New Product: Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO Wheels

For over 25 years, Bora wheels have symbolized the high-end of the Campagnolo brand. The Italian firm is now presenting its latest creation, the result of 3 years of development and exclusively for disc brake bikes: the Bora Ultra WTO.

By Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: All rights reserved

Available in 3 different rim depths (33, 45, and 60 mm), this new model boasts improvements in all key parameters: aerodynamics, stiffness, and weight.

New spoke nipples, announced as easy to maintain, a redesigned hub, and a new carbon rim are the modifications that allow the brand to achieve the desired result.

Furthermore, the aesthetics have been carefully considered with the introduction of an iridescent copper logo on the hub and the rim itself.

Technically, here are the model’s specifications:

Aero Mo-Mag™

Concealed inside the rim, Aero Mo-Mag™ technology is an evolution of Mo-Mag™ technology, allowing for better airflow. But aerodynamics is not the only aspect concerned, as the system also allows for the spoke nipple and valve holes to be created directly in the rim mold, thus eliminating the need to drill holes in the carbon fiber. This solution increases internal strength and reduces stress, which improves the fatigue resistance of the assembled wheel.

The Bora Ultra WTO also offers other advantages, such as the absence of holes in the rim bed, eliminating the need for rim tape, which makes it possible to mount both tubeless-ready tires and tubed (tube-type) tires (2-way Fit). The Aero Mo-Mag™ system also avoids the usual problems of internal spoke nipples by allowing spoke tension to be adjusted even with the tire mounted.

H.U.L.C Construction

All Bora Ultra WTO rims have been redesigned to optimize weight and overall performance. The rims, aerodynamically ideal for 25 mm tires, are handcrafted from ultralight carbon. H.U.L.C construction is the result of development work carried out over several generations of carbon fiber. Specifically, the Bora Ultra WTO now weighs only 1425 g in its 45 mm version.

C-LUX Finish

Beyond performance, the aesthetic has not been overlooked, with the rim and front hub benefiting from a Campagnolo Luxury (C-LUX) mirror-polished finish, which also contributes to reducing the wheel’s weight. Applied to the rim bed, as Campagnolo has done for the first time on its new Bora Ultra WTO, the finish also ensures the most secure positioning of tubeless tires and reduces the risk of damage to the tire beads.

CULT™

The Bora Ultra WTO is equipped with Campagnolo Ceramic Ultimate Level Technology (CULT) bearings in both hubs, which are now aerodynamically optimized with a narrower flange. CULT ceramic bearings are more efficient, offering, according to the Italian brand, 5.5 times less friction than standard sealed steel bearings. According to internal tests, when spinning at a speed of 78 km/h, a Campagnolo wheel equipped with CULT bearings takes 2h45 to stop. This figure is to be compared with the 30 minutes observed with normal sealed bearings.

G3™

The proprietary asymmetric G3™ spoke lacing has been optimized for disc brakes. It contributes to overall stiffness, primarily by improving power transfer but also by allowing for better stability during heavy braking.

N3W™

The new wheels use the Next 3 Ways (N3W) freehub body, first released last July. N3W is a patented freehub body standard that can accommodate 11, 12, and 13-speed Campagnolo cassettes. The wheels are also available with Shimano HG and SRAM XDR freehub bodies.

At the Highest Level

Campagnolo confirms that input from World Tour teams (UAE Team Emirates, Lotto-Soudal, and Ag2R-Citroen Team) regularly allows for extensive testing of new equipment. While the Bora Ultra WTO wheel has just been released commercially, it has already won the 7^th stage of the UAE Tour, thanks to Caleb Ewan. As for Tadej Pogačar, he won the overall classification of the same race using these wheels.

The Bora Ultra WTO range is available now at a price of €3150 (recommended retail price) (with N3W Campagnolo freehub body).

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