French bicycle manufacturer Lapierre has introduced a limited-edition version of its flagship road frameset to celebrate 80 years since the company was founded. The Xelius DRS 80th Anniversary frameset is limited to 100 individually numbered pieces.
The launch pays tribute to Gaston Lapierre, who established the brand in Dijon, France, in 1946. Over the past eight decades, the company has transitioned from producing utility workhorses, such as the 1980s La Poste bicycle, to engineering elite racing technology.
The special-edition frameset features a new ‘Kinetic Dust’ colourway concept, which the company says… ‘represents the emotional residue of performance.’ Visually, the design showcases particle dispersion across the frame, with the density increasing in high-stress areas such as the bottom bracket, aero fork, and the junction of the seat stays and top tube.
The finish incorporates three symbolic colours. Dark Blue represents the brand’s heritage, while the company adds that Teal signifies the moment pain transforms into momentum. Champagne is used to convey quiet satisfaction and personal victory.
The frameset utilises the race-proven sixth-generation Xelius DRS platform. Team Picnic PostNL rode the special-edition frame during Stage 10 of the Tour de France on July 14, 2026. This date, Bastille Day, was chosen to honour the brand’s French roots and history.
Beneath the custom paint design, the Xelius DRS features signature 3D Tubular Technology for increased comfort. Built with an ultra-premium UD Factory Lab carbon layup, the frame has a raw weight of 740g and delivers a claimed 15% aerodynamic improvement over its predecessor, the Xelius SL3.
Lapierre has a history of technological milestones in both road and off-road cycling. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it developed patented FPS full-suspension technology for mountain bikes before later entering the e-mobility sector with premium eMTBs. The company introduced its first full-carbon road frames at the turn of the millennium.
The Xelius model was first introduced in 2010. Since then, the brand’s Burgundy-based engineering team has continuously updated the frame, which has been ridden to stage victories at all three Grand Tours.
Dorian Tabeau, Global Brand Manager at Lapierre, said “When we were designing this frameset to celebrate the brand’s 80th anniversary, we wanted to embrace the philosophy of Lapierre, which is why we focused on the raw, emotional reality of cycling.
“The ‘Kinetic Dust’ artwork captures the beautiful grit of performance – the transition from pain to momentum, and ultimately, to success. Eighty years of heritage isn’t a static milestone for us; it’s a story of continuous forward motion rooted in our home of Dijon.”
Only 100 Xelius DRS 80th Anniversary framesets will be available internationally. Offered in small, medium, and large sizes, the frameset is priced at €4,499.
Founded in Dijon, France, Lapierre produces a range of more than 150 models and achieves annual sales of around 100,000 bicycles worldwide, specialising in road, mountain bike, gravel, and e-bike segments.
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