The Tour de France

Team: Cervelo Test Team
Bikes: Cervelo S3 (R3 SL for Sastre) TT: Cervelo P4
Info: The team name may have changed, but the winning formula that delivered Carlos Sastre to the 2008 yellow jersey is back with the same recipe for success. Team riders will be racing Cervelo's S3 with its slippery aero frame. The only exception is Sastre who prefers the R3 SL. All team riders use stock off the shelf Cervelo frames so the 51cm R3 SL that's under Sastre is exactly what you can buy in shops. The P4 will be under riders for TT stages and they'll likely rely on Zipp's 900 or Sub-9 disc wheel in the rear and 808 or 1080 in the front. Look for deep section 808 or 404 wheels on sprinter's bikes and lighter 202 or 303 on the climbing stages.

Specs: Shimano Dura Ace drivetrain, Zipp wheels, 3T bar and stem, Fizik saddles, Vittoria Evo CX tires

Team Website: cervelo.com

Team: AG2R La Mondiale
Bikes: BH G5 TT: GC Aero
Info: AG2R bike sponsor BH is debuting it new G5 at the tour and all team members will be racing the new frame. Although it follows in the G4's footsteps the G5 has little if anything in common with the old design. The G5 has visibly larger frame tubes and retains the channel on the bottom of the downtube, which now extends through the BB30 bottom bracket shell for a whopping 100 percent increase in BB stiffness over the G4. Even with the increase in stiffness, weight is down to an incredible 810 grams for a 54cm frame thanks to small touches such as slotted carbon cable stops, carbon dropouts and a full carbon front derailleur braze-on style mount. BH collaborated with Edge Composites on the G5's tapered steerer full carbon fork that weighs a scant 330 grams.

Specs: Campagnolo drivetrain, Mavic wheels, Michelin tires, FSA bar and stem, Prologo saddles

Team Website: www.cyclisme.ag2rlamondiale.fr

Team: Columbia-HTC
Bikes: Scott Addict R2 TT: Scott Plasma 3
Info: Team Columbia - HTC will be riding Scott's new Plasma 3 TT bike. The Plasma 3 is still in development stages and just debuted in the Giro d'Italia. Look closely and you'll see a stem that's integrated into the mainframe for a sleek and aerodynamic line across the top tube and the rear brake is now located under the chainstays and behind the bottom bracket where it's hidden from the wind. The Plasma 3 is also one of the first TT bikes to take advantage of team sponsor Shimano's electronic Di2 group and its ability to hide wires and the rear brake cable under the framework for the best aerodynamics. Shift buttons are located on the aero bar extensions and bullhorn handlebars so riders can shift from any position.

Specs: Shimano Dura Ace drivetrain, Shimano wheels, PRO handlebar and stem, Fizik saddles, Continental tires, Elite bottle cages

Team Website: highroadsports.com

Team: Saxo Bank
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2 (Tarmac SL3 for select riders) TT: Specialized Shiv
Info: The Bjarne Riis lead Saxo Bank team may have an ace up its sleeve in the form of two new bikes they'll be riding in this year's Tour. The team has been working with Specialized since January on an all-new time trail frame called the Shiv. Aerodynamically it has slightly less drag than the Specialized S-Works Transition head on, but in a cross wind it tests with up to 30 percent less drag. According to Specialized frame stiffness is almost that of the Tarmac SL2 road frame. Although most riders will be on the SL2, key GC and stage contenders will be on the all-new Specialized Tarmac SL3. The new frame will be hard to spot since it looks almost identical externally. But under the team paint scheme is all new carbon construction that gives the frame some impressive stats: it's torsionally 18.3 percent stiffer and 153 grams lighter than the already light and rigid SL2.

Specs: SRAM Red drivetrain, Zipp wheels, Specialized stems, FSA handlebars, Tacx bottle cages

Team Website: team-saxobank.com

Team: Katusha (KAT)
Bikes: Ridley Noah, Helium, TT: Dean
Info: Katusha's racers will ride either Ridley's sub-900 gram (frame) Helium, or the heavier, but more aerodynamic (Ridley boldly proclaims it, "The Fastest Bike in the World) Noah. Ridley says the sprinters will always be on the Noah and climbing specialists will ride the Helium most of the time: other riders may bounce between the two depending on the specifics of the stage. The one exception is Fillipo Pozzato who rides a Damocles PI because he requires a "very long top tube," according to Ridley. Those riders lucky enough to be current national champions, Pozzato for Italy and Ivanov for Russia, will have custom painted bikes.

Specs: Campagnolo Super Record 11 drivetrain, Campagnolo wheels, Deda bars and stems, Vredestein tires, Prologo Saddles, Elite bottles and cages, Polar computers, Look pedals

Team Website: http://www.katushateam.com

Team: Skil-Shimano (SKS)
Bikes: Koga Full Pro Scandium, Full Pro 2Light TT: Full Pro Time Trial; TT spec changes: PRO disc wheel
Info: Not surprisingly, the Skil-Shimano team is slathered in Shimano products - PRO and Pearl Izumi (who has the dubious honor of being the 'Sports Shoes' sponsor; 'Race Shoes' are Shimano) are owned by Shimano - right down to their drivetrain coated with Shimano Workshop lubricants. Even the team kit and sunglasses are "Shimano" brand: though this is the work of Shimano's aggressive European subsidiary, who also started the PRO brand, and not products developed in, or necessarily endorsed by, Shimano's Sakai City home office. The team races primarily on Koga's Scandium frame, though you may see some riders on the new 2Light carbon frame. The TT frame is a team-only project, and not offered by Koga, despite the companies rich track racing history.

Specs: Road: Shimano Dura Ace drivetrain, Shimano wheels, Shimano pedals, PRO bar, stem seatpost, Selle Italia saddles, Michelin tires, Elite bottles and cages

Team Website: http://www.skilcyclingteam.com/

Team:: Astana Cycling Team
Bikes: Trek 6 Series Madone; Trek Speed Concept TT bike
The all new 2010 6 series Madone was in development before the 2008 model even came to market. It took 70 redesigns before Trek felt they had a bike ready for the Tour. The stock model with SRAM Red is 13.2 puonds including pedals and cages. Trek actually had to find creative ways to add more than 2 pounds to meet minimum UCI standards for weight. Trek improved every aspect of ride quality of the bike for 2010 and the bike Lance and Alberto ride is exactly the same as the one that people can buy in stores.

Specs: SRAM Red Group; Fork: Bontrager Race XXX Lite w/E2 full carbon steerer; OCLV2 carbon frame; Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 wheels

Team Website: http://www.astana-cyclingteam.com/index.html

Team: Bbox-Bouygues Telecom
Bikes: Time RXR Ulteam Module. TT: The RXR Chrono
Info: The RXR Ulteam is based on the RXR Chrono time trial module, winner of the World TT championship in its debut. Thanks to high tech design tools and computer modeling, each tube has been optimized for the benefit of performance and aerodynamics. The Time-patented steerer, combined with an oversize lower bearing (always using Time specific bearing designs), guarantees total security with outstanding resistance to shock. There's a new optimized aerodynamic shape and seat height adjustability of the TransLink seat tube, as well as front derailleur height adjustability with the choice of two attachment positions. Team riders get custom geometry.

Specs: Campagnolo Record group (some riders use the Super Record, like Pierrick Fedrigo), Campagnolo wheels, FSA handlebars, Time stem, Michelin tires, Selle Italia saddles, Elite bottles and cages TT Spec changes: The RXR Crono is not available to the public, Vision handlebar and brakes

Team website: www.equipebouyguestelecom.fr/home.shtml

Team: Quickstep
Bikes: Tarmac SL2 and SL3 for select riders. TT: Transition, TT and new Transition for select riders
Info: This year Specialized had three teams riding the SL2 in the Giro, including Quickstep who will get, in addition to SL2's a few of the new SL3's. SL3 was developed with an all-new manufacturing process called FACT IS which allowed Specialized to save weight yet increase stiffness compared to the 2. Besides the revised FACT IS process the SL3 has hollow dropouts and some other new frame improvements that make it the lightest frame Specialized offers.

Specs: Campagnolo Record 11, Roval wheels, FSA bars and stem, Specialized tires, some riders will have new Specialized saddles, Look pedals, Specialized bottles/cages, Polar computers. TT Spec changes: Roval Deep Star wheels

Team website: www.qsi-cycling.com/en/

Team: Caisse d'Epargne
Bikes: Pinarello Prince FP; Pinarello FM1 Montello time trial
Info: Alejandro Valverde will not take the start of the Tour, but his Caisse d'Epargne teammates will roll off the start line in Monaco aboard the FM1 Montello time trial bike. On the road, they'll use the Prince FP, a three-time winner of Editors Choice for best race bike. Both use Toray 50HM1K high-modulus carbon, and the Prince features external ribs to enhance stiffness.

Specs: Campagnolo Super Record 11 drivetrain brakes and wheels; MOst handlebar and stem; Continental tires; Selle Italia saddle

Team web site: www.cyclisme-caisse-epargne.fr

Team: Cofidis
Bikes: Look 595 Origin and 595 Ultra; Look 596 time trial
Info: Look's 595 frame comes in two versions - the Origin is a more "standard" layup which balances light weight and ride quality against stiffness, while the Ultra is a sprinters' special, maximizing drivetrain stiffness for riders like Leonardo Duque. In the time trials, the riders will use the new 596, which debuted last year at the Tour. Unlike many TT bikes, which tuck the rear wheel in close to the frame, Look puts a distinct gap between the two, contending that wind-tunnel results show that when the wheels are spinning, the gap provides a cleaner exit path for airflow. The novel steering system includes a stem with adjustable height and angle to fine-tune rider position.

Specs: Campagnolo Super Record 11 drivetrain and brakes; FSA handlebar and stem; Fulcrum wheels; Vittoria tires; fi'zi:k saddle TT changes: Vision wheels

Team web site: www.equipe-cofidis.com

Team: Rabobank
Bikes: Giant TCR Advanced SL Team; prototype time trial project
Info: Long sponsored by Colnago, Rabobank made the switch to Giant for 2009, picking up the redesigned TCR Advanced SL and one of the fastest TT bikes in the peloton along the way. Long a Shimano-affiliated team, some Rabobank riders will use a special edition of the TCR Advanced outfitted for the Di2 electronic group with all-internal routing for the wiring and battery pack mounts. The unnamed, prototype TT bike has been in the works for three years, but its revolutionary impact on the sport can be seen in the fact that no fewer than four other bikemakers have now adopted its ultralow, stemless handlebar attachment and external steering assembly.

Specs: Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrain, brakes and wheels; PRO handlebar and stem; Vittoria tires; Selle Italia saddle

Team web site: http://www.rabobank.com/content/about_
us/sponsoring/cycling/

Team: Euskaltel-Euskadi
Bikes: Orbea Orca; Ordu time trial
Info: Look for Euskaltel's riders to shine in the mountains, particularly the Pyrenees, where Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez and his teammates will ride hard in honor of the Basque homeland that also produces their Orbea bicycles. Although boasting a heritage as deep as Bianchi or other iconic brands, Orbea is only widely available in the U.S. the past five years. For the Tour, Euskaltel riders will be aboard the redesigned Orca, which will be introduced for the 2010 model year and feature a BB30 oversize integrated bottom bracket and a steerer tube with an oversize 1 1/2-inch lower bearing.

Specs: Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrain, brakes and wheels; FSA handlebar and stem; Vittoria tires; Selle Italia saddle

Team web site: fundacioneuskadi.com

Team: Garmin-Slipstream
Bikes: Felt F1 SL, AR Team and Z1 R; DA time trial
Info: Garmin riders have access to three different road machines depending on the stage - the standard F1, the slippery aero AR or the Z1, which features more a more upright position for comfort on long days. In the time trials, they'll ride the DA, including possibly a new front end that mounts the handlebar off the top of the steerer tube rather than on a separate stem. Look for it in the Stage 1 opener in Monaco. Some of the team's riders may also use Shimano's electronic Di2 group at times.

Specs: Shimano Dura-Ace drivetrain and brakes; Zipp wheels; 3T handlebar and stem; Vittoria tires; fi'zi:k saddle

Team web site: www.slipstreamsports.com

Team: Française des Jeux
Bike: Lapierre X-lite FDJ Team
Info: The frame is a claimed 850g monocoque carbon (size 52cm). The head tube is tapered (1.5 to 1.125 in.) with an Easton EC90 fork. Construction of the frame: Lapierre says that rather than using air-filled bags inside the layup of the frame (they can wrinkle, creating brittle resin pockets), the X-Lite II frame is molded with silicone mandrels that more exactly shape the frame's interior. Complete bike weight, for a size 52cm, is 14.55 lbs. MSRP on the consumer version (Shimano 7900 Dura-Ace with Shimano 7850 clinchers and Hutchinson tubeless tires): $6,200.

Specs: Shimnao Dura-Ace DI2 component group; 7850-C24-TU tubular wheels, Hutchinson tubular tires, Shimano Pro cockpit.

Team Website: http://www.lapierrebikes.us/lapierre
/team/Francaise-des-Jeux

Team: Lampre
Bikes: Wilier Triestina Cento Uno / Cento Chrono for TT
While Lampre is in the business of making rolled steel, it sponsors a team that rolls fast on Wilier's carbon monocoque frames. Wilier is a lesser-known (in the U.S.), century-old Italian cycling brand well reflected in the team's Italian squad, including current World Champion Alessandro Ballan (look for Ballan to race a custom-painted Cento Uno to reflect this status). Once again Wilier's Cento Uno (new in 2008) will be the standard steed of Lampre riders, who will race on Fulcrum Racing Zero and Racing Speed wheels with carbon rims, but will swap to metal rimmed Fulcrums on foul weather days for stronger braking. Bikes get Ritchey WCS alloy cockpits for safety (vs. carbon), not just in the case of crashes, but because transfer days can potentially involve heavy jostling in team trucks.

Specs: Campagnolo Super Record 11, Ritchey alloy WCS cockpits, Fulcrum Racing Zero/Speed wheels (racing Chrono rear wheel on the Chrono TT bike)

Team Website: http://www.lampre-ngc.com/atleti/index_U.asp

Team: Milram
Bikes: Focus Izalco Team Milram
Info: Focus http://www.focus-bikes.com is a bit of an unknown brand in the U.S., although now has U.S. distribution. The only difference between the bikes the team will roll at the TdF and the $11,900 (!) model Americans can buy is in the wheelset: Consumers get Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR wheels, while the team races on even more exclusive (1,150g; $5,400) Lightweight Standard III carbon tubulars with Continental tires. BTW, Bicycling reviews the Izalco Team Milram in its present (August) issue.

Specs: SRAM Red drivetrain, Fi:zi'k Arione K:IUM saddles, FSA Carbon post and bars, FSA OS 115C stem; Lightweight Standard III wheels with Conti Force / GP Attack tires.

Team Website: http://www.team-milram.com/en/

Team: Liquigas
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix HiMod; Slice HiMod (for TT) Info: The same, brand-new, 2010 SuperSix HiMod that rolled in the Giro (and we preview here) will run in the TdF as well. There will be some spec changes to the FSA cockpit components (bar, stem, seatpost, all likely 2010 rather than 2009) and multiple models of Mavic wheels, some of which may be prototype/future models as well. Riders also choose their own saddles from Fi:zi'k, including the Antares, Arione, and Aliante. Cool fact: Cannondale keeps a stock of unpainted frames to customize in case riders pedal their way into leader/KOM and or other jerseys.

Specs: Campagnolo Super Record 11-Speed; Mavic wheels (many kinds including a prototype aero model on the Slice HiMod TT); Fi:zi'k saddles, FSA cockpit components; SRM / Cannondale Si Hollowgram crankset; Schwalbe tubular tires; Speedplay pedals; Elite cages

Team Website: http://liquigas.cannondale.com