New Canyon//SRAM women’s team to ride SRAM eTap wireless groupset in 2016

One of the more exciting news stories recently was the announcement of the new Canyon//SRAM UCI Women’s WorldTour team, with Rapha supplying the team kit.

The team will obviously be riding Canyon bikes, likely either the new Ultimate CF SLX or Aeroad CF SLX, but what groupsets would they use? In photos released on Facebook today, it looks very much like the team will be using SRAM’s brand new eTap wireless groupset.

This is the second UCI WorldTour team to opt for SRAM’s latest groupset. Recently photos revealed that Russian team Katusha is making the switch from Dura-Ace Di2 to SRAM eTap for the 2016 season. With some of the other men’s squads yet to finalise sponsors for next season, could we see any other top teams on SRAM’s wireless groupset.

- First Ride: SRAM Red eTap wireless groupset

SRAM hasn’t rushed its new eTap wireless groupset to market, taking its time and ensuring it has properly tested it with the AG2R team for most of 2015, before officially launching it very recently.

SRAM isn’t as common a sight in the professional peloton as it used to be a few short years ago (Shimano is dominant these days), but could its new eTap groupset help it regain some lost ground? 

The  Canyon//SRAM women’s team will be directed by Ronny Lauke and Beth Duryea with the nine-rider line-up comprising Alena Amialiusik (BLR), Hannah Barnes (GBR), Lisa Brennauer (GER), Elena Cecchini (ITA), Tiffany Cromwell (AUS), Barbara Guarischi (ITA), Mieke Kröger (GER), Alexis Ryan (USA) and Trixi Worrack (GER).

Rapha has agreed on a three-year deal with the team and will supply riders with race clothing from its Souplesse collection.

More on this story soon...