Van Rysel RCR-F Pro Ultegra Di2 Bike

The Van Rysel RCR-F Pro Ultegra Di2 Bike is Van Rysel's all-in aero road machine — built not for mountains, but for the kind of racing where aerodynamics and sustained speed determine who wins. Developed over more than two years in collaboration with Swiss Side, an aerodynamics engineering firm that works with professional cycling teams, the RCR-F Pro underwent extensive CFD simulation and wind tunnel testing before it went into the hands of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale's World Tour roster for a full season of racing. The result: a frame that saves 13 watts at 45 km/h versus the standard RCR — a gap that compounds over the length of a hard day.

Sam Bennett, who raced this bike during the 2025 season, put it plainly: "The acceleration is linear even above 68 km/h and I haven't even reached its limits." That kind of composure at race pace doesn't come from aerodynamics alone. Van Rysel reinforced the front of the frame with 60T carbon fiber, part of a 517-ply Super High Modulus carbon layup that makes the RCR-F Pro 7% stiffer at the front triangle than the standard RCR. When you're standing on the pedals in the final 200 meters, that stiffness translates directly to acceleration rather than absorption.

Van Rysel is explicit about where this bike belongs. The RCR-F Pro was designed for terrain where elevation stays under 1,500 meters per 100 kilometers and average speeds sit between 35 and 50 km/h — flat classics, stage race criteriums, fast rolling circuits. If your season is built around extended climbing, Van Rysel makes the RCR Pro for that. But on a course where the roads stay fast and the peloton stays together until the final kilometers, the RCR-F Pro is the right tool.

Frame and Aerodynamics

The RCR-F Pro frame uses a Super High Modulus carbon layup with 517 plies, with 60T carbon reinforcement concentrated at the head tube for sprint stiffness. Gross weight in size M is 1,010g for the frame and 420g for the fork. The aerodynamic development went beyond tube shaping — the entire contact surface between bike and air was optimized as a unified system, which brings us to the cockpit.

The Deda x VR RCR-F integrated carbon combo was developed alongside the frame, sharing the same CFD and wind tunnel phases. Handmade in Deda's Italian workshops, the combo saves an additional 2.7 watts over the standard RCR cockpit. It ships with ergo drops inserts for grip on the hoods and drops, a GPS mount compatible with Garmin, Wahoo, and Bryton computers, and mounting points for optional triathlon extensions. Handlebar width and stem length scale with frame size — a detail that matters for aerodynamic position consistency across the range.

Shimano Ultegra Di2 Groupset

This build runs Shimano Ultegra Di2: R8150 front and rear derailleurs, R8170 hydraulic disc brake levers and calipers, an R8100 12-speed crankset with 52/36 chainrings, and an R8100 11-34 cassette. Crank length is size-specific, ranging from 165mm at XXS/XS to 175mm at L/XL. The crankset ships with an INPEAK-E rechargeable power sensor integrated into the left crank. Most race bikes at this price leave power measurement as a post-purchase decision — here it arrives already in the drivetrain, calibrated and ready to race.

Braking is handled by Shimano R8170 hydraulic disc calipers with a 160mm rotor up front and 140mm at the rear. The modulation is consistent and confidence-inspiring on wet descents — important for a bike intended to race in all conditions that a flat classic can produce.

Swiss Side Hadron² Classic 625 Wheels

The RCR-F Pro ships on Swiss Side Hadron² Classic 625 wheels — 62mm deep carbon rims with hook construction, DT Swiss hubs, and a rim profile shared with the Hadron² Ultimate series. Front wheel weight is 848g; rear is 996g. The 62mm depth sits firmly in the aero range and suits the flat and rolling terrain this bike was built for without becoming unmanageable in crosswinds.

Tires run an asymmetric setup: Continental Aero 111 TLR in 700x26 up front for aerodynamic profile in the fork, and Continental GP 5000S TR in 700x28 at the rear for rolling resistance and compliance. Both are tubeless-ready. Van Rysel includes tubeless valves and sealant in the box, so the setup is complete from the first ride.

Final Take

The Van Rysel RCR-F Pro Ultegra Di2 is a complete aero race bike — the frame co-developed with a World Tour team, the cockpit engineered as part of the same aerodynamic system, and the power meter already built into the crankset. At $7,499, the level of integration and verified performance is hard to match. If your season includes flat gran fondos, criteriums, or fast-paced stage races where the road stays under you, this is the bike that earns its keep.