Cannondale hasn’t been shy about teasing the release of the new SuperSix EVO road bike over the last few months. EF Education-EasyPost rider Andrey Amador was spotted riding a Cannondale that looked slightly updated, at least from a distance, in late December 2022. EF riders have been riding what looked to be the new EVO from the start of their training camp this January. It’s even seen a win under Magus Cort at the Volta ao Algarve.
Now Cannondale has lifted what felt like the most translucent curtain they could find to unveil the fourth generation of the Cannondale SuperSix EVO. Most folks would probably see the outgoing EVO and the new one side by side and think it was a real-life case of the Spiderman meme. While we don’t have our hands on the bike quite yet, here is everything we know about Cannondale’s latest race-ready road bike.
SuperSix EVO Details
For years, a majority of Cannondale bikes came with their own in-house cranks called Hollowgram Si. Si stood for “System Integration,” and rather than ditching them for other options, Cannondale fans loved just how light, stiff, and versatile they were. This fourth-generation SuperSix EVO no longer uses those cranks, but the System Integration ethos continues today to indicate a holistic approach toward aero efficiency, user-friendliness, and cutting the fat where necessary.
Aero was a significant area of focus for the new EVO. The frame and fork have been revised, but Cannondale also designed its seatpost, bars, and even wheels in conjunction with the frame. For Cannondale – and a number of other options like the ENVE Melee and BMC Teammachine SLR – creating a bike as an optimized package is the next step in improving aero efficiency. As a result, Cannondale touts the latest EVO can save a full 12 watts of power at 45 km/h (28 mph) over the previous bike. Their wind tunnel testing also claims that the SuperSix EVO is faster than the likes of the Specialized Tarmac SL7 and Trek Emonda SLR. Heady stuff.
You can see these aero tweaks across the frameset, small as they may be. The SuperSix EVO maintains the fully internal cable routing of the previous EVO, but it ditches the opening at the front of the headtube to route the cables through the headset, between the headset bearing and the fork’s steerer tube. Cannondale claims that doing so allows for a narrower – and thus more aerodynamic – headtube area. The seat tube and seatpost are deeper now to further aid aero efficiency. The bike now uses fully-enclosed front and rear dropouts that are admirably clean, and according to Cannondale, more aerodynamic. There are even aero bottle cages that are said to smooth airflow around the bike with a water bottle in place.
Top SuperSix EVO models receive the new SystemBar R-One, a one-piece carbon handlebar and stem that further complements the bike’s drag reduction. The bar itself is a partnership with Italian motorsports company MOMODesign, best known for wheels, seats, and steering wheels. While Cannondale says their engineers focused on drag reduction, MOMO focused on ergonomic refinement and style. The result is a striking integrated bar design, regardless of where you stand on this type of integration.
Those who want to dither with their handlebar setups or adjust the angle of their bars can use the C1 Conceal stem, which allows for use with your favorite drop bar that uses a 31.8 mm clamp.
Alongside that mantra of “System Integration” is the introduction of new wheels. The Cannondale HollowGram R-50 comes in two flavors: HollowGram R-SL 50 at 1520 g, and HollowGram R-S 50 at 1620 grams. These hooked rims share the same profile: 50 mm depth, 21 mm internal width, and 32 mm external width. Both wheelsets receive DT Swiss hub internals, a plus in our books as they can be maintained without special tools and can be easily adapted to different freehub or frame spacing setups.
Alongside that user-friendliness are a number of features new to the SuperSix EVO. Threaded bottom bracket fans rejoice: the EVO now sports a standard BSA 68 mm bottom bracket, finally making the same changes that the Cannondale Synapse and Topstone received. Below that is an easy-access Di2 battery port that allows for wiring to be neatly routed to the derailleurs. Riders who want to take advantage of the SmartSense system first introduced on the Synapse – with its on-board lights and rear-facing radar – can do so.
Cannondale claims a painted 56cm SuperSix EVO weighs just 770g, Complete LAB71 SuperSix EVO bikes weigh just 6.8kg (14.99 lbs), right at the UCI minimum. EVO Hi-MOD frames weigh in at about 815g, while standard carbon models are said to weigh about 915g. All EVO models tout a tire clearance for 30mm tires with over 6mm clearance on either side.
SuperSix EVO, Courtesy of LAB71
We’ve mentioned LAB71 a few times here. In short, LAB71 is what Cannondale calls their new no-holds-barred sub-brand. Think of it as a skunkworks akin to BMW M or Mercedes-AMG in the automotive world, where engineers are encouraged to build the best version of a platform that they can. More than just outright speed and efficiency, LAB71 is supposed to give their bikes a more premium feel, with improved finishes and special touches that befit a premier bike.
LAB71’s first entry is the SuperSix EVO LAB71, which receives the best Cannondale has to offer. There are four finishes available with the LAB71 bikes, including that EF-livery version that’s been plastered about in spy shots. Riders who want the complete build will have to love a ruby red clearcoat and a whole bunch of satin black.
Of course, that premium feel and performance comes with a premium price tag. While Cannondale touts the LAB71 SuperSix EVO weighs just 6.8kg, it is priced at an astronomical US $15,000 / €14,999. Call it an aspirational bike with aspirational pricing.
SuperSix EVO Geometry
Loyal fans of the SuperSix EVO likely feel that the bike’s handling and steering geometry are what make the EVO one of the top road bikes. They’ll be happy to know that there are minimal changes. Just about every size is unchanged, meaning the nimble, responsive, but stable handling of the previous bike should remain.
There are two fork rake options between larger and smaller sizes to maintain racey trail figures between 58 and 60mm. Doing so allows riders of every height to have similar handling experiences, and the smallest size should smaller riders avoid toe overlap issues
Geometry is shared across the SuperSix EVO regardless of frame material choice.
Folks who rode either a 60 or 62cm EVO previously will need to pour one out, however, as the new EVO consolidates them into a 61cm option. Reach and stack numbers strike a fine balance between the two sizes. If you needed a 62cm model before, the 61cm frame with an extra spacer under the stem should fit you about the same.
Conclusion
The Cannondale SuperSix EVO road bike competes in a loaded field. Choosing a Cannondale over the fray usually required accepting or embracing its quirks. This latest generation road bike seems every bit as refined as the competition without the caveats that could frustrate riders at times, but where does that place the bike amongst devoted EVO fans?
Stay tuned for that. We’ll have a full SuperSix EVO bike review soon enough to put the bike through its paces. Until then, more information can be found at cannondale.com.
0 Commentaires