The silver gloss carbon-fibre of the frames that carried MTN-Qhubeka riders during the 2015 season has switched to a gloss black. And the Cervélo S5 frames have a few special inclusions now that the team is called Dimension Data as it prepares to make its debut as part of the UCI WorldTour.

Nathan Haas, Cameron Meyer and Mark Renshaw were the first from the team to race the new bikes.

– Photos: Nathan Haas

 

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The Australian trio got their new clothing, supplied by Oakley, just in time for the national championships and they did what they could on the course in Buninyong: Meyer finished second, Haas fourth.

“I think they’re the two worst places you can get in a bike race,” Haas said the morning after the race. “Second and fourth: the first loser, and the first guy not on the podium.

“We can look at it like that or we can look at it like we were actually the two next-best bike riders in the race that actually didn’t have the team and the numbers to be able to control it.

“Cam Meyer and myself are very happy with what we did but to walk away from that race seeing the tactics play out like they did, all we can say is that the heads of state did not play their cards right. It’s kind of disappointing.”

There are a few days now until the first round of the WorldTour, the Santos Tour Down Under and the trio will make their way to Adelaide and the annual stint in the Hilton Hotel.

Meyer has won the title before (2011) and Haas believes he’s got the sort of form where he can chase good results for the South African team.

Expect to see a lot more from the team with the new title sponsor throughout the 2016 season but, in the meantime here is a brief look at the Cervélo that Haas raced on in the nationals…

 

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Nathan’s notes

  • Ceramic Speed jockey wheels 17-tooth with special custom cage
  • Enve climbing wheels with custom carbon hubs (1,032g for the set), with ceramic speed bearings
  • Rotor in 2, double sided power cranks
  • Ceramic speed special ‘optimised’ coated chain
  • All new to the peloton, first ever outing… Australian national championships