Thumb shifters and 13 sprockets: New Campagnolo Super Record spotted at the Giro d'Italia

A new wireless electronic groupset from Campagnolo was ridden at the Giro d'Italia opener in Albania. The media portal Bikerumor.com first reported on this and published the first detailed photos of the sprocket set and rear derailleur. Further pictures taken by race photographers suggest that it is a completely new groupset: On the bikes of Stefano Oldani from Team Cofidis and Alessandro Pinarello from Team VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè, a new rear derailleur, a slimmer front derailleur and redesigned brake levers can be seen. According to information from Bikerumor, this is a 2x13 system - a first among the big three manufacturers of road bike groupsets. The Campagnolo Ekar gravel groupset and now also the SRAM Red gravel configuration had 13 sprockets, but only in combination with a single chainring. A recent firmware update for the Garmin Edge 1050 bike computer should also point to 2x13 groupsets from Campagnolo. The traditional Italian brand also surprised us with the return of the once popular thumb shifter (or button), which was recently abolished with the current Super Record WRL. With this step, Campagnolo is continuing one tradition and reintroducing another: For decades, the Italians were the first to launch a road bike derailleur with one more sprocket than the competition. The new arrangement of the buttons on the outside of the brake levers was often criticised recently - many customers wanted the old thumb lever back. With the new technology, Campagnolo could regain some technological ground on the competition, after the brand had lost some of its importance in racing in recent years.

New rear derailleur and 13 gears

The centrepiece of the new groupset is the revised rear derailleur. It features some striking changes compared to the current Super Record WRL on. It looks much slimmer and no longer protrudes so far from the frame; the extremely delicate outer parallelogram plate and a new hollow profile as a mounting arm are striking. The gear cage has also been redesigned and now has a more angular shape. It is not clear from the pictures whether the 13-speed sprocket set starts with a smallest sprocket with 9 or 10 teeth. However, it should be clear that the wheels must have the current N3W freewheel from Campagnolo, as used with the 1x13 Gravel Group Ekar was introduced. This allows an initial sprocket of 9 teeth. With SRAM it is at least 10 teeth, with Shimano at least 11 teeth.

Return of the thumb switch

One significant ergonomic innovation concerns the shifters. Campagnolo has returned to its iconic thumb shifter, which was the trademark of the Italian groupsets for many years. The grips now only have a single button behind the brake lever instead of the two that are positioned one above the other on the current Super Record. In a race photo, the thumb shifter can be clearly recognised on the inside of the left shift lever. It also looks as if it can be operated with the fingers from both above and below. The return to a tried and tested operating concept is likely to be met with enthusiasm by many Campagnolo fans. For a long time, the thumb shifter was a unique selling point of the Italian groupsets and contributed significantly to their unmistakable character.

Significance for Campagnolo

The presentation of this new groupset could represent an important turning point for Campagnolo. As a supplier of freely available complete bikes, the Italians have only played an exotic role for several years now. After the brand lost its place in the UCI WorldTour, the highest category of road cycling, for the 2024 season, its relevance in top-level sport also seemed to dwindle. With the return to the WorldTour in 2025 through the partnership with Cofidis and a thorough renovation of the portfolio, this picture could now change. While the first generation of the Super Record Wireless groupset was seen more as a catch-up manoeuvre compared to the competition and has clear weaknesses in today's competition, especially in terms of its user-friendliness - i.e. operating logic, settings and software - Campagnolo could now surprise the competition from SRAM and Shimano with a 13-speed system. It remains to be seen how the Italians have solved the associated apps or the connection to bike computers - ultimately it depends on how well the system is accepted by the masses.

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Outlook and availability

Although Campagnolo has not yet officially commented on the new groupset, there are indications that a market launch is likely to take place this season. The parts on the bike at least look ready for production. However, as with all products bearing the Super Record label, it can be assumed that the new groupset will not be cheap. Prices and availability are not yet known at this time; there is also no information as to whether there will also be cheaper counterparts with the new technology. Nevertheless, Campagnolo's involvement in the Giro is a sign that the traditional brand wants to be at the forefront of technology again. TOUR will stay on the subject and report as soon as there is more information.