Bianchi has unveiled the next-generation Specialissima, its flagship all-round road bike, claiming it is the lightest model the company has ever produced while also offering improved aerodynamics and better vibration damping than its predecessor.
You can expect a slew of bike launches before the Tour de France starts (4th July) – it’s the same every year – and Bianchi has gone early with news of the Specialissima’s first major redesign since September 2023.
Bianchi says that the new model is lighter and more aero than previously, which you’d almost certainly have predicted, and that it features updated Countervail technology that provides higher vibration-damping capabilities.
Let’s talk about the weight first because that’s easy to quantify. The Specialissima frameset comes in three tiers, with the ultra-premium RC (Reparto Corse) version being 40g lighter than previously, coming in at just 750g in a size 55. As we’re always pointing out, dropping weight is relatively easy – you just use less material – but Bianchi says it has done so while maintaining the same level of stiffness. That’s more difficult.
Bianchi says that the new Specialissima also delivers a 16-watt improvement on its predecessor at 50km/h (31mph). In other words, the claim is that it requires less power to hold that speed. Bianchi hasn’t, though, given us many aero details to support that headline claim – whether this figure was derived from CFD (computational fluid dynamics) or measured in the wind tunnel, whether multiple yaw angles were considered, and so on.
It has said, though, that a revamped fork offers a 17% increase in aerodynamic efficiency, a new integrated handlebar is “25% more aerodynamic and features naturally convergent shifter levers for more ergonomic and aero-efficient hand placement”, and that a new D-shaped carbon seatpost “further enhances the bike’s overall aerodynamic profile”.
Cancelling vibration
Interestingly, Bianchi says that a new Countervail (CV) formula improves the Specialissima’s vibration-cancelling capabilities. Countervail is a US supplier of composite materials designed to reduce vibration. Bianchi has been using Countervail tech since 2013.
Countervail products are used in several industries, including aerospace and automotive. Bianchi retains the exclusive rights to use the technology in the cycling industry, the idea being to reduce muscle fatigue and increase control. You can check out the tech here.
Bianchi says, “All the new Specialissima models integrate Countervail technology, featuring a new formula that provides higher vibration-damping capabilities. This delivers maximum comfort and control during high-speed, technical descents whilst maintaining the necessary stiffness for explosive sprints and accelerations.”
We’ve not ridden the new Specialissima so we can’t comment on that, but we’ll request one for review here on road.cc.
As mentioned, the new Specialissima comes in three tiers…
Specialissima RC sits at the top of the tree; it’s the one that the Bahrain Victorious pro team will use for hilly/mountainous stages, sitting alongside the Oltre RC. It’s available with top-level SRAM Red AXS and Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset options priced at €11,500 (which converts to about £9,920, although Bianchi wasn’t able to provide us with official UK prices).
The next tier is Specialissima Pro. This one has a claimed frame weight of 850g. It’s available in second-level SRAM Force AXS and Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset options priced at €7,700 (which converts to about £6,645, but that’s not an official UK RRP).
The base level Specialissima is available in SRAM Rival AXS, Shimano Ultegra and Shimano 105 Di2 groupset options, with prices starting from €5,200 (which converts to £4,490).
1 thought on “Bianchi’s updated Specialissima is its lightest ever, with aero gains designed to make it “the ultimate all-rounder””
Funny how all bikes have become all-rounders. No specialist bikes anymore, just one bike to rule them all. Is that just a pendulum swing or something deeper?