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We are extremely proud to launch the Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli road racing team for 2022. After two tricky seasons of Covid-19 impacted competition we’re back for our 15th year and are looking forward to lots of fast, frenetic racing all over the UK. Despite certain logistical difficulties around the pandemic 2021 turned out to be our most successful season yet with one of our team riders taking an impressive 3rd place at our local elite race – the grueling Lancaster GP, part of the national-level Premier Calendar race series. Elsewhere we saw one of our longest-serving Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli racers take the gold medal and Rainbow Jersey of World Masters Cyclocross Champion as well as one of our youngest riders taking a senior win at the National Trophy Cyclocross series before finishing on the podium in the overall series standings.
With the impact of Covid-19 on racing now a thing of the past we head into 2022 with renewed confidence and more passion than ever to support our young squad of racers in their pursuit of racing success throughout a busy season of road racing. Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli is now the longest-running team in the British road racing peloton; we’ve always classed ourselves as a stepping stone team, helping our young riders gain valuable racing experience in the UK’s most challenging races. Over the years we’ve seen a number of our team riders gain national exposure before going on to bigger international teams at the highest levels of professional road racing and last year we celebrated local Cumbrian lad and former Wheelbase team rider Mark Donovan completing his first Tour De France.
Watch our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team launch video…
We enjoyed a successful team launch event on a sunny early-spring day at Wheelbase HQ in the Lake District, with our riders travelling from Scotland and the north of England, coming together for the first time this year to get to know each other better and to familiarise themselves with their new highly-spec’d Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc Ultegra Di2 race bikes before getting decked out with their brand new 2022 Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team kit.
We kicked the day off with a team briefing hosted by Team Manager Toby Dalton and Directeur Sportif Stu Reid which covered a brief history of the team and our ambitions for 2022; our young team will be doing the new British Cycling Under 23 National Road Series as well as a mix of National A races and we’ll also be making an appearance at the televised Tour Series too. We’ll also take on the National Crit Series with its elbow to elbow city-centre racing and on a more regional level our racers will tune up their race fitness by taking on their local circuit races and time trials.
When it comes to building experience and developing some solid race craft the young riders can tap into with wealth of knowledge and expertise from their road captain Davie Lines; with over twenty years of racing experience Davie shows no signs of slowing down on the bike and will be at the sharp end keeping the team organised and effective in their racing. Off the bike Stu Reid will act as our Directeur Sportif, driving the team car and making mid-race decisions that benefit the whole team; he too can call on years of road racing experience and read a race like the very best DS’s in the business.
During the ride which also encompassed a team photoshoot and plenty of filming for our launch video the personalities of our young team very quickly started to shine through. As well as reporting on their race results throughout the season we look forward to getting to know each rider a little more and will be checking in with them in the coming months to find out more about each of them.
Wheelbase would like to publicly thank our generous sponsors for their continued support which makes all of the racing and team organisation behind the scenes possible, contributing to the successful development of our young riders by providing financial support as well as suppling us the very best bikes and kit available. BIG thanks to Cannondale bikes, Cabtech Bespoke Interiors, Castelli cycling clothing, Spatzwear extreme weather cycling gear, Giro helmets, P.V. Dobson car dealership and 11 Degrees urban fashion brand.
UNITE. FIGHT. BELIEVE!
The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team launch was a chance for the riders to get together for the first time this year.
Some familiar faces and some new recruits; this year’s team features a healthy mix of experience and raw passion for racing.
Team Manager Toby Dalton and Directeur Sportif Stu Reid introduce the launch day and run through the year ahead.
Our squad listen to the team’s plans for the year, identifying key targets throughout the season.
Riders are kitted out with Castelli cycling gear; they’re going to look great this year thanks to our long-term clothing sponsor.
Callum Thornley tries his new helmet on for size. Thank you Giro for supplying us with these hot-looking helmets that match our team kit.
Wheelbase marketing man Johnny Dodgin interviews Logan Maclean for our short team launch video produced by DMTWO Media
Fraser Martin answers some quick-fire questions.
After a bit of faffing we finally get the team out for their group ride.
Callum was excited to get out on some of the more grippy roads of the South Lakes.
The squad knows how to ride smoothly as a group; note the upcoming pothole being pointed out mid-pack.
Team Manager Toby Dalton has put an enormous amount of energy into running our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team over the past 15 years.
Special thanks to P.V. Dobson for supporting us with our Volvo team car for this season; give us a wave is you see us out on the road!
We were blessed with some crackin’ early spring weather for our team launch in the Lake District.
Our dedicated DS Stu Reid was already spotting some good signs of early season form within the pack.
Despite the steep climbs the conversation was high with plenty of banter on the ride.
Logan Maclean had just returned from a two month training camp in Spain and was displaying great form going into early season.
Team captain Davie Lines (right) not only gets amazing results on the road but also acts as a fantastic mentor for our younger riders.
We’re blessed here at Wheelbase HQ with great roads and stunning landscapes like this only 10 minutes from our Lake District store.
We’re stoked to welcome our first international team rider Matty Fox from Australia.
Davie Lines chips off the front, showing the young lads how it’s done.
The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team get a feel for their race-ready Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc Ultegra Di2 road bikes.
Fraser’s feet are kept warm and dry thanks to these team-issue Spatz Legalz 2 overshoes from one of our faithful sponsors Spatzwear.
Callum Thornley captures his hot new Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc Ultegra Di2 ‘for the Gram’.
Lightweight, responsive and aerodynamic the SuperSix EVO is a great all-rounder race bike.
Callum fine tunes the fit of his new Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc equipped with Shimano’s UltegraDi2 electronic groupset.
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc Ultegra Di2 Team Bike
Full Specification:
- Frame: SuperSix Evo Carbon, integrated cable routing w/ Switchplate, 12×142 Speed Release thru-axle, SAVE, PF30a, flat mount disc, integrated seat binder
- Fork: SuperSix Evo Carbon, SAVE, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Speed Release thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerer and 55mm offset (44-54cm), 1-1/8″ to 1-3/8” steerer and 45mm offset (56-62cm)
- Headset: Integrated, 1-1/8″ – 1-1/4″ (44-54cm), 1-1/8″ – 1-3/8″ (56-62cm)
- Bottom Bracket: Cannondale Alloy PressFit30
- Chain: Shimano Ultegra 8100, 12-speed
- Crank: Shimano Ultegra R8100, 52/36 for 12-speed
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150, braze-on
- Rear Cassette: Shimano Ultegra R8100, 11-30, 12-speed
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150
- Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170, 12-speed
- Brake Levers: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170
- Brakes: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm MT800 rotors
- Hubs: (F) HollowGram KNØT, sealed bearing 12x100mm centerlock / (R) HollowGram KNØT, 12x142mm centerlock w/ DT Swiss 350 internals
- Rims: HollowGram 45 KNØT, Carbon, 20h front, 24h rear, 45mm deep, 21mm IW, tubeless ready
- Spokes: HollowGram, 2.0/1.8/2.0, straight-pull
- Wheel Sensor: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black, 700 x 25c, reflective strip
- Bar Tape: Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm
- Handlebar: HollowGram SAVE SystemBar, Carbon, 8 deg. pitch adjust
- Saddle: Fizik Tempo Argo R5, 150mm width, S-Alloy rails
- Seatpost: HollowGram 27 SL KNØT, Carbon, 2 bolt clamp, 330mm, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 15mm offset (51-62cm)
- Stem: HollowGram KNØT, Alloy w/ cable cover, -6°
The Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli team are brilliantly equipped thanks to our sponsors and are ready for a full season of road racing in the UK.
Written by Johnny Dodgin
Photos by James Vincent
Video by DMTWO Media
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