In the present day, Wilier introduced the discharge of the all-new Verticale SLR race bike, engineered primarily for climbing, and boasting a notably mild 658-gram body weight.
Traditionalists could respect Wilier’s dedication to its 118-year historical past, delivering a race bike that emphasizes low weight and trip high quality over aerodynamic developments. The Verticale SLR maintains a traditional and refined design, interesting to those that worth conventional aesthetics.
First seen in motion on the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Verticale SLR is anticipated to be the weapon of selection for the difficult climbing phases on this 12 months’s Tour de France for riders like Lenny Martinez and the Groupama-FDJ workforce.
However does this contemporary traditional arise in opposition to the technological marvels from the likes of Specialised and Big? Let’s have a look.
Body set weight discount
The brand new Verticale SLR is most carefully associated to Wilier’s outgoing 0 SLR race bike, sharing an analogous silhouette with its predecessor. As a substitute of choosing a drastic exterior redesign, Wilier has centered on refined but important refinements to the body’s build-up from the within out.
These updates embody a brand new carbon fiber layup, which has resulted in a frameset that’s practically 10% lighter than the Wilier 0 SLR. It is a case of cautious evolution relatively than radical adjustments, however Wilier has definitely made the Verticale aggressive with top-tier climbing bikes from different manufacturers.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
The primary space Wilier sought to drop weight from was the seat put up clamp space. The brand new mechanism now fastens diagonally down from the rear of the bike, making adjustment simpler and permitting for a small weight saving within the {hardware}.
Wilier has additionally shaved 10 grams off of the seatpost, which is offered with each 0 and 15mm of saddle setback, and contains an built-in quantity mount to maintain system weight as little as potential for skilled riders.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
Transfer additional in direction of the rear of the bike, and weight-saving measures grow to be way more noticeable to the bare eye. Wilier has redesigned the rear derailleur hanger so it’s not integral to the body. This has enabled a small weight saving, alongside wider chainset compatability, giving extra alternatives for rear derailleur mounting choices.
Then there’s the rear dropouts – slender is an understatement. These of you who’ve watched bike design evolve over the past decade or so could keep in mind that when Cervelo first launched tremendous skinny seat stays on the R5 again in 2008, questions have been requested in regards to the power of the frameset – clearly within the fashionable age of superior supplies science, seems might be deceiving.
The brand new dropouts, in addition to being extremely slight, have been reshaped, which Wilier says improves reliability by creating extra space between the chain and the dropouts, excellent news for any wheel adjustments that Groupama FDJ may need to endure at this 12 months’s Tour.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
New race geometry
Wilier has opted to tweak body geometry on the brand new Verticale in order that it is much more centered on climbing, which has resulted in a fractionally extra upright place. Nonetheless, attain has been decreased barely on XS and S sizes, and elevated a contact on XL and XXL-sized frames in comparison with the model’s ‘traditional geometries’. Medium and L have required no actual adjustments, and it is price mentioning that stack peak is constant throughout sizes.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
So far, the brand new geometry appears to be a success with the Groupama FDJ riders too, with David Gaudu saying the Verticale can be his “trusted companion” all through the 2024 Tour de France.
New built-in cockpit
Wilier has additionally redesigned its built-in handlebar and stem to make the Verticale extra comfy in what the model calls C0 and C1 positions, in addition to lowering the general system weight.
The brand new bar is a carbon monocoque design stated to weigh round 310 grams, making it aggressive with the likes of the Roval Rapide Aero cockpit – although there are not any verified aero claims but for the brand new design.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
Predictably, Wilier has centered on flattening the handlebar when the bike is in a climbing place. This flatter handlebar tilt angle ought to enhance consolation on steeper gradients, making a extra pure driving place.
Aerodynamics has been thought-about within the revised form of the handlebar drops. Wilier, like many different manufacturers over the past couple of years, has launched 30mm of flare from the hoods to the underside of the drops.
Handlebars can be found in both a 370mm (middle to middle on the hoods) or 390mm setup, with a transparent concentrate on race geometry.
Pricing and availability
As you would possibly count on, Wilier’s new Italian tremendous bike comes with a price ticket to match. Simply seven fashions of the brand new bike are being launched, all of that are constructed up with second-tier or increased groupsets.
The vary begins with an Ultegra Di2 construct, with Wilier subsidiary Miche Kleos 36mm wheels which can set you again $12,100/£9,000. SRAM Pressure AXS builds can be found with the identical wheels, in each energy meter and non-power meter variations.
Prime spec fashions come specced with Miche’s range-topping Kleos RD 36mm climbing wheels, and can value $15,300/£12,500 for a Dura-Ace Di2, and SRAM Pink AXS builds.
Wilier can be releasing a Campagnolo Tremendous Document Wi-fi construct, which can hit cabinets with a steep $15,700 price ticket, nonetheless UK pricing and availability are but to be confirmed.
For extra info, go to the Wilier web site.
