Enve bikes join pro peloton with Team TotalEnergies riding the Melee in 2024

Best known for its carbon wheels, the US brand Enve returned to the pro peloton this year as the wheel and handlebar sponsor for UAE Team Emirates and in 2024 it will be the fully-fledged bike sponsor of Team TotalEnergies. 

Following Peter Sagan's retirement from professional road cycling, Specialized parted ways with Team TotalEnergies at the end of the season. Enve has now stepped in as the team's bike sponsor, with their Melee race bike. 

In 2022, the Melee was added to Enve's lineup alongside their Custom Road bike as the brand's first non-custom race bike. It's optimised for aerodynamic efficiency, featuring Kamm-tailed tube shapes and full front-end integration, with a frameset retailing at £5,500. 

Enve claims a frame weight of 850g (+/-2%, 56cm, painted, no hardware) and says that the Melee's geometry and handling are optimised for tyres from 27mm to 32mm wide. Unusually, it can take tyres up to 35mm wide, suggesting more versatility than most other road bikes. 

> Best road bike wheels 2024

The team will also use the SES line of wheels, which includes the 2.3, 3.4, 4.5, and 6.7, providing options for lightweight climbing wheels and deep-section aero wheels, catering to various cycling conditions. 

Riders will also choose between one-piece or two-piece handlebars, including the SES Aero Road Bar and SES AR Bar, both of which retail at £440. 

Enve designs and manufactures 100% of their rims, one-piece handlebars, and the Custom Road Bike in their Utah, USA, facility.

> Best road bike handlebars 2024

Team TotalEnergies Manager Jean-René Bernaudeau said, “We already knew their wheels, defined as the best in the world, and it made us very curious. October was full in discussions with their engineers at the Team headquarters. Our technicians and riders were impressed by the responsiveness of Enve. The tests carried out by our riders were more than positive and everyone, unanimously, recognised the very high technology of the bikes."

It's worth noting that Enve currently doesn't have a time trial bike in its lineup, which initially raised questions over what the TotalEnergies riders would use for time trials; however, Enve has now confirmed on social media that the team will use "what they have left over from last season" (i.e. the Specialized Shiv) because "as of now [Enve] are not developing a TT bike." 

Enve will continue its partnership with UAE Team Emirates, providing the SES line of wheels and SES Aero One-Piece Bars. Additionally, Team Polti Kometa, led by Ivan Basso and Alberto Contador, will remain on Enve wheels and components for the 2024 season. 

www.enve.com