CerveloR5
Origin
The R5 is Cervelo's classic climber, descended from the R-series that Carlos Sastre rode to victory in the 2008 Tour de France. The latest generation unveiled mid-2025 was first spotted under Matteo Jorgenson at Visma-Lease a Bike's team hotel and made the obsession with weight loss its headline: complete builds in size 56 come in at 5.97 kg, well under the UCI's 6.8 kg minimum. The new HB18 integrated bar/stem shaved nearly 150 g while making the bike claimed to be 2 W more aerodynamic than the predecessor, and the matching Reserve 34/37 SL wheelset trimmed another 60 g. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot raced the 2025 Tour de France Femmes on it. It is now positioned as the lightest production road bike in the World Tour peloton.
Specifications
- Frame
- Carbon fiber monocoque; 2025-gen frame just 651 g (size 56), 130 g / ~16% lighter than predecessor
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- Shimano Ultegra Di2 to Dura-Ace Di2 / SRAM Force AXS to RED AXS (incl. RED XPLR AXS 1×13, 48T, 10-46T)
- Brakes
- Hydraulic disc; direct-mount front limited to 160 mm rotor, 140 mm rear (Shimano Dura-Ace / SRAM RED depending on build)
- Wheels
- Reserve 34/37 SL (front/rear-specific depths), ~60 g lighter than prior; DT Swiss 180 / Reserve hubs depending on build
The verdict
- Class-leading climbing weight — sub-6 kg complete build with snappy, almost effortless acceleration uphill
- Despite the low weight, frame stiffness/rigidity is kept on par with the predecessor
- Composed, precise descending — fast yet never twitchy
- Surprisingly compliant ride; reduced front-end stiffness (per pro feedback) dissipates road buzz despite narrow tyres
- Broader appeal than a pure race bike — works for sportive/granfondo riders, not just WorldTour pros
- Frighteningly expensive — frameset ~£5,000, complete builds ~£8,500-£12,999
- Direct-mount front fork limits you to a 160 mm rotor only
- 26 mm stock tyres feel a little dated next to modern 28-30 mm road norms
- No aero credentials — the S5 is faster on flat/rolling terrain, R5 is a climbing specialist
- No aluminium or cheaper option — carbon-only, so zero entry point for budget buyers
Who it’s for
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