Test 2016 off-road racer: Stevens Super Prestige Di2 Disc - Cross road bike: Stevens Super Prestige Di2 Disc on test

It is understandable that the purist off-road racers have always polarised the racing bike community. You either love them or you hate them. There's nothing in between. The cross racer's natural area of application is closed-off circuits. This is what the genre was once developed for. Good racers make up for the limits of suspension technology with their riding technique. Cross can therefore also be a useful addition to road racing. Those who have mastered the cross bike also ride more safely on tarmac. Cantilever brakes, which from today's point of view are almost dangerous and have long been the state of the art on cross bikes, were long overlooked by the scene according to the motto "if you brake, you lose". In the meantime, however, disc brakes have also found their way into cyclocross bikes and have all but replaced cantilever brakes. The fact that the cyclo-cross bike is actually a competition bike is also evident from the wheels. Racers almost exclusively ride bikes with tubular tyres that are glued onto special rims. Their advantage: they can be ridden with extremely low air pressure of less than two bar. The grip on loose, bumpy surfaces is therefore gigantic and the risk of a puncture is relatively low due to the special rims. On the other hand, punctures are expensive - and it takes skill and patience to get the new tyre well and firmly glued.

The Hamburg brand Stevens is a big name in international cross sport. Several men's and women's world championships have been won on Stevens cross bikes in recent years. World champion Mathieu van der Poel is currently riding a Stevens. The Super Prestige in camouflage paintwork with decor in the colours of the Netherlands is a replica model of his winning machine. Hydraulic disc brakes, Di2 gears and lightweight carbon rims are proof of the technical progress made on the cross bike. The fact that van der Poel is travelling with electric Di2 gears from Shimano sounds surprising at first. In fact, the virtually maintenance-free shifting system has established itself faster among professional cyclocross riders than in road cycling. Even the sharp jet of water from high-pressure cleaners, which are used to clean cross bikes during and after races, can hardly harm the Di2.

Anyone with a heart for cross-sport will love the Super Prestige. Despite weighing just 7.7 kilos, the bike looks solid and confidence-inspiring. High directional stability goes hand in hand with impressive acceleration, which is also due to the lightweight carbon wheels that Stevens offers as an option. The supple Challenge tubular tyres absorb hard impacts well. However, if a bump does get through to the saddle, the frame is not very forgiving. The dropper post extension is short and the suspension comfort is correspondingly low. Crossers still prefer frames with a horizontal top tube because the bike is easier to shoulder.

PLUS Lightweight, directionally stable and stable, excellent grip thanks to tubular tyres; not cheap, but worth the money
MINUS Complicated tyre mounting, low suspension comfort on the saddle

Info www.stevensbikes.de
Frame material/sizes Carbon / 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 cm
Price/weight from 3,799 euros (Ultegra Di2, hydraulic disc brakes, aluminium wheels with folding tyres) / 7.7 kilos

WHAT THE TEST DRIVERS SAY

Jens Klötzer " After the Open, the bike with the greatest fun factor. The supple tubular tyres are brilliant."

Christoph Allwang " A real athlete, ideal for soft, muddy courses. Great acceleration."

Thomas Musch " Super safe, direct, very manoeuvrable ride. Tough as nails compared to the other bikes."

Alternatives Cannondale SuperX, Focus Mares CX, Fuji Altamira CX, Ridley X-Night, Scott Addict CX, Trek Boone

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