Wilier has launched the brand new Verticale SLR, which it says is its lightest bike ever and which replaces the Zero SLR mannequin. The claimed full frameset weight, together with fork, bar/stem, seatpost, thru-axles and different {hardware} is 1,651g, as towards the Zero SLR’s 1,798g, which represents just below 10 p.c weight discount.
The Verticale SLR is the light-weight bike that Wilier’s sponsored Groupama-FDJ and Astana Qazaqstan WorldTour groups will use for mountain phases on the upcoming Tour de France. It’s already been used to good impact by Groupama-FDJ’s Lenny Martinez, who gained the 2024 Mercan’Tour Basic driving a prototype model of the Verticale SLR.
Martinez says: “The Verticale is a superb bike, particularly for me as I’m a climber. It’s lighter than the Filante SLR and responds very well when the street begins to climb. As quickly as you stand on the pedals it responds very well, as we noticed on the Mercan’Tour Basic, which I gained with this bike nonetheless in its prototype model.”
Now we have been testing a Verticale SLR for a number of weeks and you may learn our in-depth evaluation right here.
Marginal losses
The primary sources of the brand new bike’s weight reduction, when in comparison with the Zero SLR, are the body, the fork and the bar/stem combo. Wilier claims a 648g body weight and a 296g fork weight, down from 766g and 320g respectively. Our measurement XL check bike was precisely 6.8kg, some anticipate UCI unlawful weights for smaller sizes.
The brand new body makes use of a mixture of three Toray carbon fibre grades, Toray 800, Toray 1100 and M46JB together with the top-spec T1100. Within the fork, the fibres are twisted to enhance the administration of stresses and the fork blades are uneven to compensate for the totally different stresses from the disc brakes.
There’s a brand new seatpost clamping mechanism that tightens from below the highest tube reasonably than from above it. This ends in a triangular-shaped junction between the highest tube and seat tube, reasonably than the Zero SLR’s clamp housing, which we in comparison with a rogue Lego brick glued to the body once we tracked the Verticale down on the latest Critérium du Dauphiné.
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The seatpost has been re-engineered to avoid wasting weight too. At 152g, it’s 10g lighter than the Zero SLR’s. It additionally consists of two bolts which can be utilized to connect a race quantity or Wilier’s specially-designed rear gentle.
Wilier has modified the entrance derailleur hanger design. It will probably now be mounted in two positions. This accommodates the 50/34t and 52/36t cranksets utilized by mere mortals however permits the professionals to suit a crankset with a 56t chainring.
The body’s geometry is nearly unchanged from the Zero SLR, with the identical stack, though the attain decreases from the Zero SLR on smaller frames and will increase on bigger ones.
Lighter one-piece handlebar
Turning to the brand new carbon monocoque V Bar bar/stem, Wilier claims a weight of 310g for a 100x40mm bar measurement as towards 339g for the Zero SLR. The brand new bar design features a flare on the hoods, which locations the arms 30mm nearer collectively when driving on them than within the drops.
It’s an more and more widespread aero design function, seen for instance on the Trek Madone. Wilier has additionally adjusted the bar geometry from the Zero SLR, with revised attain and drop and a unique angle to the tops. A revised clamping mechanism is designed to distribute stresses on the steerer and stem extra evenly and there’s up to date hose routing, making substitute simpler. The handlebar can be suitable with different Wilier premium bikes.
Wilier gives the V Bar in six sizes: 90mm or 100mm stem size with 400mm width on the drops and 110mm, 120mm, 130mm and 150mm stem size with 420mm width on the drops.
Specs and costs
Wilier will promote the Verticale SLR in seven construct specs, in addition to frameset-only. All the complete specs are geared up with wheels from Miche, which Wilier now owns: both the Kleos 36 or Kleos RD 36.
There are six body sizes provided, from XS to XXL, whereas the Verticale SLR could be purchased in 4 colors: black with copper accents, Velvet Pink, Groupama-FDJ workforce reproduction and a brand new Hulk Inexperienced, which will likely be Astana Qazaqstan’s climbing bike on the upcoming Tour de France.
The Wilier Verticale SLR frameset is priced at £5,500 / $6,900 / €5,800.
Full bikes begin at £9,000 / $12,000 / €9,900) for the Ultegra Di2 spec. The highest UK spec comes with SRAM Pink AXS with an influence meter and is priced at £12,500 ($15,300, €13,000).
There’s a Campagnolo Tremendous File WRL spec bike which prices $15,700 within the US and €13,400 in Europe, however this mannequin will not be in the stores within the UK.
