Designed around innovation and performance, the Aquila RC is the result of 20 months of intense Research and Development. It is a time trial model precisely engineered to redefine speed. The Aquila RC will make its racing debut this Sunday at Étoile des Bessèges.
Source: press release
In a cycling landscape of route increasingly competitive, every second counts. This is true for any challenge, but even more so in the time trial, where you can only count on yourself and the efficiency of your equipment.
To achieve the goal of becoming the fastest time trial bike in the world, the Bianchi Reparto Corse sought a perfect balance in reconconfirming its design philosophy: treat rider movement and bicycle dynamics as a unified system. This approach, previously used to create the Oltre RC bike, found its ultimate expression in the Aquila RC project, specifically designed for time trials.
The aquila has always been part of the Bianchi emblem because it symbolises power, speed and elegance. The new Aquila RC perpetuates this heritagetagand by pushing the limits of time trial performance.
Project keyword: optimization
Drawing on decades of expertise and 20 months of dedicated development, Bianchi collaborated with world-class time trial specialists and with Kévin Vauquelin of the Arkea-B&B Hotels team, a stage winner of the Tour de France and participant in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Aquila RC is the result of a more streamlined design process: a continuous cycle of CAD analysis, advanced simulations, prototypes, wind tunnel and on-road testing. route, as well as experimenting with different airfoil profiles, all with the sole aim of creating the fastest complete system.
After extensive data analysis, the Bianchi Reparto Corse opted for a 77,5° seat tube angle – to match the preferences of WorldTour time trial specialists – combined with an increased reach. The result is a faster and more aggressive riding position.
The tube sections were designed to take advantage of a sailing effect by transforming lateral forces into forward thrust for the bike and rider.
Tests and results
In time trial frame design, the variables that can be adjusted are extremely limited due to UCI regulations and the laws of physics. Therefore, the Bianchi Reparto Corse focused on optimizing the most important components of the Aquila: the handlebar, seatpost and bottom bracket. By refining the shape and position, Bianchi engineers minimized pressure drag in strategic areas of the frame.
On testChassis engineers have gone beyond wind tunnel experiments. Countless hours of riding have been invested in understanding how human movement interacts with bicycle aerodynamics. The development of an innovative tool capable of reproducing the movement with artificial legs has allowed for further optimization.tagand the bike-athlete interaction.
The Aquila RC has been testé in different configurations: the bike alone, the bike with static legs, with moving legs and using different types of forks.
The result is a saving of 16,1 watts at 50 km/h compared to the previous version. Over a 40,7 km course, at an average speed between 50,4 km/h and 51,1 km/h, the Aquila RC was 37 seconds faster than the previous model. This difference can obviously change the outcome of a race.
The Aquila RC consistently outperformed the previous generation and the industry's leading competitor in yaw angles from -20° to 20°.
An aggressive and adjustable cockpit
The cockpit of the new Aquila RC is the result of a collaboration with Vision FSA, a world leader in the design of racing components. The result is a high-performance cockpit with impressive autonomy, easy adjustment and aerodynamic integration.
Availability and technical characteristics
The Aquila RC is offered exclusively as a frameset, weighing 1,3 kg for the frame (size M) and 400 g for the fork. The frameset is available in sizes S, M and L and can accommodate tires up to 28 mm.
The color of the new Aquila RC is Glossy Black and Metallic Celeste with logos and graphic inserts in Celeste CK16.
The Aquila RC will make its racing debut with the athletes of the Arkéa-B&B Hôtels team on Sunday, February 9, 2025, during the individual time trial from Alès to l'Hermitage, last stage of the Etoile de Bessèges in France.
The frameset is available at a price of €5449.
More informations: bianchi.com
