over to discs. John Degenkolb, who joins Lotto Soudal from Trek-Segafredo, will also race aboard Ridley's aero model, opting for a green fade as the season begins.
Ridley Noah Fast specs
- Frameset: Ridley Noah Fast Disc
- Group: Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12 speed Disc
- Wheels: Campagnolo Bora One Disc 50mm
- Computer and Power meter: SRM
- Pedals: Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic
- Seatpost: Ridley Noah Fast
- Stem: DEDA SuperZero
- Handlebar: DEDA SuperZero
- Bar tape: Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm
- Saddle: Selle Italia
- Bottom Bracket: C-Bear Ceramic Bearings
- Bottle cage: Tacx Ciro
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa 26mm tubular
- Weight: 7.35kg
Ridley Helium SLX Disc specs
- Frameset: Ridley Helium SLX Disc
- Group: Campagnolo Super Record EPS 12 speed Disc
- Wheels: Campagnolo Bora One Disc 50mm
- Computer and Power meter: SRM
- Pedals: Look Keo Blade Carbon Ceramic
- Seatpost: DEDA Superleggero
- Stem: DEDA SuperZero
- Handlebar: DEDA SuperZero
- Bar tape: Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm
- Saddle: Selle Italia
- Bottom Bracket: C-Bear Ceramic Bearings
- Bottle cage: Tacx Ciro
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa 26mm tubular
- Weight: 7.15kg
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
As the Tech Editor here at Cyclingnews, Josh leads on content relating to all-things tech, including bikes, kit and components in order to cover product launches and curate our world-class buying guides, reviews and deals. Alongside this, his love for WorldTour racing and eagle eyes mean he's often breaking tech stories from the pro peloton too.
On the bike, 32-year-old Josh has been riding and racing since his early teens. He started out racing cross country when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s and has never looked back. He's always training for the next big event and is keen to get his hands on the newest tech to help. He enjoys a good long ride on road or gravel, but he's most alive when he's elbow-to-elbow in a local criterium.