Cervélo presents its all-purpose bike within its range. Indeed, if the S5 and P5 models are dedicated to pure speed on less rugged profiles, the R5 must be efficient in montagwhether uphill or downhill, without being a hindrance on the more rolling sections.
Photos: Cervélo
As the Canadian brand reminds us, the new version of its flagship frame "has only one mission: to reach the summit, as quickly as possible. But it is rarely the only climb of the day. And while a race is generally not won on a descent, it can be lost. It must be just as efficient on the climb as on the descent, or even during an intermediate sprint. If the weight and rigidity have varied over the years, the handling and stability on the descent of the R5 are always present. The proof is on the ground, the new R5 has already won!"
The recipe for the new R5
The new frame is 130g lighter than the previous model, or 16% less. It weighs just 703g, and the new fork only 329g, bringing the weight of the frameset to just over a kilo. The weight reduction has also been made on the components: the handlebar and stem are 30g and 14g lighter respectively, and the seatpost is 20g lighter on the scale. And while aerodynamics are not the number one priority of the R1 as it is with an S5 or a P5, integrating the hoses and electric drivetrains reduces aero drag by 5g, or a gain of around 25 watts. In addition to being even lighter, the new R2,5 is also faster.
The proof on the ground
The previous R5 could have a slight flaw in a slightly too present rigidity which could favor great climbing qualities to the detriment of comfort. The majority of the riders of the Jumbo Visma team felt that the bikes became more and more uncomfortable over the weeks of a Grand Tour. The challenge therefore focused on reducing rigidity.
Cervélo engineers had already discovered that a specific ratio of head tube stiffness to bottom bracket stiffness was the magic formula for ride quality, but this had never been applied to the R5. Several versions were developed and then tested in collaboration with the Jumbo Visma team. Tom Dumoulin, who had already tried and liked the R5 within Team Sunweb, was the ideal candidate for the first tests. The verdict? Unqualifiedly positive! Tom felt he could climb just as efficiently on the bike, and that the extra flexibility would lead to less fatigue and more efficient recovery on climb/descent sequences. Jumbo Visma has verified this at several World Tour races this season.
The new R5 has already won and will win again in the hands of one of the World Tour team riders.
