Immediately, 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 journey high quality over aerodynamic developments. The Verticale SLR maintains a basic and refined design, interesting to those that worth conventional aesthetics.
First seen in motion on the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Verticale SLR is predicted 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 crew.
However does this contemporary basic get up towards the technological marvels from the likes of Specialised and Large? Let’s have a look.
Body set weight discount
The brand new Verticale SLR is most intently associated to Wilier’s outgoing 0 SLR race bike, sharing the same silhouette with its predecessor. As a substitute of choosing a drastic exterior redesign, Wilier has targeted on refined but important refinements to the body’s build-up from the within out.
These updates embrace a brand new carbon fiber layup, which has resulted in a frameset that’s almost 10% lighter than the Wilier 0 SLR. It is a case of cautious evolution moderately than radical modifications, however Wilier has actually 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 submit 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 on the market with each 0 and 15mm of saddle setback, and consists of an built-in quantity mount to maintain system weight as little as potential for skilled riders.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
Transfer additional in the direction of the rear of the bike, and weight-saving measures grow to be much more noticeable to the bare eye. Wilier has redesigned the rear derailleur hanger so it’s now 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 during the last decade or so could do not forget that when Cervelo first launched tremendous skinny seat stays on the R5 again in 2008, questions had been requested concerning the power of the frameset – clearly within the fashionable age of superior supplies science, seems may 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 modifications that Groupama FDJ might 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 targeted on climbing, which has resulted in a fractionally extra upright place. Nevertheless, 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 ‘basic geometries’. Medium and L have required no actual modifications, and it is value mentioning that stack top is constant throughout sizes.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
To this point, the brand new geometry appears to be successful 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 snug 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 aren’t any verified aero claims but for the brand new design.
(Picture credit score: Wilier)
Predictably, Wilier has targeted 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 during the last 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 give attention to race geometry.
Pricing and availability
As you may anticipate, 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 larger groupsets.
The vary begins with an Ultegra Di2 construct, with Wilier subsidiary Miche Kleos 36mm wheels which is able to set you again $12,100/£9,000. SRAM Drive AXS builds can be found with the identical wheels, in each energy meter and non-power meter variations.
High 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 Crimson AXS builds.
Wilier can also be releasing a Campagnolo Tremendous Report Wi-fi construct, which is able to hit cabinets with a steep $15,700 price ticket, nonetheless UK pricing and availability are but to be confirmed.
For extra data, go to the Wilier web site.
