First test of the new Cervélo S5, Vingegaard's rocket

Lighter, more aerodynamic, still as rigid: is the new Cervélo S5 still the benchmark?

Cervélo is launching a new version of its famous S5, the brand's aerodynamic bike, already used by Visma | Lease a Bike riders on all terrains (including mountain biking).tagne) since the Dauphiné. While the machine has changed little aesthetically compared to the remarkable previous version, it is in the details that it promises to be faster than ever. And after a first test ride at the end of May, near the Visma team headquarters in 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, we can confirm that the new Cervélo is very impressive.

By Guillaume Peephole – Photos: ©Cervélo – Gruber Images / ©3bikes.fr

Since 2011, the Cervélo S5 has been shaking up aesthetic and aerodynamic codes in the cycling worldThis new version, already the fifth iteration, seduces or repels, but leaves no one indifferent. Quite close at first glance to the model went out and testappeared in these columns just over two years ago, this new S5 nevertheless makes significant progress, according to the brand, in the areas of weight and aerodynamics, while retaining its rigidity (very high), its stability (exceptional) and its welcome compatibility with wide wheels and 32 mm tires.

Thanks to this compatibility, the Cervélo S5 was already used on classics like Paris-Roubaix (notably by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who won the women's race in 2025). With this (slight) weight gain, it will also be used on the stages of mytagof the Tour de France by Visma | Lease a Bike riders, such as Jonas Vingegaard.

A line that is still iconic

Only the connoisseurs reconThe aesthetic developments of the new Cervélo S5 will emerge at a first glance. The cockpit, like the previous version, is distinguished by its unique shape and advanced aerodynamics. It is attached directly to the fork, which elegantly envelops the head tube. Cervélo naturally offers adjustable spacers to customize the height of the stem, with a single screw to secure the handlebar to the front of the bike. This design slightly limits the full steering turn, which can complicate storage in a transport bag or car trunk.

In back, The bike features a sculpted seat tube to fit the wheel, extended by a deceptively straight seatpost. However, the geometry of the S5 remains comparable to that of a conventional bicycle, offering great freedom of adjustment for the setback of the saddle.

The compact yet fluid seat tube-to-seatstay junction optimizes airflow, as does the reduced tire-to-frame clearance. The generously sized bottom bracket sits on a down tube that follows the contours of the front wheel, enhancing aerodynamics.

From the front, the Cervélo S5 presents a sleek silhouette, designed to cut through the air with minimal resistance. Its imposing profile, with wide tubes and high rims, might suggest a certain instability, but every detail has been meticulously studied to combine performance and control.

Measured gains

On the new S5, Cervélo announces a multitude of small improvements, not necessarily visible at first glance, but more noticeable on the scaleThe brand claims a weight saving of 29g (that's precise!) on the bare frame. The weight is mainly reduced at the level of the pilot stationtage, 100 g lighter in this new version, with slightly more refined shapes, with a more pronounced flare at the bottom of the handlebar compared to the position of the brake levers, and which loses the possibilities of adjustment in inclination compared to the 2023 model. The monocoque construction and the abandonment of the screws at this level allow to save weight (15 g), without the ergonomics – excellent in our point of view – suffering. The redesigned seat post with its screws also loses 33 g.

The fork, meanwhile, has gained a bit of weight, with around fifty grams more due to a wider lower section, to improve aerodynamics. But Cervélo compensates with new 57/64 mm deep Reserve wheels, lighter than the 52/63 mm tested in 2023.

These taller wheels, with rims that are still just as wide (35 mm external width for the front wheel, 34 mm for the rear), are perfectly integrated into the frame to limit aerodynamic drag as much as possible. They even have an asymmetrical rim at the rear to fit ideally with a slightly asymmetrical seat tube.

On the aero level, Cervélo announces sharper trailing edges and design lines, as well as a deeper head tube for the frameThe new cockpit shape with an enlarged V-shaped stem opening allows the brand to claim a gain of 6,3 watts at high speed for this new S5 compared to the previous version, which was already one of the fastest on the market for road bikes. route, according to many testindependent wind tunnels. Figures that we are unable to verify in this case. But what is certain is that the top-of-the-range version tested (with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 group) has the same weight with pedals (7,660 kg in size 51) as the bike testin 2023 in SRAM Red without pedals. A net gain of 220 g for the complete bike.

From there to reach 6,8 kg – the UCI weight limit – as Cervélo claims with a montagThe special for Jonas Vingegaard is a world of difference, and a statement that leaves us doubtful, even if the Visma | Lease a Bike team does not hesitate to mount single-chainring bikes for certain occasions. Similarly, when we ask the brand's engineers about the real gain in watts of this new S5 with wheels other than these Reserve 57/64 specially designed for the bike, they seem a little embarrassed. They say they don't have any figures. However, if Vingegaard, Kuss or Van Aert intend to make a difference on the climbs, it will be with wheels with lower and lighter rims. Is this new Cervélo S5 just a marketing ploy?

Rigid, but comfortable

For this first test of the new S5, we head to the Netherlands and 's-Hertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc in French), where the impressive Visma | Lease a Bike team headquarters is located, as a small army of mechanics assembles the bikes of the men's and women's teams, a good month before the official release.

On the program, a flat group outing of around forty kilometers, with only a few car bridgesroute, but above all a very strong wind and few shelters. The ideal playground for the S5, a bike designed to cut through the air, and if possible at good speed.

We immediately notice Cervélo's bias, which offers, for a production bike in size 51, a 38 cm wide cockpit, 165 mm cranks and a large 54 tooth chainring. This is all that is needed to maintain an aggressive posture on the bike, with the shoulders tucked in and an angle between the hips and thighs that favors a forward leaning position. The first restarts to leave the parking lot are therefore surprising, with the impression of having little lever arm when dancing and not being able to fully extend the legs.

The machine turns out to be extremely rigid, at least as much as the previous version. The front and rear of the bike respond as a unit, and there's no point relying on any spring effect from the frame or wheels to compensate for an imperfect out-of-seat gesture. The S5 is a bike for professionals, or at least for (very) trained athletes. It requires impeccable coordination between the upper and lower body to remain efficient, and if possible, maintaining a good pedaling cadence. But when everything comes together, it's a real bomb. The bike is very fast, and reaching and maintaining 40 km/h here seems easier than with most bikes on the market.

Beyond this lateral rigidity, the Cervélo S5 does not mistreat its user longitudinally. The 29mm tubeless tires, perfectly matched to the wide rims, ensure comfort and grip. The machine is reassuring in corners, while bouncing very little on poor surfaces. This characteristic allows you to maintain a high speed, even on the many cycle lanes with imperfect asphalt found in the Netherlands.

A formidable stability

Demanding in terms of sport but accommodating in terms of the possible duration of the effort, the Cervélo S5 stands out above all for its demonic stability. Despite wide tubes, very high wheels, very little space between the tubes and the wheels, a violent and gusty side wind, and despite our small size, we have never been so reassured on a bike of this caliber, and we have never felt so efficient under such conditions. This was already the strong point of the previous version, but here, with new wheels, Cervélo adds even more speed to this balance.

We sometimes talk about bikes that are demanding, stiff, or difficult to make dynamic. The Cervélo S5 falls into this category. It's therefore not for everyone.. You have to be trained or experienced to fully enjoy it. But its base on the route and its imperturbable side under gusts are also very reassuring. They bring a certain serenity which allows you to concentrate on the effort and on the gears used. It is also for this reason that the new S5 is, in our opinion, much more versatile than it appears, and ultimately more suited to a wide variety of terrains than its profile and rigidity might suggest.

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