Team Lotto-Dstny spotted with new Ridley bike at the Dauphiné

Team Lotto-Dstny, and specifically Maxim van Gils has been spotted at the Critérium du Dauphiné on what looks to be a new prototype Ridley bike ahead of stage one. The new bike is marked with UCI prototype stickers and features a matte black frame with chrome Ridley logos. We have also spotted a new BMC prototype bike at the Dauphine, as it seems manufacturers are rapidly gearing up to roll out new equipment in the run up to and during the Tour de France. 

The Lotto-Dstny team have the Noah FAST aero bike and the lighter weight Helium to choose from. Aside from these models Ridley also manufactures the Fenix Endurance bike. This new prototype looks to clearly have different frame tubing profiles compared to the Noah FAST aero bike and could be a blend of features from a few different models in the Ridley line, perhaps replacing an existing model or bringing something new to the table. 

Equipment wise, the bike build looks to be identical to the other team bikes, with the same Deda integrated handlebars and stem, Dura-Ace groupset, bling gold KMC chains and DT Swiss and Vittoria tyre and wheel combinations. 

The above photo provides an interesting comparison between the teams existing Noah FAST aero bike and the prototype model. The new bike looks to have a different seat stay / seat tube join with a slightly less aero profile and slightly less seat stay drop. 

The headtube is a slightly different shape too, and the top tube also seems to be more horizontal, though this could just be the camera angle. Perhaps this is a bit like the differences between the Specialized Venge and Tarmac, with Ridley streamlining the two models into just one bike. 

The Prototype belonged to Maxim Van Gils, and given a race number is attached it’s safe to say this bike will see action. Perhaps the whole team will be using the new bike come the Tour de France, where the UCI will roll out it’s new equipment registration rules this year.