«Tous les coureurs veulent ce vélo»! All the riders want this bike, so Rudy Molard began when we asked him for a cold opinion on the Xelius SL3. A few days after the official launch of the new platform xelius, Stone celebrates 75 years of business with a bicycle.
An capsule collection, which has a dual objective: the first is to celebrate the birthday, the second is to ensure that the pro-team bicycle becomes available to everyone, with a top-of-the-line setup and a truly interesting quality-price ratio.
The same Xelius SL3 as the pros
The frame and fork are the same ones used by the Groupama-FDJ team (actually there is also the handlebar), with the same blend of composite fabrics which coincide thanks to the UD-SLI construction technology, which in this specific case is enriched by the Techno Carbon Team suffixThe construction process and design are the same as the “standard” versions Added to the catalog and officially presented last week, the color scheme is different: glossy with exposed carbon fiber, interspersed with gold lettering and logos.
And then there's a pool of components that leaves nothing to chance. Let's take a quick look at the configuration and then see what the French athletes told us. Valentin Madouas and Rudy Molard, both involved in the development of the Lapierre Xelius SL3.
Over-the-top components
We start from integrated handlebar and all carbon, well made and proportioned, very rigid. The same one the pros use? Yes. Hides all brake hydraulic system sheaths and it matches perfectly with the steering area and its spacers. In our case, the transmission cables do not pass through, because the new Shimano packages do not have wires (only those for the climber switches). This cockpit is compatible with mechanical transmissions.
It has buttons/switches much loved by climbers to change gear without taking their hands off the horizontal part and are positioned between the stem and the horizontal section of the handlebar. The transmission is the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 12v, with the 52-36 crankset and the 11-30 cassette. Is something missing? Perhaps the power meter, but with this instrument the price would change. There is the saddle, a Prologo Dimension Nack (in carbon) with dedicated colour.
What wheels and what price….
And then there are those Dura Ace C36 wheels latest generation, really beautiful and capable of dressing the bicycle without being excessively high. They are fitted with Continental GP5000 TL tires, already in tubeless configuration. The (declared) weight on the scale? 6,8 kilograms in the medium size. The price, considering the package, is something worth putting under the microscope: 8.999 euros.
The 75th logo on the back of the seat post The Xelius SL3 seen from the front with the beautiful integrated handlebars The Lapierre cockpit and the thumb-operated buttons The Prologo Dimension Nack version dedicated to the bike The Dura Ace 52/36 crankset. You can also see the magnet housing for the Shimano power meter. The book with the company history and the Julbo glasses with dedicated livery, a package supplied with the bike The non-drive-side rear stay, the 140 mm diameter disc supplied Lapierre Xelius SL3 anniversary edition 75th The Shimano Dura Ace C36 wheel supplied with the Xelius 75th Diamond-Shape for the skewer attachment in the BB box and the glossy livery with visible and matte carbon
The 75th logo on the back of the seat post The Xelius SL3 seen from the front with the beautiful integrated handlebars The Lapierre cockpit and the thumb-operated buttons The Prologo Dimension Nack version dedicated to the bike The Dura Ace 52/36 crankset. You can also see the magnet housing for the Shimano power meter. The book with the company history and the Julbo glasses with dedicated livery, a package supplied with the bike The non-drive-side rear stay, the 140 mm diameter disc supplied Lapierre Xelius SL3 anniversary edition 75th
Molard prefers the Light
«I started using the final bike in June. I had the opportunity to test different configurations, including the M with the STIFF module. Personally I prefer the LIGHT, not so much for the weight issue, but for what it is capable of express in terms of responsiveness and long-term comfort. Compared to the STIFF, it is slightly softer for the same size.
«On the other hand, it is always necessary to think that we are on bikes for many hours a day and even during the big stage races, good comfort and quality is a factor that many appreciate. One of the aspects that I prefer is its fluidity and the ease with which it is relaunched, not only when cycling uphill, but also on flat stretches."
Rudy Molard (wearing a mask) during the technical chat (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre) rudy molard He is 32 years old and has been a pro since 2012. (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre) Valentin Madouas is 25 years old and has been a pro since 2018. (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre) Valentin Madouas rode with us during the test of the new Lapierre (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre)
Rudy Molard (wearing a mask) during the technical chat (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre) rudy molard He is 32 years old and has been a pro since 2012. (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre) Valentin Madouas is 25 years old and has been a pro since 2018. (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre) Valentin Madouas rode with us during the test of the new Lapierre (photo Ugo Richard Lapierre)
Madouas: «SL3 incredible versatility»
«From the very beginning we all felt at ease in the team and All riders would want to ride this bike, not just climbers like Rudy, but also the fastest athletes. The Xelius SL3 is amazing, because with the low profile wheels it is excellent when the road goes up and down. With the higher profile wheels it becomes very fast. Maybe not as good as the Aircode DRS, but the difference isn't that big. If you think that Demare wanted to use it for the Paris-Tours and won, this gives a good idea of the consideration that we riders have for this bicycle.
«I also tell you that even theThe integrated handlebar can make a positive difference, because it gives that extra touch of rigidity, but without being uncomfortable.. And then it is light, ma she's not nervous and unstable. I am important factors when you need to focus on running and cycling, thinking that the bike is reliable and you don't have to worry about its behavior on particularly technical and downhill sections."
