ONES TO WATCH

It’s set to be another major year for road bike launches in 2023. Here are four contenders displaying the latest tech and innovations

- Warren Rossiter, Ashley Quinlan, Simon von Bromley

The bikes 

Cervélo Soloist Ultegra Di2

£6,800

Trek Domane SLR 7 eTap Gen 4 P1

£10,150

Canyon Ultimate CFR Di2

£10,399

Giant Propel Advanced SL O

£11,499

Need to know

All four of these top new road bikes for 2023 show off some impressive new design and technology...

AS WE USHER IN A NEW YEAR

we have high hopes for new models and equipment, such as Shimano's more cost-effective 105 Di2. There are new wheels, tyres and tech on the horizon too. 

For this month's bike test, we've picked four exciting new road bikes and given them a closer look. Alongside updates to current favourites such as Giant's groundbreaking Propel aero bike, Canyon's flyweight allrounder the Ultimate, and Trek's classics focused endurance bike the Domane, we also have Cervélo revitalising its classic Soloist as a ride that brings aero gains to real-world riders like us.

01 Going solo

Cervélo has revived the Soloist from the original that debuted 20 years ago and inspired the whole aero-road bike genre. The Soloist was a legendary design for Cervélo and the new bike brings the brand's extensive aerodynamic design knowledge and wraps it up in a bike described by Cervélo as an aerodynamic race bike that's fast to ride yet easy to live with.

This new model is aimed at amateur racers and riders alike. That's reflected in the specifications of the range, which tops out with this Ultegra Di2-equipped model and starts with a mechanical Shimano 105 edition.

02 A new Domane