It's often mistakenly said: "Bikes are all the same." This takes for granted the research and development criteria and the manufacturing of the various models. In reality, the more we delve into the world of professional cycling, the more we discover that this isn't the case. It certainly isn't for Stone and the new Xelius Sl.
Already last year when we were faced with the new air code (the aero bike of the French brand) we understood that it was not a "trivial" bike. In addition to the presentation, which took place at Italian Bike Festival in which the development processes of this bike were explained, one could see with the naked eye the attention to certain details and the reason for certain solutions.
Xelius since 2010…
Well, for the Xelius project, we went further. Or rather, we continued with that method, but in effect, we created a bike without compromises. Xelius remains the lightweight model, the one for climbers, but inevitably there have been aero influences. As is now the case in all sectors of cycling.
The first Lapierre Xelius dates back to 2010 and in these eleven years it has achieved success in all three Grand Tours, the Giro di Lombardia and several national titles. And so, three years after the last restyling, here comes the Xelius SL, launched as a preview at the Tour de France with the riders of the Groupama-FDJ. Even if captain Gaudu he had already shown it off at the Dauphiné.
The fork has straight stems and (imperceptibly) tapered “teardrop” shapes For the Xelius SL, slightly larger tubes than the previous model and more aero lines Integrated handlebar and flat handlebar… The brakes are always disc brakes with thru axle The high triangle typical of Lapierre is more pronounced
The fork has straight stems and (imperceptibly) tapered “teardrop” shapes For the Xelius SL, slightly larger tubes than the previous model and more aero lines Integrated handlebar and flat handlebar… The brakes are always disc brakes with thru axle The high triangle typical of Lapierre is more pronounced
Light, aero, aggressive
As mentioned: Although light weight is the dogma of this bike, integration and aerodynamics are the points on which Lapierre has focused most. The stem and handlebar are integrated. Or rather: at first glance, it looks like a fully integrated handlebar, but if you look closely, the handlebar (flat) can rotate inside the stem. This is a good option that overcomes the limitations of a fully integrated handlebar while maintaining the aerodynamic benefits. This setup also includes fully internal cable routing through the handlebar and frame, which also enhances the clean aesthetic.
Thanks to the use of a new carbon fiber, the uhm (Ultra High Modulus), not only reduced weight, but it also allowed us to slightly modify the geometry (which Lapierre doesn't provide) and tube shapes without compromising stiffness and responsiveness. In fact, these have been improved. For example, the seat stay tubes (rear triangle) are now straight, while in the previous version they were slightly curved upwards. Straight tubes, however, might seem like they'd be more uncomfortable, but as Guarnieri and I will discover, this isn't the case. Furthermore, the top tube, seat tube, down tube, and seat stays are all slightly larger. This means more material, but less weight: think of all that carbon!
A lot of work was then done on the front end. The fork has straight stanchions with (imperceptibly) tapered "teardrop" shapes, allowing air to flow more easily and reducing turbulence. In the new Xelius SL you can see a lot of the Aircode Drs.
Guarnieri's real road test
«On all bikes – he explains Jacopo Guarnieri – we have a hand in it. We actually received three prototypes with three different carbons each. From there, new improvements come in over time. We give the engineers our feedback, and each time the next modified prototype arrives. Last year, Lapierre presented its aero bike, the Aircode DRS; the one for climbers, the Xelius SL, was missing.
"A bike for climbers that's also been made very aerodynamic. As a sprinter and a frequent user of the Aircode SL, I can say that at very high speeds you feel the aerodynamic difference, but otherwise you don't. Uphill the Xelius SL is a great bike, it's very light and you feel it, but I have to say that even though I'm not a lightweight, I was surprised by its responsiveness.
«And it goes downhill very well too. The Aircode is fast and stable when you go down hard, The Xelius, however, thanks to its slimmer geometry, is certainly faster on technical descents. and driven because it's quicker to change direction. And above all, it's forgiving of a few mistakes. It has an exceptional front end.
«In the Alpine stages of the Tour I used it with the wheels Shimano Dura-Ace C60 and it was really stiff."
And what about comfort? Guarnieri, who is very tall, makes a not trivial observation.
"My teammates really notice the difference in comfort compared to the Aircode; they find the Xelius much more comfortable. I, on the other hand, notice it less. Maybe it's because I'm very comfortable with the Shimano C60s..."
Gaudu is racing the Tour with a bike identical to this one A mechanic from the Groupama-Fdj team at work on the Xelius
Gaudu is racing the Tour with a bike identical to this one A mechanic from the Groupama-Fdj team at work on the Xelius
Lapierre's modus operandi
But if these are the technical specifications, it's worth listening to Jacopo Guarnieri's words about development and research. And discover the beauty of how a Lapierre bike is born... and not just the Xelius.
Guarnieri explains how, in general, sprinters and long-distance riders contributed to the development of the Aircode, while climbers contributed to that of the Xelius.
«Just to say how important our feedback is and how much we care about Lapierre – concludes Guarnieri – Stefan Kung tested three prototypes for the time trial bike just for the bottle cage. And each one has been tested in the wind tunnel. We develop our bikes primarily during winter training camps. demare In one week he tested three bikes this year. Having the opportunity to be an active part of the development is no small feat for us riders. And in the end, you, the rider, say: I have a bike just the way I want it and it rides like a dream. When they delivered the final Aircode SLs, I sent a congratulatory message to the Lapierre technicians."
