Author: John Dodgin

2026 North Yorkshire Grand Prix, Season Finale

 

One small step for Armstrong, One Giant Leap for Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli.

Tom Armstrong completed a historic season for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli at the final round of the National Road Series in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, claiming the overall title after a campaign characterised by outstanding consistency, race craft and determination.

Armstrong’s season-long success will not come as a surprise to those who have followed his career closely. The talent and potential have always been evident; this year, everything finally came together. The result capped a remarkable day for the squad. Armstrong not only secured the National Road Series crown but also overturned a 13-point deficit to win the season-long Rapha Super League competition. Team-mate Tom Martin finished second overall in the National Road Series standings, while Wheelbase CabTech Castelli’s strength in depth was further underlined by victory in the Overall Team Classification, completing arguably the most successful season in the team’s long racing history.

 

How the Race Unfolded

Armstrong knew attack would be the best form of defence when protecting his series lead and the moment a powerful early move containing many of the day’s key contenders formed Armstrong and teammate Tom Martin both made sure they were in the decisive selection. As the race unfolded across the undulating roads around Ampleforth, the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli pair remained at the sharp end while the chasing groups behind struggled to organise an effective response.

 

The front group repeatedly fragmented and reformed as attack followed attack. Riders came and went, gaps opened and closed, and with every lap the pressure increased. Throughout the chaos Armstrong stayed exactly where he needed to be, attentive to every dangerous move and never far from the front of the action. By the closing stages only the strongest remained and the select group entered the final lap knowing both the race victory and several season-long competitions would be decided within the next few kilometres.

 

On the final rise to the finish line TREK Future Racing rider Sebastian Grindley powered clear from the remaining escapees for an impressive solo victory; attentive until the last pedal stroke Armstrong remained locked in a battle for every point. Crossing the line in fourth place, five seconds behind the podium finishers, securing the result that mattered most. The 18 points Tom gained would prove decisive as Armstrong not only took the National Road Series but also claimed the season-long Rapha Super League title by just five points over Ollie Wood who finished outside the points after a difficult afternoon.

 

‘Big Tom’ Martin and ‘Little Tom’ Armstrong have been perfect teammates over the 2026 season, with the friends working together brilliantly in multiple breakaways including the tactical masterpiece which led to Armstrong’s win at the Lancaster GP earlier in the season. It was great to see Tom Martin’s outstanding consistency throughout the year rewarded with second place overall in the National Road Series standings, giving the team the top two positions.

 

Wheelbase CabTech Castelli also secured the overall team classification, underlining the collective strength that has been evident throughout the season and rewarding decades of commitment from the riders, staff and sponsors. As the team’s title sponsor, Wheelbase has invested heavily in the UK road racing for many years, helping to sustain what is recognised as the longest continuously sponsored road racing team in the United Kingdom. In an era when teams often come and go, the continued presence of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli is a testament to loyalty, camaraderie and a genuine commitment to supporting the racing community.

 

We would like to extend a huge thanks to Team Manager Stu Reid, Race Mechanic Tyla Loftus and the network of volunteers, supporters, friends and family members whose contribution is rarely recognised. They’ve organised logistics, washed kit, fed riders, maintained equipment, travelled thousands of miles and dedicated countless hours for the love of the Wheelbase team. The 2026 road race season belongs to them every bit as much as it belongs to the riders standing on the podium.

 

For Tom Armstrong, his National Road Series win was another significant milestone in an already impressive career. For Wheelbase CabTech Castelli, it represented the culmination of years of commitment, investment and belief. One small step for Armstrong, One Giant Leap for Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli.

 

Photos by James York

Tom photographed with Stu Reid. Photo by SW Pix

For many cyclists, the Trek Domane is THE endurance road bike.

Since its debut over a decade ago it has built a reputation as one of the most comfortable, confidence-inspiring and versatile road bikes available. Originally conceived as a pro race bike capable of taming the brutal cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, the Domane quickly became the go-to choice for amateur cyclists looking for a bike that could comfortably cover huge distances without sacrificing speed.

Five Fast Facts about the all-new 2027 Trek Domane Carbon

 

Now, for 2027, Trek has unveiled an all-new Domane Carbon platform and we’re pleased to see they’ve gone back to basics. It’s lighter, simpler, faster and more versatile than ever. Yes, the new Domane represents a significant rethink of Trek’s endurance bike philosophy. Gone is the complexity of previous generations, replaced by a stripped-back approach that focuses on delivering comfort and performance through intelligent design rather than additional technology. Trek describes it as returning to the roots of endurance riding, creating what they call the ideal lightweight all-road road bike.

 

THE STORY BEHIND THE NEW DOMANE

Trek sat down with existing Domane customers at the start of the design and development process, to gather feedback from riders who had spent a lot of time on the previous versions; they quickly found a surprisingly consistent theme emerging. Customers wanted the bike to be lighter. They wanted a lower entry point into the range, and they wanted a slightly more upright position.

 

There was valuable feedback too, on what they wanted to remain the same. Keep the comfortable geometry, the ability to fit larger tyres, and the confidence-inspiring ride quality. It was super-important to ensure the Domane remained as versatile as previous generations of the bike. That customer feedback became the blueprint for the all-new 2027 Trek Domane Carbon. The result is an endurance road platform that remains unmistakably Domane while feeling considerably more modern and performance-focused than the bike it replaces.

SHAVING SERIOUS WEIGHT

One of the headline changes for the new generation Domane is weight reduction, and for good reason. The designers and engineers have been able to decrease the weight by a significant amount, removing over 300 grams from the frameset compared to the outgoing model, while the lightest complete builds are claimed to be more than 900g lighter overall. This is the lightest production Domane Trek has ever created.

 

Weight has been saved throughout the platform thanks to a completely revised frame and fork design, helping create a bike that feels more responsive under power and more eager when the road starts pointing uphill. Looking at the frame itself, the clean silhouette is immediately noticeable. Unlike some endurance road bikes from other brands, the new Domane looks refreshingly simple.

COMFORT WITHOUT COMPLEXITY

Long-time fans of this endurance road bike will immediately notice one major omission; the IsoSpeed is gone. Over multiple generations of the bike it was a piece of key technology which was at the centre of the Domane story, but Trek believes advances in carbon engineering, frame design, rider fit and tyre technology now allow them to achieve the same goal through a more elegant solution.

 

The new frame has been specifically engineered to deliver controlled vertical compliance while remaining laterally stiff to preserve responsiveness. A redesigned round 27.2mm RSL seatpost also contributes to vibration absorption and rider comfort; in fact, Trek’s testing suggests the new bike maintains comfort levels within five percent of the previous generation despite losing the IsoSpeed system altogether.

BIGGER TYRES, BIGGER POSSIBILITIES

We all know the road riding landscape has changed dramatically over the last few years and many riders are no longer interested in sticking exclusively to perfect tarmac surfaces. Here in the Lake District our best rides often involve neglected back lanes, rough potholed roads, broken surfaces and even the occasional gravel connectors. The new Domane embraces this trend; every model is now built around larger volume all-road tyres, with clearance for rubber up to 40mm wide.

 

The all-new 2027 Domane isn’t a gravel bike, but it’s certainly not limited to smooth roads either, we like to think of it as an ‘all-road bike’. The additional tyre clearance gives riders more grip, increased comfort and the freedom to explore routes that might previously have felt out of bounds on a traditional endurance road bike and for many riders, this versatility could prove to be one of the most appealing aspects of the new platform.

COMFORT STARTS WITH FIT

So, we’ve talked about frame technology and enhanced trye clearance influencing comfort on the bike, but it doesn’t stop there. Trek’s engineers listened to customer feedback and retained the Domane’s endurance-focused geometry, placing the rider in a more relaxed and sustainable position for long days in the saddle. They’ve also introduced an all-new riser handlebar which increases hand position height by 20mm while improving ergonomics across multiple hand positions. Comfort isn’t just about absorbing bumps. It’s about rider position too.

 

A MODERN CLASSIC

Beyond weight, comfort and tyre clearance, the new Domane includes a host of practical features that experienced riders will appreciate. There are integrated mounts for bags, hidden mudguard mounts, a threaded T47 bottom bracket, UDH compatibility, shorter crank lengths and plenty of adaptability for future upgrades. Yet despite all this modern functionality, Trek has carefully avoided turning the Domane into something it isn’t. The bike still looks like a road bike and it still rides like a road bike.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

The all-new 2027 Trek Domane road bike feels less like a radical reinvention and more like a thoughtful refinement of everything riders already loved about the platform. It’s lighter, more versatile, and it’s cleaner in its execution. If your idea of a perfect ride is heading out with no real plan and seeing where the road takes you, the new Domane makes the perfect companion.

The all-new Trek Domane Carbon is available in-store and online at Wheelbase now.

 

TREK Madone SLR 9 SRAM Red XPLR X1 £9,000

 

TREK Domane SLR 9 SRAM Red £9,000

 

 

TREK Domane SLR 7 SRAM Force  £6,700

 

TREK Domane SLR 7 Shimano Ultegra Di2 £6,300

 

TREK Domane SL 7 SRAM Force XPLR £4,750

 

TREK Domane SL 6 SRAM Rival AXS £3,750

 

TREK Domane SL 5 Shimano 105 £2,500

Jens Voigt Rides Stage Two of the 2027 Tour De France with Wheelbase

When we got an email from the TREK marketing team inviting us to join former TREK pro road cyclist Jens Voigt on a ride through the Lake District we jumped at the chance. Last year Jens rode the length of the UK taking on Land’s End to John o’ Groats, stopping off at multiple TREK dealers along the way including Wheelbase Lake District. We were blown away by how friendly and entertaining Jens was; hosting a lunch with him before riding north over Kirkstone Pass and beyond was a pure joy and reflecting on that special experience from just over a year ago we were very keen to get involved in Jens’ latest cycling endeavour.

The biggest bicycle race on the planet comes to the UK in 2027. The Grand Depart of the Tour De France starts in Edinburgh next year leaving Scotland’s capital on July 2^nd with stage one finishing just over the border in Northern England’s Carlisle. Stage 2 starts in Keswick before heading south through the Lakes, passing nearby Wheelbase Lake District in Staveley, before eventually finishing in Liverpool after navigating some of Lancashire’s most demanding climbs. The third and final stage of the Tour De France’s UK deviation sees riders taking on the challenging mountainous roads of Wales with the stage starting in Welshpool and including categorised climbs along the route before finishing in Wales’s capital Cardiff.

Jens Voigt joined by Wheelbase staff, Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riders and friends of the store.

 

With just under a year to go until the Grand Depart Jens Voigt was in the UK to recce each of the three stages to gain insight into what each day would hold in store for the riders taking on the 2027 tour De France. Riding the first three stages in succession Jens would use this experience to inform his television commentary next year when he’ll be on the back of a media motorbike providing first-hand punditry from inside the race.

Jens Voigt was riding the 2nd stage of the 2027 Tour De France from Keswick to Liverpool.

 

After we got that initial email from TREK we quickly pulled together a plan to join Jens and ride alongside him through the Lake District for a portion of Stage 2 from Keswick to Liverpool. We would meet him on the shores of Windermere and chaperone him through the South Lakes before treating him to a well-earned coffee stop at Rivers & Roads in Milnthorpe before Jens and a few of our group would continue with him towards Lancaster and the fearsome climb of Jubilee Tower while the rest of us looped back to Wheelbase Lake District.

After meeting Jens at the lakeside in Windermere we set off down the Lyth Valley towards Milnthorpe.

 

On Friday 7^th of August, with the 200km Edinburgh to Carlisle stage already in his legs, Jens rolled up to the Wheelbase group full of enthusiasm and a little trepidation as he considered the hilly 223km route to Liverpool ahead of him. A group of fifteen or so riders had come together to ride with Jens, including Wheelbase staff from our Lake District and Ilkley stores, several local club riders and Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riders Tom Martin and Mitch McLoughlin. Team Manager Stu Reid jumped in the team car with our photographer Dan Monaghan to help us capture this special ride. Introductions were made and we quickly got organised and started riding, keen not to delay Jens in the early hours of what would be a very long day on the bike.

The group quickly settled into a rhythm and set a comfortable pace to accompany Jens through the Lake District.

 

The rolling roads of the Lyth valley where the perfect setting for a fast tempo ride towards Milnthorpe and the group helped distract Jens from the task ahead with some great on-the-bike-conversation. Voigt gave a great account of his ride through Scotland and confidently predicted a sprint finish for Stage 1 while local cyclists highlighted what was to come later in the ride during Stage 2; suggesting the steep climb of Jubilee Tower going into the Trough of Bowland may form the springboard to a breakaway next year which may well stay clear of the peloton until the finish in Liverpool.

With a long day ahead of him Jens appreciated the distraction of riding in a small bunch and the opportunity for good conversation.

 

On the flatter stretches of road we grabbed the opportunity for a short mid-ride interview with Jens and got some great quotes from the friendly German rider who relayed his own experience of racing and commentating on the Tour De France over the years. It was clear to see his enthusiasm for the 2027 Grand Depart and the first three first stages of the race taking place on UK roads.

Jens and the group enjoyed the smooth roads of the South Lakes.

 

The group headed towards Milnthorpe for a well-timed coffee stop.

 

We soon rolled up to Rivers & Roads in Milnthorpe for a well-timed coffee stop. Despite a tight schedule and a long day ahead of him Jens was keen to spend time with the small group of cyclists off the bike; this was a great opportunity for more chat and a chance for photos with the super-friendly former Tour De France Yellow Jersey wearer.

Jens found time for a mid-ride coffee with us at Rivers & Roads in Milnthorpe.

 

Jens’ shared plenty of entertaining stories about his time as a professional cyclist.

 

Jens continued to entertain the group off the bike with some great tales of his time as a professional road cyclist. He took the time to field questions and gave some great advice and insight to our young Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team riders. After plenty of great coffee and cake it was time for Jens to jump back on his bike and head south toward Lancaster, joined by a small number of riders who would help guide him through the city and onto the quiet roads leading into the imposing Trough of Bowland.

Tom Martin from the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team enjoyed talking about the UK road racing scene with Jens.

 

Jens went on to finish the gruelling Stage 2 to Liverpool and completed his challenge the following day by taking on the demanding third stage, conquering the mountainous route through Wales to finish in Cardiff on Saturday evening. A HUGE thank you to Jens Voigt for inviting us to join him on his ride through the Lake District; we’re buzzing about the 2027 Tour De France coming to the UK and are looking forward to maybe spotting Jens on the back of the media motorbike as the pros ride through the Lake District next summer.

A huge thank you to Jens Voigt for inviting us to join him on his recce of Stage 2 of the 2027 Tour De France.

 

All photos by Dan Monaghan

 

Pink Park Slayer!

Small Rider. Big Mountains. Zero Compromises.

Built for a week of alpine bike park laps and mountain adventures, this custom Nukeproof Scout proves that great bikes aren’t defined by rider size. Drenched in Toxic Barbie Pink highlights and packed with premium components from RockShox, Hope, Burgtec, Reserve and SRAM, this is a bike built to charge hard, ride fast and stand out in a sea of black bikes. Playful in colour, serious in intent, and ready for everything the Alps can throw at it.

The Pink Park Slayer has been built to handle the demands of a typical alpine bike park.

 

Custom Nukeproof Scout Specification:

• Frame: Nukeproof Scout 275 Alloy
• Fork: Rock Shox Pike Ultimate CHARGER 3.1 RC2 -27.5” 37 Offset C2: Gloss Black 140mm
• Crank: Hope Evo 155mm
• Chainring: Hope R22 Spiderless Boost 28T Black
• Bottom Bracket: Hope Stainless Black 30mm
• Rear Cassette: Sram T-Type Eagle 12 speed 10-52T
• Rear Derailleur: Sram Eagle 90 T-Type 12-Speed
• Chain: Sram GX T-Type Eagle 12-Speed
• Shifter: Sram Eagle 90 Trigger 12-Speed
• Handlebar: Burgtec Ride Wide Alloy Enduro 35mm Clamp, 30mm Rise
• Stem: Burgtec Enduro Mk3, Toxic Barbir Pink, 35mm reach, 35mm clamp
• Stem Spacers: Burgtec Toxic Barbie Pink
• Stem Top Cap: Burgtec Toxic Barbie Pink
• Grips: Burgtec Bartender Pro, Super Soft, Josh Bryceland Signature, Black
• Saddle: Burgtec Cloud Boost Nebula
• Dropper Seatpost: OneUp V3
• Dropper Lever: OneUp V3
• Brakes: Sram Motive Silver-Black Ano
• Brake Rotors: Sram HS2 180mm 6-bolt rear, HS2 200mm 6-bolt front
• Wheelset: Reserve 30 HD 27.5” rims, i9 hubs
• Front Tyre: Continental Kryptotal Enduro Soft Compound, 27.5”x2.40”
• Rear Tyre: Continental Kryptotal Enduro Soft Compound, 27.5”x2.40”
• Tubeless Valves: Muc-Off 44mm, Pink V2
• Pedals: Burgtec Penthouse Flat Mk5, Toxic Barbie Pink

 

This Nukeproof Scout is adorned with some very special components including Hope cranks and Burgtec pedals in Toxic Barbie Pink.

 

The starting point for the Pink Park Slayer custom bike was the tough, light and agile alloy Scout frame.

 

Cut-down Burgtec Ride alloy Enduro handlebars with Bartender Pro grips will keep our young shredder in control when things get sketchy.

 

Components or jewellery? Some of the pink Burgtec components are so pretty it’s a close call.

 

Continuing the Pink Park Slayer theme is the super-cool Burgtec Cloud Boost Nebula saddle.

 

Bombproof carbon 27.5″ Reserve 30 HD rims are fitted with Continental Kryptotal Enduro tyres for ultimate control.

 

The Rock Shox Pike Ultimate CHARGER suspension fork with 140mm of travel can handle challenging alpine trails and gnarly bike parks.

 

This custom-build Scout features a nicely spec’d cockpit to accommodate our young rider’s dimensions.

 

Burgtec Penthouse Flat Mk5 pedals Toxic Barbie Pink complete the look.

 

Bike-park-ready, the Nukeproof Scout with an 140mm travel Rock Shox Pike Ultimate CHARGER fork is ready to drop in.

 

The Nukeproof Scout is the ultimate Pink Park Slayer!

EF Education-Oatly take on the Tour De France Femmes Avec Zwift

The 2026 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is underway and is already delivering a compelling chapter in women’s cycling. EF Education-Oatly arrive with one of the most exciting line-ups in the peloton including the current Road Race World Champion, Canadian Magdeleine Vallieres and Noemi Rüegg, coming back from injury and starting the race in her home country of Switzerland. The team is renowned for racing with confidence and flair, and we’re excited to see how they fare over nine days of super-exciting racing.

The EF Eductation First-Oatly team will compete on the roads of Switzerland and France onboard the Cannondale SuperSix EVO.

 

World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres’ combination of climbing ability, racing intelligence and determination makes her a genuine contender on the race’s defining stages. Ongoing safety concerns around large scale wildfires may yet effect the race route but at the time of writing we’re most excited about the ascent of the iconic Mont Ventoux. Few climbs in world cycling carry the same reputation, and Vallieres’ ability to maintain a relentless tempo on long, demanding gradients could prove decisive as the race reaches its most dramatic moments.

How will Magdeleine Vallieres perform on the iconic Mount Ventoux?

 

Marginal gains, efficiency and confidence all play a crucial role when the road points skyward, and this is where EF Education-Oatly’s equipment suppliers become an important part of the story. The team’s Cannondale SuperSix EVO offers the blend of lightweight performance, responsiveness and aerodynamic efficiency demanded by modern stage racing.

Follow the fortunes of the EF Education First-Oatly team at the Tour De France Femme Avec Zwift 2026

 

Watch the team’s daily Vlog at the Tour France Femmes Avec Zwift 2026.

 

Join us in following EF Education-Oatly through every stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and make sure you tune into their daily YouTube Vlog for all the latest action and behind the scenes insight. Should Vallieres fulfil her potential on the slopes of Mont Ventoux and beyond, she’ll do so onboard her SuperSix EVO adorned with the Rainbow Stripes of World Champion. For those of you inspired by the performances of cycling’s elite, the Cannondale SuperSix EVO range represents a direct connection to the bikes being raced at the very highest level of the sport.

 

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 1 SL Was £8,995 NOW £6,995

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 Was £6,995 NOW £5,499

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2 Was £5,995 NOW £4,950

 

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 4 Was £5,495 NOW £4699

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 5 Was £4,495 NOW £3,799

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2 Was £6,250 NOW £3,799

 

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 Was £4000 NOW £2699

Staveley. Tuesday 7th July

The final round of the 2026 Wheelbase Lakeland Lanequest series brought the curtain down on another fantastic summer of evening adventure riding, with riders gathering at Wheelbase and Wilf’s Café in Staveley for the sixth and final event of the series.

Over six weeks, Lanequest has once again proved why it remains one of the most enjoyable and inclusive cycling events in the South Lakes. From experienced racers chasing every available checkpoint to families, e-bike riders, friends riding in pairs and those simply looking for an excuse to explore some quiet Lakeland lanes, the series truly offers something for everyone. As always, route choice, teamwork and navigation mattered just as much as fitness and speed.

A strong field lined up for the final round and the competition at the sharp end was as close as ever. In the Solo Men category, Tom Gibbs took the win with an impressive score of 288, narrowly ahead of Matt Bond on 285, helping to cement his position at the top of the overall series standings.

 

More Than Just a Competition

One of the things we love most about Lanequest is the variety of riders it attracts. On any given evening you’ll find seasoned club cyclists, mountain bikers, gravel riders, e-bikers, juniors, families and complete newcomers all sharing the same map and the same challenge. Everybody rides the same two-hour format, but each participant can tailor the evening to suit their own goals, whether that’s topping the leaderboard or simply discovering roads and trails they’ve never ridden before.

The atmosphere around Event HQ in Staveley perfectly reflected that spirit, with riders swapping stories, comparing route choices and enjoying plenty of post-ride chat after returning from the surrounding lanes and bridleways.

Thank You.

Wheelbase is proud to support the Lakeland Lanequest series alongside the volunteers who make these events possible. A huge thank you goes to everyone who has ridden, helped, supported the charity partners or encouraged others to get involved throughout the summer.

We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year. If you’ve never tried a Lanequest before, make 2027 the year you give it a go – you might just discover your new favourite cycling event. See you on the start line next season!

 

Photos by Jumpy James

Full Photo Gallery: HERE

 

Here at Wheelbase we love road bikes that refuse to be pigeonholed.

Over the last few years road cycling has become increasingly specialised. Need the lightest climbing bike possible? There’s a bike for that. Chasing every aerodynamic gain? There’s a bike for that too. Want something comfortable enough for all-day adventures? Choose and endurance road bike, and so on..

But what if you want one bike that can genuinely do it all?

That’s exactly the question Cervélo set out to answer when they launched the original Soloist. Positioned neatly between the featherweight R5 and the uncompromisingly aero S5, the Soloist quickly became the bike of choice for riders who simply wanted a fast race bike they could ride anywhere, on any road and in any situation.

Today Cervélo officially launch the all-new MY27 Soloist and while at first glance it might almost look like the same outgoing bike, dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a machine that’s significantly faster, lighter and more capable than before.

Watch now.

 

What’s that disappearing up the road? It’s the all-new Cervélo Soloist.

This fast all-rounder just got faster. The design brief to create a bike which is both lighter and more aerodynamic has always been one of the toughest challenges in road bike design and traditionally, adding aerodynamic tube shaping means adding more material, which in turn means more weight. As we’ve seen time and time again, chasing one performance target often means compromising another.

For the MY27 Soloist Cervélo’s engineers weren’t interested in compromises. Their goal was simple; make the bike significantly faster, reduce overall system weight and maintain the balanced handling characteristics which made the Soloist so popular in the first place, and the numbers they’ve achieved are seriously impressive:

• 8.6 watts faster.
• 267 grams lighter as a complete system.
• Just 6.85kg out of the box for the flagship model.

 

Aerodynamics without the weight penalty.

Like most modern performance road bikes, the Soloist’s aerodynamic remodeling began with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software. This allowed Cervélo’s engineers to identify areas where airflow could be improved without simply making every tube larger and heavier. The result is a chassis that looks noticeably more purposeful than the previous Soloist while simultaneously reducing weight.

Key changes for improved aerodynamics include:

• A deeper head tube.
• Deeper fork legs.
• Improved bottom bracket and rear wheel interaction.
• Refined overall frame surfacing.
• Improved cable routing integration.

The outcome of all that development is an impressive 8.6 watt reduction in aerodynamic drag over the outgoing Soloist. As we’ve seen with some of the best modern road bikes, meaningful aerodynamic gains aren’t necessarily about making one part dramatically different. Often, it’s the cumulative effect of dozens of small refinements working together and that’s exactly what’s happened here.

The 2027 Soloist is more aero.

 

 

Faster AND lighter? Apparently yes.

One of the most interesting aspects of the new Soloist is how Cervélo have managed to reduce weight despite increasing the aerodynamic surface area of both the frame and fork. The frame gains 3% more surface area and the fork gains 8% more, yet the frame and fork are both lighter than the outgoing Soloist; in fact the flagship SRAM RED-equipped Soloist tips the scales at just 6.85kg complete, putting it right on the UCI weight limit straight out of the box.

Rider and machine – faster together.

Another standout feature of the MY27 Soloist is its new HB18 one-piece integrated cockpit. Fully integrated cockpits are quickly becoming standard equipment on premium race bikes, but Cervélo haven’t simply added one for aesthetic reasons. The HB18 bar and stem system is:

• 5.8 watts faster than the previous cockpit.
• 134 grams lighter.
• Cleaner aerodynamically.

 

Fully integrated for improved cable management.

Importantly, Cervélo also recognise that bike fit matters. A fast cockpit is only useful if it fits the rider.  That’s why every Soloist purchaser can request an alternative handlebar and stem size combination free of charge within the first 60 days of ownership; now that’s a genuinely rider-focused approach which deserves a mention.

Aero bottles which actually make sense.

At first glance, aerodynamic water bottles don’t sound particularly exciting, but stick with us, this might be one of the cleverest details on the entire bike. We all know countless hours are spent optimising airflow around a frame, only for riders to immediately bolt two round bottles into the airflow and undo some of those gains. The new Soloist includes specially developed aero bottles and cages which reduce drag by a further 4.3 watts compared with conventional round bottles, and if you prefer, the cages still accept conventional round bottles.

Geometry built for racing.

One of the reasons riders have always loved the Soloist is its versatile ‘real world’ balance. It is:

• Fast enough to race.
• Comfortable enough to train on every day.
• Confident enough to ride all day long.

The new Soloist shares its fit geometry with Cervélo’s R5 race bike creating a familiar position for riders looking for high-performance road handling. Updates include:

• Size-specific seat tube angles.
• Lower bottom bracket position.
• Refined handling characteristics.
• Improved stability with modern wider tyres.

 

Fast on the climbs. Fast on the flats. Fast everywhere.

The new Soloist boasts future-ready performance; with modern road bikes continuing to evolve around wider tyres and improved real-world capability this versatile road bike embraces that trend with clearance for tyres up to 36mm wide. That’s a substantial increase over traditional race bike standards and opens the door to:

• More comfort.
• More grip.
• Better control.
• Greater versatility across mixed road surfaces.

Race-ready from day one.

Another significant shift with the new Soloist is Cervélo’s approach to specification. Every complete bike now comes equipped with:

• Carbon wheelsets.
• Integrated cockpit.
• Power meter.
• Premium race-focused build kits.

Whether you’re lining up for your first road race, chasing personal bests on your local climb or riding hard in the Tuesday night chain gang, the Soloist doesn’t need immediate upgrades straight out of the box.

 

The takeaway.

The all-new Cervélo Soloist represents a significant evolution of what was already one of the most versatile performance road bikes available. Our takeaway highlights include:

• 8.6 watts faster than the previous Soloist.
• Up to 267 grams lighter as a complete system.
• 6.85kg flagship build weight.
• New integrated HB18 cockpit.
• Aero bottle system delivering additional drag savings.
• R5-inspired fit geometry.
• 36mm tyre clearance.
• Carbon wheels and power meters across the range.

For riders who don’t want to choose between a climbing bike and an aero bike, between race day and training day, or between performance and practicality, the new Soloist makes a compelling argument that maybe you don’t need to choose at all. Fast, lightweight, beautifully integrated and more versatile than ever before — the all-new Soloist looks set to continue its reputation as one of the best all-round race bikes in cycling. Look out for the all-new Cervélo Soloist arriving at Wheelbase online and in-store soon..

 

Soloist Red £9,000

Soloist Force £7,000

Soloist Ultegra Di2 £7,000

Soloist Rival £5,500

 

We’ve put together a full Cervelo Soloist Model Breakdown Guide, where we discuss which model has which features. You can read that here.

Tom Armstrong wins the Lancaster Grand Prix!

Watch the race video and bonus post-race interview HERE.

 

National Road Series Round 4

For Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli there are wins, and then there are wins that mean a little bit more.

On Sunday, Tom Armstrong took his biggest victory on UK roads so far, winning the Lancaster Grand Prix, one of the UK’s premier road races and a round of the National Road Series – the highest level of domestic road racing in Britain. The victory marked Tom’s first ever National Road Series win and came on roads that we know better than most.

Whilst not quite on our doorstep, Lancaster has always felt like a home race for the team. The rolling roads on the edge of the Forest of Bowland are only a short trip from Wheelbase’s Lake District headquarters, and the event attracts plenty of support from friends, family, sponsors and local cycling fans. That made the result even more special.

Tactical teamwork

In hot temperatures the race covered around 150 kilometres of relentlessly challenging terrain and was raced from start to finish at an uncompromising pace. Attacks flew from the gun and the field was quickly whittled down as riders fought to establish themselves in the decisive moves.

Wheelbase CabTech Castelli were active throughout. New signing Adam Hartley featured in the early attacks, while Tom Martin was a constant presence at the front as the race began to split apart on the demanding Quernmore circuit.

For Armstrong, it wasn’t quite so straightforward.

The National Road Series leader found himself having to repeatedly chase back moves as the race exploded. Time and again he was forced to bridge across gaps as the strongest riders emerged at the head of the race.

The race was fought out on the tough roads around Lancaster and the Forest of Bowland.

As the laps ticked down, a select group formed at the front as the race headed towards the famous uphill finish in Williamson Park beneath the Ashton Memorial.

Tom Martin had worked tirelessly to aid Armstrong in the final miles; he constantly shut down riders jumping off the front and drove the pace to prevent further attacks. Drilling the pace one last time up the last climb towards Williamson Park Tom Martin swung off and left Tom Armstrong to enter the park well positioned for the sprint. After more than three and a half hours of racing Armstrong opened up his sprint and distanced his rivals to power clear and take a hugely significant solo victory.

The result comes just days after Tom’s win at the Guildford Grand Prix and continues what has been a remarkable season for our defending National Circuit Series champion.

Tom celebrated his first National Road Series victory with the team.

The success was about more than just one rider.

Wheelbase CabTech Castelli also claimed the team prize on the day, while Tom Martin’s aggressive racing throughout earned him victory in the Climber’s Competition. Together, the team’s performance reinforced its position at the top of the National Road Series standings.

For us, this was a particularly emotional result.

We have spent years building towards moments like this. From local regional races through to national competition, everyone involved with the team has worked tirelessly to establish Wheelbase CabTech Castelli at the very highest level of British cycling. To see a local rider achieve his first National Road Series victory in what feels like our home race is incredibly rewarding for the whole team and for the team’s title sponsor Wheelbase.

Victories in races of this calibre are never guaranteed and should never be taken for granted. This one will live long in the memory.

Tom Armstrong takes the Lancaster Grand Prix victory and extends his lead in the National Road Series.

All photos by Dan Monaghan

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Race Results:

• Tom Armstrong 1st
• Tom Martin 7th
• Dexter Leeming-Sykes 9th
• Aaron King 14th
• Adam Hartley 30th

National Circuit Series Round 4

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s 2025 National Circuit Series defending champion Tom Armstrong got the monkey off his back at the Guildford Open Grand Prix, by winning the sprint from a breakaway group of four riders.

Tom doesn’t like to stand out in a crowd.

 

Last season Tom had secured the overall series win without taking victory in any individual round, in a show of consistency which reflected his years of experience of racing fast, technical crit circuits. This year he was keen to get a win under his belt and Guildford was the race he could finally put his hands up in the air.

Tom and Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli teammate Joe Griffiths.

 

Armstrong, who took fourth place at the same race last year found himself in the move of the night forming part of a small but collaborative break of four riders who took advantage of the short, technical nature of the course stay away from the chasing pack.

Tom’s superior bike handling skills paid back handsomely on such a technical course.

 

A fantastic bike handler, honed from his early years as a cyclocross racer, this technical circuit with multiple tight turns and short, sharp climbs was brilliantly suited to Armstrong. Those skills combined with his light frame and explosive riding style played to his advantage with Tom jumping away from his breakaway partners on the final climb, crossing the line clear of the others with enough time to celebrate.

Tom crossed the line with a victory celebration imitating getting the monkey off his back.

 

Tom Armstrong on the podium, celebrating his win.

 

Despite fielding a reduced team of three riders at Guildford the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team came away with a strong hold on the overall team standings with Armstrong’s win along with Aaron King in 11^th place and Joe Griffiths in 27^th also giving them the team prize on the night.

The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli continue to lead the team standings.

 

All race photos by Mark James

We love this time of the year! Just a few days ahead of the Tour De France; the next three weeks are packed full of promise as the roads of France write their captivating story in real time. As well as the human story about to unfold it’s also a time to nerd out at all the new ‘Tour Tech’ about to go public for the first time as the world’s leading road cycling brands choose Le Grand Depart to reveal their latest products to a global audience.

Launched just ahead of the 2026 Tour de France, the all-new ORBEA ORCA AERO has officially broken cover! Eagle-eyed cycling fans will no doubt already have spotted it being piloted by the Lotto Intermarché pro team at races including the recent Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes where it was put to work by one of the most successful teams in professional road cycling.

With the world’s biggest road race just days away, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. A brand-new aero platform, developed at the highest level of the sport and refined under race conditions, is now out in the open — and it’s an absolute weapon.

What’s that slicing through the air? It’s the all-new ORCA AERO.

Aero bikes are having their moment, both in the pro peloton and more generally amongst us mere mortal amateur road cyclists. Speed is nothing new in the aero bike category — but redefining how speed is achieved? That’s where things get interesting.

The all-new ORCA AERO has been developed under a philosophy the ORBEA designers are calling ‘Aero 360º’ — a relentless pursuit of performance that looks beyond traditional wind tunnel figures and focuses on real-world speed.

The design and engineering team have not just focused on reducing drag in a straight line but instead explored every angle so that the finished bike optimises performance in the constantly changing real world out on the road.

A different approach to Aero.

Traditionally, aero bikes have been designed with a focus on head-on wind resistance — the classic 0º yaw angle. But out on the open road, things are rarely that simple. The ORCA AERO has been engineered to perform across a wide range of yaw angles, meaning it maintains aerodynamic efficiency whether you’re riding into a headwind, dealing with crosswinds, or hammering through exposed sections of road in unpredictable conditions. Put simply — it’s faster where it matters.

Rider and machine – faster together.

One of the standout aspects of this new platform is its specific focus on the bike-rider system. Rather than treating the bike as an isolated object, the designers have looked at how the rider interacts with the machine and related that to:

• Stability at speed
• Consistent rider positioning
• Efficient power transfer

All of this contributes to reducing wasted energy and maximising forward momentum. The ORCA AERO’s increased bottom bracket drop enhances stability, helping keep the rider planted and composed — particularly at high speed or in crosswinds — while also reducing subtle side-to-side movements that can create unwanted drag. The result? A bike that doesn’t just cut through the air — it helps you stay locked in and efficient while doing it.

Real-World gains, not just wind tunnel numbers.

It’s one thing to create a fast aero bike in controlled conditions… it’s another entirely to replicate that performance on open roads and in pro racing scenarios. That’s why ORBEA followed a layered testing process using a mix of:

• Advanced computer simulations
• Controlled lab testing
• Real-world validation at the highest level of racing

That last point is significant. The ORCA AERO has been extensively tested AND raced by some of the most talented pro cyclists in the world, with Lotto Intermarché really putting the bike through its paces in the heat of professional competition.

Future-ready performance.

Another big shift with the all-new ORCA AERO is ORBEA’s forward-thinking approach to modern race setups. With tyre trends evolving rapidly and seemingly growing ever wider, this bike has been designed to stay ahead of the curve with:

• Generous tyre clearance (optimised for 29–35c tyres)
• Compatibility with evolving performance standards
• A geometry setup that balances aero efficiency with real-world handling

Why have pro cyclists and amateur cyclists alike moved over to wider tyres? Well, they mean more grip, more comfort and more control — without sacrificing speed. It’s clear that this isn’t just a bike built for today’s racing… it’s built for what’s coming next.

The aero feeling — free speed, delivered.

Let’s be honest — there’s something addictive about riding a great aero bike. That sensation of speed. That feeling of power translating directly into forward motion.  Those “free watts” you can genuinely feel working in your favour. The all-new ORCA AERO takes that sensation and amplifies it. By combining refined aerodynamics with improved stability and rider integration, it delivers a ride experience that feels:

• Faster
• Smoother
• More efficient

Whether you’re sprinting, pushing into a headwind, or holding pace in a fast-moving group — this is a bike that gives back.

Designed for the biggest stage in cycling.

It’s impossible to ignore the timing of this launch. With the 2026 Tour de France just around the corner the ORCA AERO is about to hit the sport’s biggest stage in full view of the world. From launch day to race day in a matter of days — it doesn’t get much better than that!

The takeaway.

The all-new ORCA AERO represents a significant step forward in aero road bike design:

• True real-world aerodynamics (not just wind tunnel gains)
• A fully integrated rider + bike performance system
• Enhanced stability and efficiency at speed
• Future-ready tyre clearance and versatility
• Developed and tested at World Tour level

Fast, refined, and purpose-built for modern racing — this is aero, evolved.

With the global launch of the ORBEA ORCA AERO now official and the Tour de France fast approaching, we can’t wait to see this bike in action on the biggest stage in cycling.

The all-new ORCA AERO will be available at Wheelbase — more details, full specs and availability will be coming soon…