Matteo Jorgenson's Tour de France bike, an unveiled Cervélo R5, is a lightweight cyclist's ideal, catering to weight-conscious enthusiasts.
The 2025 Tour de France has been a stage for showcasing cutting-edge technology, and this year, Cervélo has taken the spotlight with their new unreleased R5 climbing bike. The Visma–Lease a Bike team has been spotted using the bike for the majority of the race, and it's clear that the R5 brings several notable innovations and key features that set it apart from previous iterations and competitors.
## Key Features
The new R5 is engineered to be as light as possible, targeting the UCI minimum weight limit of 6.8 kg with pedals, cages, and a computer included. The frame itself is claimed to have a 16% reduction in weight, down to approximately 703g. The bike maintains a classic silhouette but features internal cable routing for a clean look and improved aerodynamics. The headtube and fork have been redesigned to increase compliance and comfort, providing a smoother ride on rough surfaces without sacrificing pedaling efficiency.
The latest R5 frame accommodates wider tires, now up to 35mm, offering more versatility for different road conditions. The front end features a fresh cockpit design available in 19 size configurations, with a debulked clamp and a D-shaped steerer compatible with most aftermarket cockpits. Matteo Jorgenson’s build includes a SRAM Red AXS 2x electronic groupset, Reserve 42/49 carbon wheels, Vittoria Corsa Pro WR (700c x 29 mm) tires, a Prologo Nago C3 Nack saddle, Wahoo Speedplay Aero pedals, and a Garmin Edge 130 computer.
The new R5 is designed to deliver race-level handling and comfort, making it suitable for both elite racing and aggressive riding. Despite being less stiff than the previous version, it maintains pedaling efficiency and introduces increased compliance for better rider comfort.
## Innovations
The dramatic frame weight cut allows the bike to hit the UCI minimum weight limit even with real-world equipment attached, a rare feat among contemporary race bikes. The redesigned front-end and focus on compliance result in a smoother, more comfortable ride without compromising on performance. The move to wider tyre clearance and internal routing keeps the R5 relevant in a market where comfort and multi-surface capability are increasingly valued.
The cockpit design offers an unprecedented range of fit options, ensuring optimal ergonomics for professional riders and enthusiasts alike. The scant paint on top of the seat stays takes the diameter up to the limit of 10mm, and the cradle for the saddle on the bike is now carbon, which reduces weight higher up on the bike and impacts performance.
In summary, the new Cervélo R5 is a formidable climbing bike, blending race-winning performance with comfort and adaptability for the modern professional peloton. The lightweight R5 can hit the UCI weight limit with everything attached, opening the door for using deeper wheels with little weight penalty. The new cockpit is compatible with any cockpit that can clamp on a round steerer, thanks to an insert for the hoses. The bike will be used by Visma on steeper mountains where acceleration is important, and the top tube of the bike has been raised to create a stiffer feeling rear end.
The new Cervélo R5, showcased in the 2025 Tour de France, marries technology with sports, combining race-level performance and comfort for modern athletes. With a 16% reduction in frame weight and wider tire clearance, the R5 offers an improved ride on diverse road conditions, merging aerodynamics with comfort.
This extraordinary bike, used extensively by the Visma–Lease a Bike team, boasts a redesigned front-end for increased compliance, features a broad range of cockpit size configurations, and innovatively utilizes carbon components to reduce weight without compromising performance. In essence, the R5 is a testament to how technology enhances sports equipment for a smoother, more efficient ride.
