First test: How great is the Cannondale SuperSix Evo?

The new Cannondale SuperSix Evo has been on the World Tour circuit for weeks now. And not just somewhere in the turmoil of the peloton, but regularly at the front. The team took ten wins this season EF Education-Easypost He was already able to break in on his new bike after just a few races, beating his result from the previous year. If the marketing experts at Cannondale could have wished for a scenario for the presentation of the new competition racing bike, it would probably have looked exactly the same.

In the fourth generation, the US manufacturer wants to usher in "a new era of racing bikes" and promises the lightest and most aerodynamic SuperSix in history. In numbers: The top version Lab71 - more on this in a moment - hits the UCI limit of 6.8 kilos. The painted frame in size 56 is record-breakingly light at 770 grams. This makes the Cannondale one of the lightest bikes in the peloton. According to the manufacturer, the third generation of the SuperSix weighed 600 grams more.

Cannondale SuperSix Evo: The most important facts

• Weight: 6.8 kilos (Lab71 SuperSix Evo)
• Frame weight: 770/810/930 grams (Lab71/HiMod/Carbon)
• Air resistance (CdA)12 watts faster than SuperSix Evo 3
• Stack/Reach/STR: 575/389 millimetres/1.47 (size 56)
• Drives: Shimano (Dura-Ace Di2, Ultegra Di2), SRAM (Red AXS, Force AXS)
• Impellers: Hollowgram (50 R-SL, 50 R-S, 45 R)
• Tyre clearance: 30 millimetres
• Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
• Prices (complete wheels): 6,799 to 14,999 euros
• Prices (frame sets): 4,199/5,499 Euro (HiMod/Lab71) >> available here

New luxury label: Lab71

Under Lab71, the bicycle manufacturer from Bethel/Connecticut, founded in 1971, is introducing a premium brand that is intended to stand out from the other models with high-end materials, top components and individual design. Sounds familiar? That's right! US competitor Specialised has been pursuing a similar strategy for years with its S-Works portfolio. The Lab71 SuperSix Evo, whose frameset consists of a new carbon fibre and nano-resin composite called "Series 0", is the first racing bike under the luxury label. Gravel and MTB models are set to follow.

The new racing bike is not only lighter, it is also said to be significantly faster. According to the manufacturer, the fourth version of the SuperSix is 12 watts (at a speed of 45 km/h) faster than its predecessor, for which TOUR determined an aero performance of 219 watts. It is also said to be faster than the Specialised S-Works Tarmac SL 7 which achieves an aero performance of 210 watts in the GST wind tunnel in Immenstaad.

Borrowing from motorsport

The aero leap is made possible by optimised tube shapes on the head tube and seat tube, integrated cables and new wheels from Cannondale's own brand Hollowgram. The US company has given the two top models an extremely flat carbon cockpit, which was developed in cooperation with the Italian motorsport specialists from Momo Design. All other equipment variants are fitted with a conventional handlebar/stem unit, in which the cables are routed under the stem into the head tube. With the exception of the two basic versions, the bikes are also supplied with aero-optimised water bottles; the holders should also fit round bidons.

Cannondale SuperSix Evo: First ride impression

Have we ridden uphill yet? We actually asked ourselves this question during the test rides around the road bike mecca of Girona. Because the Cannondale SuperSix is a joy to ride, especially on climbs, and it collects one metre of elevation gain after another without any fuss. We tested the HiMod 1, which weighed 7.1 kilos in the test version with clamped Vision handlebars. The stiff competition racer also impresses on the flat, gliding over the tarmac in the style of an aero racer and responding directly.

The riding position is race-like, but not too stretched compared to comparable race all-rounders. The Canndondale SuperSix Evo, which rolled on 25 millimetre wide Continental Grand Prix 5000 tyres, doesn't have any weaknesses in terms of suspension comfort either and irons out rough tarmac very well. The compatibility with Cannondale's heavy Smart Sense system is rather unusual for a competition racer trimmed for lightweight construction. As with the Marathon road bike Synapse a StVZO-compliant lighting system and distance radar could be integrated, which are operated via a battery on the down tube.

EF professional Jonas Rutsch full of praise

Jonas Rutsch is one rider who has already clocked up quite a few kilometres on the Cannondale SuperSix Evo this year. And the German pro from the EF Education-Easypost team is full of praise for his new bike. "It's the combination of system and SuperSix. It's definitely the best road bike from Cannondale that I've ridden so far," said the 25-year-old classics specialist on the sidelines of the presentation. "For me as a rider, the SystemSix was a bit too hard, especially on cobblestones. With the new SuperSix, we now have the ideal bike," added Rutsch, who won the 24th place at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad had driven in.

Equipment and prices

So the only point of criticism can be found in the prices. The Cannondale SuperSix Evo is available in five versions, whereby the "cheapest" versions Carbon 1 and Carbon 2 with a frame weighing 930 grams already cost an impressive 6799 euros with Ultegra Di2 and 6999 euros with the new Force AXS. The two HiMod models, whose frames are 120 grams lighter, cost €8999 with Ultegra Di2 and €13499 with Red AXS and one-piece cockpit. The high-end Lab71 version with Dura-Ace Di2 costs a fantastic 14999 euros. The HiMod frameset costs 4199 euros, the Lab71 version 5499 euros.