Visma–Lease a Bike is testing new carbon-spoked Reserve wheels at the 2025 Tour de France.
The rims are pre-existing – we spotted 34 and 57mm deep front wheels, and a 64mm-deep rear wheel – but all have been reverse-engineered with carbon spokes. The 57/64 combination appears to be a new wheelset designed specifically for the updated S5, which we’ve also seen at this year’s Grand Départ (look out for a gallery on that bike coming soon).
Until now, Reserve hasn’t employed carbon spokes in its wheels.
In order to fit the spokes, Cervélo’s sports marketing director Richard Keeskamp said Reserve (a sibling brand of Cervélo) worked with hubset specialists Tune, to develop custom hubs with a lightweight shell and ceramic bearings.
The spokes attach to the rim via alloy nipples, which, in theory, makes them easier to replace.
The design is similar in principle to that adopted by Hunt on its 48 Limitless UD Carbon Spoke Disc wheelset (plus others) and the FFWD Raw 44 hoops.
Keeskamp confirmed to BikeRadar that, in this case, the spokes are just as aerodynamic as their steel counterparts due to their bladed design.
We weren’t able to weigh the wheels, but Keeskamp confirmed the carbon spokes were chosen for their lighter weight (relative to most steel spokes), as well as the more lively ride sensation they offer.
This tallies with my broad reflections when testing the Hunt and FFWD wheels, while Keeskamp said that the Visma pros who have tried the wheels were enjoying how they handled when climbing and descending.
Expect to see them raced in anger when the Tour hits the mountains, and Jonas Vingegaard and co. try to usurp pre-race favourite Tadej Pogačar.