What Bikes Are Pro Triathletes Using?

Something to salivate over with what bikes are Pro Triathletes using.  Giving us all something to smile about I have compiled a list of the best triathlon bikes money can buy.  This is very much a wish list rather than a best buy table.  All of the bikes are top end and needing deep pockets.  

List of what bikes Pro Triathletes are using

1. Specialized S-Works Shiv Disc Limited Edition 
2. Cervelo PX Series
3. Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd  
4. Pinarello Bolide TR+ 
5. Ceepo Viper R8050 Ultegra Di2 TT Bike 2020
6. Trek Speed Concept 
7. Scott Plasma 5
8. Felt IA 
9. BMC TM01 

Specialized S-Works Shiv Disc Ltd Edition

Specialized

S-Works Shiv Disc Limited Edition

FRAME	Specialized S-Works FACT 11r carbon, FACT IS construction, crosswind-optimized airfoils, OSBB, Fit System, Integrated Nutrition and Hydration Fuelcells, disc brakes
FORK	Specialized S-Works FACT 11r carbon, integrated Fit System, flat-mount disc, 12x100mm thru-axle
BOTTOM BRACKET	OSBB, CeramicSpeed bearings
STEM	Integrated
HANDLEBAR	Specialized Shiv Aerobar, carbon, variable stack adjust
FRONT BRAKE	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170, hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKE	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170, hydraulic disc
BRAKE LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170, hydraulic disc
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150, braze-on
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150, 11-speed
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9170
CASSETTE	Shimano Dura-Ace 9100, 11-speed, 11-28t
CRANKSET	Specialized S-Works Power Cranks, dual-sided power measurement, +/- 1.5% accuracy
CHAINRINGS	52/36T
FRONT WHEEL	Roval CLX 64 Disc rim, Roval AFD1, Center Lock™, CeramicSpeed bearings, 21h
REAR WHEEL	Roval CLX 64 Disc, carbon, tubeless-ready, Win Tunnel Engineered, 64mm depth, DT Swiss 240 internals, CeramicSpeed bearings, 24h
FRONT TYRE	Specialized Turbo Cotton, 320 TPI, 700x24mm
REAR TYRE	Specialized Turbo Cotton, 320 TPI, 700x24mm
SADDLE	Specialized Sitero Pro, carbon rails
SEATPOST	Specialized Shiv Carbon, 0mm offset

Who rode this at Kona? Braden Currie

Bike Split time

4hrs 16mins 18 secs

If you are a budding pro triathlete and interested in your training data read about Vo2 max data.  Why it is important for triathletes and a key data point for pro triathlete training.  

Cervelo PX Series Dura-Ace DI2 Disc

Cervelo

Cervelo PX-Series Dura-Ace Di2 Disc 

FRAME	Cervélo PX, carbon fibre
FORK	Cervélo All-Carbon, PX Fork
BOTTOM BRACKET	CeramicSpeed bearings
STEM	Integrated
HANDLEBAR	Cervélo P5X Basebar with Cervélo ski bend extensions
FRONT BRAKE	Shimano Dura-Ace 9170 hydraulic disc
REAR BRAKE	Shimano Dura-Ace 9170 hydraulic disc
BRAKE LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace 9180
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150, 11-speed
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9150, 11-speed
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano Dura Ace Di2 9160
CASSETTE	Shimano Dura-Ace CS-R9100, 11-30 11-speed
CRANKSET	Shimano Dura-Ace 9100
CHAINRINGS	52/36T
FRONT WHEEL	DT Swiss ARC 1100 62mm carbon clincher
WHEEL	DT Swiss ARC 1100 80mm carbon clincher
FRONT TYRE	Vittoria Corsa Speed TLR G2.0 25c, clincher
REAR TYRE	Vittoria Corsa Speed TLR G2.0 25c, clincher
SADDLE	ISM PS01
SEATPOST	Cervélo Carbon, SP21

Who ride this at Kona? Ben Hoffman

Bike Split time

4 hrs 24 mins 01 secs

Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd

Canyon

Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd 

FRAME	Canyon Speedmax CF SLX carbon fibre
FORK	Canyon F32 CF carbon fibre
BOTTOM BRACKET	Shimano Pressfit BB92
STEM	Canyon V19 AL
HANDLEBAR	Canyon HB0048 Basebar Flat
FRONT BRAKE	Canyon B11-16 TT Front
REAR BRAKE	Canyon B12-16 TT Rear
BRAKE LEVERS	Canyon
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150 SS
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9160 TT 11s
CASSETTE	Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 11-25 11s
CRANKSET	Shimano Dura-Ace R9100
CHAINRINGS	52/36T
FRONT WHEEL	Zipp 858 NSW
WHEEL	Zipp 858 NSW
FRONT TYRE	Continental Grand Prix 5000 / Attack 23 mm
REAR TYRE	Continental Grand Prix 5000 / Attack 25 mm
SADDLE	Fizik Mistica
SEATPOST	Canyon S31 TRI CF

Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Jan Frodeno

Bike Split time

4 hrs 16 mins 02 secs

Power ratings from meters give critical data but what is normalized power?  Read our article explaining what normalized power is and how it is calculated.  

Pinarello Bolide TR+

Pinarello

Bolide TR+  Dura-Ace DI2 Disc

FRAME	Pinarello Bolide TR+ carbon Torayca T1100G UD with NANOALLOY technology
FORK	Pinarello Bolide TR+ carbon Torayca T1100G UD with NANOALLOY technology
BOTTOM BRACKET	Ceramic Sealed
STEM	Pinarello Bolide TT Flat
HANDLEBAR	Pinarello Bolide TT Flat
FRONT BRAKE	Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9170 hydraulic disc 160mm
REAR BRAKE	Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9170 hydraulic disc 140mm
BRAKE LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150-SS 11-speed
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9150
CASSETTE	Shimano Dura-Ace R9100 11-speed 11-28t
CRANKSET	Shimano Dura-Ace R9100
CHAINRINGS	53/39T
FRONT WHEEL	N/A
WHEEL	N/A
FRONT TYRE	N/A
REAR TYRE	N/A
SADDLE	Selle Italia Iron
SEATPOST	Pinarello UD carbon aero straight

Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Cameron Wurf

Bike Split time

4 hrs 14 mins 44 secs

Ceepo Viper R8050 Ultegra Di2 TT Bike

Ceepo

Viper R8050 Ultegra Di2 

FRAME	Ceepo Carbon Fibre
FORK	Ceepo Carbon Fibre
BOTTOM BRACKET	Ceramic Sealed
STEM	Integrated
HANDLEBAR	Vision Trimax Full Carbon J-Bend Aerobar
FRONT BRAKE	Tektro R531
REAR BRAKE	Tektro R541
BRAKE LEVERS	Shimano Ultegra
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8050
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8050-SS
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano R671 Di2
CASSETTE	Shimano Ultegra R8000
CRANKSET	Shimano Ultegra R8000
CHAINRINGS	53/39T
FRONT WHEEL	Fulcrum R400
REAR WHEEL	Fulcrum R400
FRONT TYRE	Continental Grand Sport Race 25mm
REAR TYRE	Continental Grand Sport Race 25mm
SADDLE	Prologo Zero-Tri
SEATPOST	Ceepo Carbon Aero

Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Bart Aernouts

Bike Split time

4 hrs 19 mins 47 secs

Trek Speed Concept

Trek

Speed Concept 

FRAME	500 Series OCLV Carbon, KVF (Kammtail Virtual Foil) tube shape
FORK	SC full foil carbon
BOTTOM BRACKET	Trek BB90
STEM	Bontrager Speed Concept
HANDLEBAR	Bontrager Speed Concept KVF aero bar
FRONT BRAKE	Bontrager Speed Limit integrated brakes
REAR BRAKE	Bontrager Speed Limit integrated brakes
BRAKE LEVERS	Bontrager Race Lite aero
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Ultegra R8000
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Ultegra R8000
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace
CASSETTE	Shimano Ultegra R8000, 11-28, 11-speed
CRANKSET	Shimano Ultegra R8000
CHAINRINGS	50/34T
FRONT WHEEL	Bontrager Aeolus Comp, OCLV Carbon
REAR WHEEL	Bontrager Aeolus Comp, OCLV Carbon
FRONT TYRE	Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite
REAR TYRE	Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite
SADDLE	Bontrager Hilo Comp
SEATPOST	Bontrager Speed Concept Race Lite

Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Timothy O'Donnell

Bike Split time

4 hrs 18 mins 11 secs

Scott Plasma 5

Scott 

Plasma 5 

FRAME	HMX Carbon Mainframe, HMX Carbon fork, compatible for Di2 and mech. Shifting
FORK	HMX Carbon fork
BOTTOM BRACKET	N/A
STEM	Plasma 5 stem
HANDLEBAR	Plasma 5 handlebar / aerobar,
FRONT BRAKE	Plasma 5 front brake
REAR BRAKE	N/A
BRAKE LEVERS	N/A
FRONT DERAILLEUR	N/A
REAR DERAILLEUR	N/A
SHIFT LEVERS	N/A
CASSETTE	N/A
CRANKSET	N/A
CHAINRINGS	N/A
FRONT WHEEL	N/A
REAR WHEEL	N/A
FRONT TYRE	N/A
REAR TYRE	N/A
SADDLE	N/A
SEATPOST	Plasma HMX seatpost

Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Sebastian Kienle

Bike Split time

4 hrs 15 mins 04 secs

Felt IA

Felt

IA FRD Disc 

FRAME	Felt Integrated Aero Tri Disc UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme carbon fibre
FORK	Felt Dagger Disc UHC Ultimate + TeXtreme carbon fiber monocoque construction
BOTTOM BRACKET	CeramicSpeed BSA threaded
STEM	Felt Dagger Integrated
HANDLEBAR	Devox Dagger UHC Ultimate + Nano base bar with Devox ƒ-Bend carbon fiber 3-position extensions
FRONT BRAKE	Shimano BR-R9170
REAR BRAKE	Shimano BR-R9170
BRAKE LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace BR-R9170 TT/Tri hydraulic
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 Di2 braze-on
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Dura-Ace R9150 Di2 11-speed short cage
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9160 TT/Tri 11-speed
CASSETTE	Shimano Dura-Ace, 11-28T
CRANKSET	Shimano Dura-Ace R9100
CHAINRINGS	52/36T
FRONT WHEEL	Zipp 454 NSW Disc carbon front
REAR WHEEL	Zipp 858 NSW Disc carbon rear
FRONT TYRE	Continental Grand Sport Race folding
REAR TYRE	Continental Grand Sport Race folding
SADDLE	ISM PS1.0 Ti
SEATPOST	Felt VariMount Aero Aero Tri UHC Advanced carbon fibre

Who ride this at Kona? Philipp Koutny

Bike Split time

4 hrs 15 mins 14 secs

BMC TM01

BMC

TM01 

FRAME	BMC Timemachine 01 Disc, aerodynamic 01 Premium Carbon tubing
FORK	BMC Aero Premium Carbon Disc, Hinge Design
BOTTOM BRACKET	PF86 bottom bracket
STEM	BMC Flat Cockpit
HANDLEBAR	Devox Dagger UHC Ultimate + Nano base bar with Devox ƒ-Bend carbon fiber 3-position extensions
FRONT BRAKE	SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
REAR BRAKE	SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
BRAKE LEVERS	SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
FRONT DERAILLEUR	SRAM Force eTap AXS
REAR DERAILLEUR	SRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed
SHIFT LEVERS	SRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed
CASSETTE	SRAM Force XG-1270, 10-28T
CRANKSET	SRAM Force AXS
CHAINRINGS	48/35T
FRONT WHEEL	DT Swiss ARC 1650 DICUT DB Carbon
REAR WHEEL	DT Swiss ARC 1650 DICUT DB Carbon
FRONT TYRE	Vittoria Corsa, 25mm
REAR TYRE	Vittoria Corsa, 25mm
SADDLE	Fizik Mistica
SEATPOST	BMC aero post

Who ride this at Ironman Kona? Chris Leiferman

Bike Split time

4 hrs 24 mins 20 secs

Pro Triathlete Bikes FAQ

What are triathlon bikes?

Triathlon bikes put simply are bikes used by triathletes racing in triathlons of varying distances.  It is not necessary to use a triathlon bike to compete in a triathlon and you are able to use road bikes as an alternative.  The thinking behind a triathlon bike is to enable a triathlete to complete the bike leg of a race and begin to run with enough juice left in their legs to reach the finish line.  Being able to transition from cycling to running without impact is key to triathlon success.   

Why are triathlon bikes different?

Triathlon bikes are profiled with an aerodynamic shape designed to minimise the footprint of the front of the bike.  The frame features a more upright seat tube to permit the rider to sit further forwards effectively over the bottom bracket.  The handlebars include aero bars to allow the rider to minimise resistance and ride in a more horizontal tuck position. 

What is the difference between a triathlon bike and a road bike?

Answering this is easiest using a picture to accompany any written details.  

The seat tube on a triathlon bike is typically between 76 and 78 degrees.  That is a  steeper than most road bikes that tend to be around 72 degrees.  

The result is a more compact bike in terms of length lower slung to the ground.  

Why are triathlon bikes so expensive?

Ok so our list of triathlon bikes are very expensive options. You don’t need to spend this level of money on a triathlon bike with plenty around for a fraction of this. 

Compared to equivalent specced road bikes, triathlon bikes in fact are comparable in terms of price.  Yes you really can spend thousands on road bikes as well as triathlon bikes.  Triathlon bikes don’t have any low-end models with them starting at prices above comparable low-end road bikes which is why they appear more expensive.  It means you can buy a road bike for a much lower starting price. 

If you are looking for something more affordable check out our 2024 list of road bikes for under £1500.