Compare
Bianchi Aquila RC vs Van Rysel XCR UCI
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Bianchi Aquila RC starts €700 cheaper (€6,800 vs €7,500 for the Van Rysel XCR UCI).
- Our verdict scores both 75/100 overall.
- Tire clearance: up to 28 mm on the Bianchi Aquila RC vs 30 mm on the Van Rysel XCR UCI.
- The Bianchi Aquila RC comes in 3 sizes, the Van Rysel XCR UCI in 5.
Bianchi Aquila RC
Van Rysel XCR UCI
| BianchiAquila RC | Van RyselXCR UCI | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Bianchi | Van Rysel |
| Build | Aquila RC Dura-Ace Di2 4iiii Power Meter | XCR UCI Ultegra Di2 |
| Build notes | Bianchi code YUB56. Bianchi's site shows €13,390 in its product data and on the other Aquila RC pages, but €13,290 in the main price on this English product page. | EUR price and spec from Van Rysel's XCR factsheet (October 2024). Decathlon's European shops block automated access, so the current price could not be re-checked. Weight without accessories. The factsheet lists Dura-Ace BR-R9170 calipers and 170/172.5/175 mm cranks (XS-S/M/L). GBP from vanrysel.com/en-GB (November 2026). |
| Price (MSRP) | €13,390€13,390€13,390 | €7,500€7,500£7,500 |
| Bike weight | — | 8.5 kg18.7 lb |
| Weight measured on size | — | M |
| Model year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Generation | Aquila RC (disc) | XCR (1st generation) |
| Launched | 2025-02 | 2024 |
| Discipline | Time trial | Time trial |
| UCI legal | Yes | Yes |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 75 | 75 |
| Aero | 88 | 82 |
| Frame | 86 | 84 |
| Components | 72 | 78 |
| Hydration & storage | 45 | 45 |
| Fit | 66 | 70 |
| Practicality | 60 | 64 |
| Price | 75 | 70 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon | High-modulus carbon (40T, 30T and 24T fibres) |
| Fork material | Carbon | High-modulus carbon (XCR fork, specific by size) |
| Frame weight | 1,300 g2.87 lb | 1,329 g2.93 lb |
| Fork weight | 400 g14.1 oz | 498 g17.6 oz |
| Weight measured on | Frame size M (BikeRadar launch report); Bianchi's page gives 1.3 kg frame and 400 g fork | Size M, raw finish (factsheet); the white paper gives 470 g for the fork |
| Frame sizes | S, M, L | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Colours | AD - White / Petrol Green - Mint; ZY - Metallic Celeste / Black UD Carbon | Raw black |
| Also available as | — | XCR Tri (triathlon frame with toolbox, bento box and tri cockpit) and XCR Hybrid (tri cockpit without toolbox) |
| UCI frame approval | On the UCI list as 'AQUILA' (frame and fork), sizes S-L (3), approved 19.07.2024, code BIANCHI-038 (UCI list version 2026.10.02) | On the UCI list as 'RCR-X / TT_23' with fork 'TT_23', sizes XS-XL (5), approved 02.05.2023, code VRSL-TT23 (UCI list version 2026.10.02) |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc, flat mount 140/160 | Hydraulic disc |
| Max rotor size | 160 mm | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 28 mm | 30 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | PressFit 86.5x41 | Press-fit (Shimano SM-BB72-41B fitted) |
| Front axle | 12x100 thru-axle | 12x100 thru-axle |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle | 12x142 thru-axle |
| 1x compatible | Yes | — |
| Max chainring | 62T | — |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Aerobar system | Integrated Bianchi Reparto Corse cockpit by Vision with Vision JS-bend extensions; compatible with Vision TFE extensions | Van Rysel XCR base bar with Deda Jet 2 extensions on a single-block mount |
| Pad stack adjustment range | Supplied with 75 mm of spacers (3 x 20 mm, 1 x 10 mm, 1 x 5 mm); pad stack 624/639/662 mm (S/M/L) with the 75 mm of spacers | — |
| Pad reach adjustment range | Pad reach 473/491/511 mm (S/M/L) as listed in Bianchi's geometry table | — |
| Seatpost type | Bianchi custom airfoil seatpost with Ritchey head | — |
| Fit notes | — | Cockpit height set with 10 to 95 mm of spacers and extension angle from 0° to 25°; Van Rysel says the TT cockpit's depth and width adjustments are limited to stay within UCI rules. |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | Bianchi claims 16.1 W less drag than the previous Aquila at 50 km/h, 37 seconds faster over a 40.7 km time trial, and lower drag than the previous Aquila and the best competitor it tested across yaw angles from -20° to 20°. | Van Rysel's white paper claims 2.8 W less drag than its best benchmark bike at 45 km/h (weighted yaw -20° to 20°) with a rear disc and 80 mm front wheel, and 3.4 W less with 80 mm wheels front and rear. |
| Testing method | Sketches, CAD, CFD simulation, prototypes and road testing with Bianchi's WorldTour riders | CFD on 14 prototypes and wind-tunnel testing with Swiss Side and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale time trialists |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Proprietary parts | Integrated Reparto Corse/Vision bar-stem, custom airfoil seatpost and clamp, FSA custom headset | XCR base bar, XCR seatpost, size-specific XCR fork |
| Sold via | Bianchi dealers | Decathlon stores and websites |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 |
| Launched | 2021 · current generation | 2021 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Drivetrain | 2x12 | 2x12 |
| Shifters | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9270 with SW-R9160 | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9180 with SW-R9160 extension switches |
| Position | — | SW-R9160 on the extensions, ST-R9180 on the base bar |
| Notes | Listed as shifter lever ST-R9270 and sprint shifter SW-R9160 | — |
| Crankset | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 + 4iiii Precision 3+ | Shimano Ultegra R8100 |
| Chainrings | 52/36 | 52/36 |
| Crank length | 170 (S) / 172.5 (M-L) | 170 (XS-S) / 172.5 (M) / 175 (L) |
| Power meter | 4iiii Precision 3+ | Inpeak Powercrank-E Single |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | — |
| Type | — | Crank arm |
| Measurement | Dual-sided | Left only |
| Bottom bracket | Shimano SM-BB92-41B | Shimano SM-BB72-41B |
| Front derailleur | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 |
| Max cog | — | 34T |
| Cassette | Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 | Shimano Ultegra R8101 |
| Range | 11-30 | 11-30 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M9100 | Shimano CN-M8100 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | — | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-R9180 |
| Brake calipers | Shimano Dura-Ace BR-R9270 | Shimano Dura-Ace BR-R9170 |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Rotors | Shimano RT-CL900 | Shimano RT-CL800 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 160 mm | 140 mm |
| Mount | Center Lock | Center Lock |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Bianchi Reparto Corse RC50R/RC65R SPBTech | Swiss Side Hadron² Ultimate 625 / 800 |
| Front rim depth | 50 mm | — |
| Rear rim depth | 65 mm | — |
| Rear disc wheel | No | No |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | — | Yes |
| Hubs | — | DT Swiss 180 |
| Spokes | 24h | — |
| Weight | 1,520 g3.35 lb | — |
| Tires | Pirelli P Zero Race SL TLR | Michelin Power Cup TLR |
| Tire width | 28 mm | 25 mm |
| Type | — | Tubeless-ready |
| Casing | 120 TPI | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Basebar | Bianchi Reparto Corse by Vision | Van Rysel XCR base bar |
| Notes | Integrated bar/stem, 110 mm / 400 mm (S-L) | — |
| Extensions | Vision JS bend carbon | Deda Jet 2 |
| Material | Carbon | — |
| Notes | Compatible with Vision TFE extensions (not included; TFE bridge not included) | Listed as 'Deda Jet 2 M 370' |
| Headset | FSA Custom | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Selle Italia Watt 3D | Fizik Aeris SD |
| Rails | Carbon | — |
| Seatpost | Bianchi Custom Airfoil Shape | Van Rysel XCR |
| Notes | Ritchey head; length 280 mm (S), 300 mm (M), 350 mm (L) | — |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | S, M, L | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Rider height min | 155–183 cm5′1″–6′0″ | 155–186 cm5–6′1″ |
| Rider height max | 171–197 cm5′7″–6′6″ | 166–196 cm5–6′5″ |
| Stack | 486–524 mm19.1–20.6″ | 468.7–539.3 mm18.5–21.2″ |
| Reach | 402–440 mm15.8–17.3″ | 380.3–444.3 mm15–17.5″ |
| Pad stack max | 624–662 mm24.6–26.1″ | — |
| Seat angle min | 77.5° | 79–79.8° |
| Seat angle max | 77.5° | 79–79.8° |
| Head tube angle | 72° | 71–72° |
| Head tube length | 75–115 mm3–4.5″ | 65–136 mm2.6–5.4″ |
| Effective top tube | 510–556 mm20.1–21.9″ | 489.3–570.9 mm19.3–22.5″ |
| Seat tube length | 510–560 mm20.1–22″ | 484.9–550.2 mm19.1–21.7″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 421.7 mm16.6″ |
| Wheelbase | 986–1,036 mm38.8–40.8″ | 979–1,058 mm38.5–41.7″ |
| BB drop | 75 mm3″ | 74.6 mm2.9″ |
| Fork length | 370.5 mm14.6″ | 366.3 mm14.4″ |
| Fork offset | 45 mm1.8″ | 45 mm1.8″ |
| Front centre | 588–638 mm23.1–25.1″ | — |
| Saddle height min | — | 579–724 mm22.8–28.5″ |
| Saddle height max | — | 729–914 mm28.7–36″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).