It’s not about the bike, somebody once said. But you wouldn’t think that from the sheer amount of development and time that is spent on ensuring the bikes are the pinnacle of engineering and design. The Tour de France represents a huge marketing potential and is a chance for the bike manufacturers to show off and try and out-do each other.

In our first instalment of Tour de France team bikes, we take a look at the bikes of some of the biggest players in the race. It’s interesting to note that all the bikes being ridden in the Tour differ very little from those we can all buy from our local bike shop – given enough money.

Astana – Trek

The Trek Madone 6.9 Pro is the team’s bike of choice and will be fitted with SRAM RED components plus Bontrager wheels and finishing kit. Expect some eye-catching special paintjobs for Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador. This is one of the few bikes out there that has been ridden to success in every one of the three week stage races.

A new TT bike has been in development but although information is thin on the ground thus far we expect a flurry of photos and words once the Prologue around Monaco gets going.

Cervelo TestTeam – Cervelo

The Cervelo TestTeam squad will be aboard the Cervelo S3 in the newly liveried finish revealed this week, with the exception of Carlos Sastre who favours the R3-SL, presumably to give him an edge in the mountains.

All bikes will be fitted with Shimano Dura-Ace, Zipp wheels, 3T bars, stems and seat posts and they’ll all be using the new Rotor 3D cranks, but we’ll have to wait and see whether they’ll all be on Rotor chainrings.

For time trialling the mighty looking P4 should get a proper airing.

Columbia-HTC – Scott

Scott’s super light and super stiff Addict, one of the lightest carbon production frames available, will power Mark Cavendish and his team mates. The frame uses a unique IMP (Integrated Molding Process) technology and an integrated seatmast. And to save even more weight the frame does away with the usual decorative top layer of carbon, with carbon drop outs and front mech hanger for additional weight savings

Lampre-NGC – Wilier

Lead by Alessandro Ballan, the Lampre team will enjoy the services of the Cento Uno. The frame is stunning to look at, and backing up the looks there are some modern features such as the integrated bottom bracket to save weight and increase stiffness and an integrated seatmast. Campagnolo Super Record will be the groupset of choice with Ritchey supplying the finishing kit.

Quickstep – Specialized

It’s the venerable Tarmac SL2 for the team, but with the US company rumoured to be launching an SL3, then expect to see several riders putting in some testing miles on the new model. The SL2 has won its fair share of races and its competition credentials are well earned.

The other Specialized-riding team on the roster, Saxo Bank, have with Fabian Cancellara been putting in development and race miles on an all new TT bike. The new design, rumoured to be named the Shiv, adopts a totally new design to the current Transition. It’s likely Quickstep will have access to this bike too for the race around Monaco.

Garmin-Slipsteam – Felt

Garmin riders will have a choice between the lightweight F1 SL and the aerodynamic AR, each of which will suit the flatter stages and mountains nicely, hopefully giving the riders the edge. Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 takes care of shifting and braking, with Ritchey taking care of stem, handlebars and seatposts. Expect Zipp wheels and PowerTap hubs all round, and Garmin’s Edge 705 GPS computer keeping track of all their data output.

Felt will supply the impressive looking DA, an all-carbon aero-profiled bike. Up front is a bayonet/hinge steerer tube that increases the slipperiness of the front end, with internal cable routing and chainstay-mounted rear brake.

Silence-Lotto – Canyon

Cadel Evan’s team have switched from Ridley to German brand Canyon for 2009, and will ride the company’s Ultimate CF Team. The frame should meet the demands of the riders with such features as a ‘Double walled hollow bottom bracket shell’, ‘Maximus Seat tube’, ‘Optimised tube diameters and laminate configurations’ and an ‘i-Lock headset’. Sounds good.

Campagnolo Record, Mavic wheels and Ritchey components will adorn the bikes.

Rabobank – Giant

The brand-new-for-2009 Giant TCR Advanced SL will be used by the Rabobank team. It’s a bike that has changed substantially since the last model, with an all-new carbon lay-up around a massive 80mm downtube, tapered 1.5in head tube lower race, trapezoidal top tube and 86mm wide BB shell with press-fit bearings.

For the two time trials on the Tour, the as-yet unreleased Giant TT bike will undoubtedly be brought out to play, a bike which it seems has sparked several imitations since its first public sighting.

Saxo Bank – Specialized

Like Quickstep, Saxo Bank will employ the Specialized Tarmac SL2 to hopefully put one of the Schleck brothers into the yellow jersey. All bikes will be fitted with SRAM RED components. Specialized’s own carbon crankset and Zipp wheels will be pressed into service.

Specialized has been busy behind the scenes designing an all-new time trial bike – apparently called the Shiv – which we’ve already seen Fabian Cancellara putting to great use already.

Liquigas – Cannondale

RCUK recently unveiled the new Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod which has been in development this season. It’s already been raced plenty by the team: Franco Pellizotti finished third in the Giro d’Italia aboard his. What makes the bike different to its predecessor is the lighter weight, to the tune of 150g, but also an increase in stiffness – Cannondale claim a 17% increase in the bottom bracket. All small differences which the pros will appreciate during the three week race.

The Slice will handle the team’s time trial ambitions.