Test 2021: All-round road bikes for around €3,000 - Chasers: will €3,000 racers keep up with the pros?

A bike like the professionals ride in the Tour de France - that is the dream of many amateur cyclists. The great thing about cycling is that you can buy these bikes, unlike professional motorsport equipment, for example. But that would be easy to say if the equipment wasn't so expensive: A lightweight professional racing bike that scratches the UCI weight limit of 6.8 kilograms costs around €10,000 for most well-known brands today. However, many manufacturers also offer the competition model for smaller budgets; if the equipment is simpler, the prices plummet, but the look, technology and ride feel should still come close to the top version. We looked at bikes with pro genes that are within the range of what TOUR readers are willing to spend on a new bike according to the survey - a little over € 3,000. That's a lot of money on the one hand, but less than a third of what you have to fork out for many professional bikes on the other. So are their affordable relatives fit for the racetrack?

All bikes are designated as competition racers; you sit in the saddle in a correspondingly sporty position and - with the exception of Cannondale - you will find a gear range suitable for racing. However, the classic round tube in the frame has obviously had its day. Today, fast racing bikes should not only be light, stable and comfortable, but also as aerodynamic as possible. This is why more or less streamlined tube cross-sections have replaced the classic round tube, not only on specialised aero speedsters, but also on many modern lightweight frames. Wing-like profiles are usually cut on the side facing away from the wind in order to save weight - the result is triangular cross-sections with strongly rounded corners. One-piece handlebar/stem combinations, such as Storck and Canyon, and seat posts with a teardrop-shaped cross-section, such as on the Giant, are further elements that are orientated towards aero racers. The manufacturers' promise: the racer gets a bike that is as light as it is comfortable, but still has an aerodynamic advantage. Such bikes are the first choice of professional cyclists on tours and races with many metres of elevation gain; purebred aero bikes are usually only ridden by specialists on flat terrain. We tested whether these measures make a difference in the wind tunnel. We measured the bikes not only in their original set-up, but also with identical, fast carbon wheels (Zipp 404).

Six all-round competition road bikes tested

• Cannondale SuperSix EVO Carbon Disc 105 - 3,299 euros
• Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Disc - 2,699 euros
• Giant TCR Advanced 1+ Disc - 2,999 euros
• Rose X-Lite Four Disc Ultegra - 2,999 euros
• Specialised Tarmac SL6 Sport - 2,999 euros
• Storck Fascinario.3 Comp Disc 105 - 2,999 euros

You can find the complete test with all the information on weight, equipment, aerodynamic values and detailed grading in the download below for €1.99 or in TOUR 04/2021.

Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has its price. That's why we guarantee independence and objectivity. The TOUR tests are based on standardised and reproducible test procedures, which we always disclose. TOUR articles can be bought - TOUR test victories cannot!

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PDF: Test 2021: Competition bikes for around 3000 euros