Campagnolo Athena Ultra-Torque Carbon 11s Crankset

The Campagnolo Athena Ultra-Torque Carbon 11s Crankset sits in the middle of Campagnolo's 11-speed road groupset hierarchy — offering a meaningful step up in materials and weight savings over the aluminium Athena variant without climbing to the price tier of Super Record or Record. If you're building a capable 11-speed road bike and want genuine Italian engineering in the drivetrain, this crankset deserves serious consideration. The carbon construction brings measurable weight reduction while keeping the reliable Ultra-Torque axle system that Campagnolo riders have trusted for years.

The crank arms are built from full unidirectional-multidirectional carbon fibre, a layup approach designed to balance stiffness under load with a degree of compliance over longer rides. The 53/39 chainring combination is a traditional double road setup suited to varied terrain — from rolling training rides to sustained climbs and fast group riding. Campagnolo's ESP Actuation System (Enhanced Shifting Performance) is integrated into the light alloy chainrings, with eight shift pins on the outer ring to help the chain pick up cleanly under load. Hard anodisation on the chainrings extends wear life without adding bulk. The integrated Ultra-Torque semi-axles run through the bottom bracket, joining at the centre with a Hirth-joint coupling — a Campagnolo-specific design intended to eliminate flex at the interface and maintain consistent power transfer through each pedal stroke. Note that Ultra-Torque BB cups are required and sold separately.

Campagnolo Athena Ultra-Torque Carbon 11s Crankset Specs at a Glance

• Chainring configuration: 53x39 (standard double)
• Crank arm length: 170mm
• Crank arm material: Full unidirectional-multidirectional carbon fibre
• Chainring material: Light alloy with hard anodisation
• Shift pins: 8 pins on the large chainring (ESP Actuation System)
• Axle system: Integrated Ultra-Torque semi-axles (Hirth-joint coupling)
• Fixing hardware: Light alloy bolts and nuts
• Weight: 705g

Design Benefits

1. Carbon arms with meaningful weight savings: The full carbon crank arms reduce overall crankset weight compared to the aluminium Athena option, which matters on long climbing days and when managing total bike weight for your build.
2. Reliable, stiff power delivery: The Ultra-Torque semi-axle design, joined mid-spindle with Campagnolo's Hirth joint, is engineered to resist torsional flex at the bottom bracket interface — keeping your power going forward rather than twisting into the frame.
3. Engineered shifting consistency: The ESP chainring system, with its eight-pin large ring and hard-anodised alloy construction, is designed to maintain positive, predictable shifts across the 11-speed range even when pressure is on the pedals.