VAN RYSEL, the high-performance Flemish bike & equipment brand owned by French retailer Decathlon, has launched its new RCR-F aero road bike.
Already raced at the highest level by Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, the RCR-F is now available to the public for the first time.
The VAN RYSEL RCR-F was co-designed with Swiss Side and the Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale team. An RCR-F prototype was first ridden by the team in May 2024, with the final version debuting at the Tour de France later that year.
In 2025, VAN RYSEL notes that the aero road bike has already claimed three sprint victories with Sam Bennett and Dorian Godon. From today, cyclists worldwide will be able to ride the same bike as the pros.
Leveraging new UCI rules, VAN RYSEL has enhanced key structural elements of the frame. The headtube is 7% stiffer than the RCR Pro bike, with the bottom bracket also receiving reinforcement. The bike weighs 7.5kg in its Dura-Ace variant and is reportedly 13 watts faster than the original RCR.
According to VAN RYSEL.. ‘The RCR-F is engineered to excel across a variety of race types: One-day classics with minimal elevation gain, flat or rolling stages with a sprint finish and medium mountain stages with steady climbs not exceeding 5%.’
As well as being a powerful platform for relatively new triathletes looking for a fast, aerodynamic bike without stepping up to a full TT rig – an Aerobar Kit, specifically designed for the RCR-F combo, is available to add extensions and optimise positioning.
The cockpit was developed by Van Rysel and manufactured by Deda with a 12° flare to offer comfort without sacrificing aerodynamics. Ergonomic refinements on the drops offer enhanced grip and leverage, particularly during sprints. The Ergodrops also orient the wrists to minimise the cyclist’s frontal surface and optimise their position against the wind.
VAN RYSEL’s engineers tested over six bike concepts to select the most efficient design for the RCR-F. The frame is constructed using Super High Mod Carbon, reducing the amount of material needed while preserving the stiffness typically associated with thicker fibres.
Jeremie Debeuf, Van Rysel’s Head of Product, said “When Van Rysel promises consumers the fastest bike, we mean it.
“The frameset and components on the highest-spec model are identical to those used at the WorldTour level. The RCR-F is a pure race bike – designed for speed, and nothing else.”
The VAN RYSEL RCR-F will be available to purchase initially equipped with any of the three Shimano groupsets (Dura Ace Di2, Ultegra Di2, 105 Di2), with SRAM models expected in summer 2025.
The bike will be available to buy online through VAN RYSEL’s website; and premium cycling retailer Sigma Sports will be the RCR-F’s exclusive retail partner in the UK.
