A new aero-focused frame and brand new componentry and wheels from Campagnolo at the Dauphine
(Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
The Critérium du Dauphiné is always a useful performance yardstick for teams and riders in the run-up to the Tour de France, which is just weeks away now. New equipment is often rolled out at the Tour or in the run-up to it and this seems to be the case with Team AG2R Citroën who have been spotted with a new BMC race bike at the start of the Dauphine. BMC appear to have been busy after we covered the prototype BMC time trial bike that appeared at the Tour de Romandie
Cyclingnews spotted some new prototype bikes ahead of the race's opening stage mounted on the team's car roof rack. The new bikes have a plain black paint scheme except for a large 'create speed' logo on the downtube and a small RedBull advanced technologies logo on the fork (more on this below).
The first question that needs answering is: What is it? AG2R have the BMC Team Machine SLR01 and more aero BMC Time Machine Road 01 at their disposal to race on. The Time Machine is the more aero, speed-focused model of the two but this new black bike seems to be taking the aero considerations up a level with a chunky, aero headtube and seat stay junction in particular as well as generally aero profiled tubes and aerodynamic features such as the bottle cages and their low mounted position. The 'create speed' logo also points to an aero-focused, race machine. Could this be a new Time Machine or perhaps a brand new all-out aero model?
The new bike is finished in black currently with a big 'create speed' downtube logo (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
The headtube is seriously deep on the new bike and the fork legs look wider than normal too. The above picture provides a really useful comparison between the existing TeamMachine bike and the new frame, where the differences are clear.
There have also been rumours of AG2R switching to Van Rysel bikes and equipment for the 2024 season. Will we see AG2R racing aboard this new bike next season? Or will a different team be riding it if the rumours are true?
RedBull advanced technologies logo on the fork leg indicates collaboration between the two brands for this project. (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
This wouldn't be the first time BMC has collaborated with RedBull advanced technologies, with the two companies partnering to create what they called 'the world's first F1 bike' last year when they created a new time trial bike.
The inclusion of the Red Bull logo on the fork leg points to some collaboration happening between the brands for this new bike too, perhaps in the aerodynamics department again.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
UCI prototype frame sticker and heavily sculpted dropped seat stay junction, that also looks like a Pirelli tubular tyre to us. (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
The bikes seemed to just be for Greg Van Avermaet and Ben O'Connor currently, with O'Connors number two spare bike being on the team car roof rack.
The frames are displaying UCI prototype stickers on the seat tube, UCI prototype application forms must be submitted to the UCI in the event of a new frame being brought to market and raced on.
The brand new Campagnolo Super Record groupset was fitted to some bikes, note the larger derailleurs to accommodate the batteries which are f/r derailleur-specific. (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
AG2R are the only team in the World Tour racing on Campagnolo wheels and groupsets for 2023. Campagnolo recently launched its new Super Record Wireless groupset which features wireless derailleurs and the omission of the famous Campagnolo thumb shifter buttons.
The team are using a mix of older wired Super Record EPS and the new groupset but we expect to see more bikes fitted with it later in the season or at the Tour de France.
The above bike was also fitted with the new Campagnolo Hyperon Ultra wheelset which was recently launched by Campagnolo, relaunching the Hyperon name. The Hyperons are more of a mid-depth wheel and may be a choice for riders when they don't want the depth of a Bora model or for more climbing-focused stages.
An older Super Record Power 2 Max chainset was fitted for now (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
The new Campagnolo Super Record chainset does not have a power meter currently, though we expect this to change. This bike has been fitted with an older Power 2 Max power meter chainset so the rider can keep an eye on their power output. An almost critical piece of equipment in today's World Tour.
We haven't received any official information on the new bike from any team staff at AG2R, but we will update this story with more information if and when we receive it.
A massive bottom bracket shell must help stiffness and aerodynamics. (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
The above shot shows the huge bottom bracket shell and junction with the seat tube and down tubes, this must create a stiff platform to aid power transfer.
The Campagnolo wheels looks mostly to be tubular versions currently, showing the tubular is not quite ready to say goodbye to the World Tour just yet. The combination of cutting edge Campagnolo wireless technology and decades old tubular tech is an interesting one.
We are willing to bet this is quite an aerodynamic front end, note the wider fork legs just above the BMC logo (Image credit: Future / Will Jones)
It will get fully integrated cabling (Image credit: Will Jones)
This is currently listed as a Prototype with the UCI, but certainly looks to be production-ready (Image credit: Will Jones)
Another angle of the oversized bottom bracket junction (Image credit: Will Jones)
Rear tyre clearance looks ample (Image credit: Will Jones)
Front clearance looks tighter, despite the enormously wide fork legs (Image credit: Will Jones)
Two bolts at the rear of the seat tube will take care of clamping the seatpost into place. The race number holder does a good job of filling the gap left above the clamp itself (Image credit: Will Jones)
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as tech writer. Tom has over 10 years experience as a qualified mechanic with 5 or so of those being spent running an independent workshop. Tom has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track and has ridden and competed in most disciplines, even the odd bit of bike polo. Tom is as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike exploring the Worcestershire lanes.
