You'd expect a team like Sky, whose mantra is "marginal gains," to look for every possible advantage down to the smallest equipment detail. That's why the team opts for Elite's new Custom Race Plus Water Bottle Cage, which combines the original Custom Race's durable, reinforced nylon body with a more aerodynamic, lighter profile. It's not as lightweight as flashy carbon bottles but, as Sky's preference indicates, some items warrant a few extra grams in order to increase reliability. A professional's tools are expected to make that pro's trade easier. The Custom Race Plus does so with easier insertion and extraction courtesy of an elastomer bridge that connects either arm of the cage to facilitate getting a bottle in and hold it securely once it's there. The band stretches while you're pushing or pulling the bottle through the cage, but it contracts in order to maintain a snug hold over chip seal and manhole covers when you're not.