You have to go back to the turn of the millennium – to the days when a certain Texan was not on his way to winning seven consecutive Tours de France – to find Decathlon’s previous entry into the WorldTour. Back then, the French sporting goods giant provided bikes for the AG2R team, and now, after a hiatus of a couple of decades, it is doing so again.
Related questions you can explore with Ask Cyclist, our new AI search engine.
Van Rysel: Development and frameset
For 2024, Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale have ditched the brown bibs and picked up the Van Rysel RCR Pro, the premium offering from the Decathlon-owned brand and one of the most talked-about bikes of the year. The aim, according to Van Rysel engineer Louis Defaut, was to create a bike that was competitively priced compared to the majority of rival bikes on the market, but didn’t compromise on weight or aerodynamics.
‘The idea was to reach 6.8kg on the RCR Pro and to make it as fast as possible,’ says Defaut. ‘At first we had no experience in aerodynamics, so Onera [France’s answer to NASA] was clearly the best partner for us, with its experience in aerospace and adjacent aerodynamics. Plus the lab is over the road from us.’
The Pro version of the RCR has a claimed frame weight of 790g (size medium), while the next-level-down version – the RCR, tested here – is an extra 40g at a claimed frame weight of 830g. The difference, says Defaut, is in the carbon fibre used in the frame.
‘The Pro is 10% stiffer in the head tube thanks to a more premium carbon that is stiffer and lighter but less resilient. You can’t use it throughout the bike as it would crack and it’s prohibitively expensive to use in the non-Pro.’
The frame is available in a raw carbon finish, rather than painted, which Van Rysel estimates saves up to 100g per frame.
‘The RCR isn’t far from the Cannondale SuperSix and the Specialized S-Works SL8 in terms of weight,’ says Defaut. ‘But with aerodynamics it is up there with pure aero bikes.’
To hone the aero tube shapes of the RCR, Van Rysel 3D printed eight different versions of the RCR frameset and subjected them to tests using computational fluid dynamics – a computer-based method of tracing the flow of gases – and laser tomoscopy – the visualisation of turbulence using smoke in a wind-tunnel. Van Rysel hasn’t released any wind-tunnel data, but according to Tour magazine’s numbers (the German magazine is famed for its lab-based testing protocols), the RCR sits in the top ten fastest bikes in the pro peloton.
The AG2R team’s proximity to many podiums in 2024 is testament to the efficacy of the RCR, and considering its price point is around half what many WorldTour-level bikes are asking, it’s no wonder that the Van Rysel RCR is generating so much interest.
Van Rysel RCR: Build
Despite the price, Van Rysel builds the RCRs with a range of well-regarded components and a Zipp 404 Firecrest wheelset, which alone retails for north of £1,500. This test build was equipped with power-equipped SRAM Force AXS. The RCR is also available with matching Shimano Ultegra Di2 and Ultegra 8170 wheels for £500 more – swapping in a Stages power meter. Van Rysel fits the Zipps with Michelin’s 28mm Power Cup tyres, which were set up with tubes.
Contributing to the aero light focus is the collaboration with Deda on the semi-integrated Superzero RS carbon handlebar (400/420/440mm) which has a large flat bar top surface and the Deda x Van Rysel Superbox EVO stem (80-120mm) with brake cables threaded underneath.
‘We worked with Deda on the bars and stem and were able to shed about 30 grams from the previous Deda model. We will add a flared road version soon,’ says Defaut.
Moving up to the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM Red AXS tier (both are available on the RCR Pro frame) sees an integrated cockpit swapped in, but that sacrifices the adjustability of the test build’s two-piece setup. The Fizik Antares R5 saddle completes this test RCR.
Van Rysel RCR: Geometry
The frame geometry is the same for the RCR and RCR Pro, and the figure that most stands out is the stack. Compared to three similarly aero race bikes – the Specialized Tarmac SL8, the Cannondale SuperSix and the Giant Propel Advanced – the RCR’s short head tube contributes to a 572mm stack in a size large, which is roughly 20mm lower than the S-Works and the Cannondale (both size 58) and 9mm lower than the Propel (large). This low riding position suggests the RCR is a bike designed to cater specifically to racers.
‘We wanted the RCR to be aggressive and fully focussed on performance,’ says Defaut.
But will this put off riders with less cutthroat ambitions?
‘Maybe one or two percent of customers are sometimes a bit frustrated by the geometry,’ says Defaut. ‘But we have good solutions that you can use via our bike-fitting service.’
Adding to its race credentials, the RCR’s 410mm chainstays contribute to a wheelbase of 1,001.5mm (size large), which is again shorter than its Specialized, Cannondale and Giant rivals, if only by a smidge. A shorter wheelbase makes for a tighter turning circle, and Defaut again points to the bike’s race focus: ‘We wanted to keep the handling responsive,’ he says.
That said, the forks are the same for every frame size of the RCR, meaning the trail figure will vary from size to size, which suggests there will be some variety in handling across the range.
Van Rysel RCR: Ride experience
For a bike with its roots in the Flandrian part of northern France (Van Rysel means ‘from Lille’), the RCR was far more at home on smooth tarmac than the rough pavé of its home territory. This is something backed up by its pro performances for Decathlon-AG2R at the major tours – the team won the teams classification at the Giro d’Italia – compared with somewhat middling results at the Flandrian Classics.
Out on the tarmac, the RCR made a good first impression. Its climbing benefitted from a concertedly stiff spine and Zipp’s stiff and light 404 Firecrest wheels. Despite the dropped seatstays, I found the frame delivered little in the way of compliance, with road buzz coming up and through the seatpost loud and clear.
Van Rysel makes no excuse for this: ‘The RCR is not comfort-focussed,’ says Defaut. ‘It’s speed-focussed.’
While this feedback had a slight impact on my descending confidence, once onto the flats the RCR flourished. Tucked low on the ergonomically sound Deda handlebars, I could make the RCR fly. Despite its relatively wide and supple 28mm tyres, I could still feel every bump in the road, but that stiffness in the frame meant that every watt my legs could produce seemed to feed directly into the wheels with no seepage of power.
The handling was on the right side of keen and was largely confidence-inspiring despite the shorter wheelbase. And apparently there is a spec with a flared road bar on the way, which will be welcome for some people. Having the option to adopt a wider stance on the drops when cornering and descending should help to offset any skittishness arising from the RCR’s stiffness.
Van Rysel RCR road bike review verdict
My experience of riding the RCR was largely positive. It might not be a bike that oozes character, nor does it excel in any one area, but it’s plenty stiff for even the most ambitious amateurs, resoundingly fast and competitively light even without the Pro model’s minor weight savings. Van Rysel’s work with Deda has yielded a well-designed and accessible cockpit system that will soon be more customisable.
The RCR will satisfy riders looking to capitalise on speed wherever possible, even if its stiffness means a fairly harsh ride is part of the package. But it’s the price that will be of greatest interest to potential customers of the Van Rysel RCR. For a bike that can hold its own with the best in terms of weight and aerodynamics, and comes complete with Zipp 404 Firecrest wheels and power meter-equipped SRAM Force AXS groupset, a pricetag of £5,000 seems astonishing.
The RCR is going to be popular, and I can see why.
| Price | £5,000 |
| Brand | Van Rysel |
| Frame | RCR |
| Fork | RCR |
| Weight | 7.8 kg (Large) |
| Sizes available | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Headset | Deda x Van Rysel Superbox Evo |
| Levers | Sram Force eTap AXS D2 |
| Brakes | Sram Force 160/140mm |
| Rear derailleur | Sram Force eTap AXS D2 (max 36t) |
| Front derailleur | Sram Force eTap AXS D2 |
| Crankset | Sram Force D2 DUB PM 48/35T & Quarq Power Sensor |
| Bottom bracket | Sram DUB Pressfit 86.5mm |
| Cassette | Sram Force XG 1270 D1 10-33T |
| Chain | Sram Force |
| Wheels | Zipp 404 Firecrest |
| Tyres | Michelin Power Cup Black 28mm |
| Cockpit | Deda x Van Rysel Superbox Evo |
| Seatpost | RCR Carbon seatpost -15mm |
| Saddle | Fizik Argo Antares R5 |
- Buy the Van Rysel RCR now from Decathlon (from £4,000)
