First ride on the new Cervélo S5, Vingegaard’s rocket

Lighter, more aerodynamic, and just as stiff as ever: is the new Cervélo S5 still the benchmark?

Cervélo is launching a new version of its famous S5, the brand’s aerodynamic bike, which has already been used by Visma | Lease a Bike riders on all types of terrain (including in the mountains) since the Dauphiné. While the bike has changed little aesthetically compared to the remarkable previous version, it’s in the details that it promises to be faster than ever. And after a first test ride at the end of May, near the Visma team headquarters in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, we can confirm that the new Cervélo makes a strong impression. By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©Cervélo – Gruber Images / ©3bikes.fr Since 2011, the Cervélo S5 has been shaking up the aesthetic and aerodynamic norms in the cycling world. This new version—already the fifth iteration—either captivates or repels, but leaves no one indifferent. At first glance it looks quite similar to the model released and reviewed in these pages just over two years ago; however, according to the brand, this new S5 represents a significant improvement in terms of weight and aerodynamics, while maintaining its (very high) stiffness, its (exceptional) stability, and its welcome compatibility with wide rims and 32-mm tires.

Thanks to this compatibility, the Cervélo S5 was already being used in classics like Paris-Roubaix (notably by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who won the women’s race in 2025). With this (slight) weight reduction, it will also be used on the mountain stages of the Tour de France by riders from Visma | Lease a Bike, such as Jonas Vingegaard.

A Design That Remains Iconic

Only connoisseurs will recognize the aesthetic changes to the new Cervélo S5 at first glance. The cockpit, as with the previous version, stands out for its distinctive shape and advanced aerodynamics. It is mounted directly to the fork, which elegantly wraps around the head tube. Cervélo, of course, offers adjustable spacers to customize the stem height, with a single screw to secure the handlebars to the front of the bike. This design slightly limits the steering angle, which can make it difficult to store the bike in a carrying case or a car trunk.

At the rear, the bike features a seat tube sculpted to follow the contour of the wheel, extended by a seatpost that appears deceptively straight. However, the S5’s geometry remains comparable to that of a conventional bike, offering a wide range of adjustment for saddle setback.

The junction between the seat tube and the seat stays—both compact and seamless—optimizes airflow, as does the reduced clearance between the tire and the frame. The generously sized bottom bracket rests on a down tube that follows the contours of the front wheel, enhancing aerodynamics.

Viewed from the front, the Cervélo S5 features a sleek silhouette designed to slice through the air with minimal drag. Its imposing profile, with wide tubes and tall rims, might suggest a certain instability, but every detail has been meticulously engineered to combine performance and control.

Measurable Gains

On the new S5, Cervélo highlights a host of small improvements—not necessarily visible at first glance, but more noticeable on the scale. The brand claims a weight reduction of 29 g (that’s precise!) on the bare frame. The weight reduction is most significant in the handlebar area, which is 100 g lighter in this new version, with slightly more refined shapes, a more pronounced flare at the bottom of the handlebars relative to the position of the brake levers, and no longer offers tilt adjustment compared to the 2023 model. The switch to a monocoque construction and the removal of bolts in this area save 15 g without compromising ergonomics—which we consider excellent. The redesigned seatpost, including its bolts, also saves 33 g.

The fork, on the other hand, is a bit heavier, weighing about 50 grams more due to a wider lower section, which improves aerodynamics. Cervélo compensates with new Reserve wheels that are 57/64 mm tall, lighter than the 52/63 mm wheels tested in 2023.

These taller wheels, with rims that are just as wide (35 mm outer width for the front wheel, 34 mm for the rear), are perfectly integrated into the frame to minimize aerodynamic drag as much as possible. The rear wheel even gets an asymmetrical rim to mate with the slightly offset seat tube.

In terms of aerodynamics, Cervélo highlights more pronounced trailing edges and design lines, as well as a deeper head tube for the frame. The new cockpit shape, featuring a wider V-shaped stem opening, allows the brand to claim a 6.3-watt gain at high speeds for this new S5 compared to the previous version—which was already one of the fastest road bikes on the market, according to numerous independent wind-tunnel tests. We have no way of verifying those numbers here. What we can say for sure is that the top-of-the-line version we tested (with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset) weighs the same with pedals (7.660 kg in size 51) as the bike we tested in 2023 with SRAM Red without pedals. That’s a net weight savings of 220 g for the complete bike.

But to reach 6.8 kg—the UCI weight limit—as Cervélo claims with a special build for Jonas Vingegaard, is a world of difference—and a claim that leaves us skeptical, even though the Visma | Lease a Bike team doesn’t hesitate to build single-chainring bikes for certain occasions. Similarly, when we asked the brand’s engineers about the actual wattage gain of this new S5 with wheels other than the Reserve 57/64—which were specifically designed for the bike—they seemed a bit flustered. They said they didn’t have any figures. Yet if Vingegaard, Kuss, or Van Aert plan to make a difference on the climbs, it will be with wheelsets featuring lower-profile, lighter rims. Could this new Cervélo S5 be nothing more than a marketing ploy?

Stiff yet comfortable

For this first test ride of the new S5, we headed to the Netherlands and ’s-Hertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc in French), home to the impressive headquarters of the Visma | Lease a Bike team, just as a small army of mechanics was assembling the bikes for the men’s and women’s teams—a good month before the official launch.

On the agenda: a flat group ride of about 40 kilometers, with only a few highway overpasses, but above all, very strong winds and little shelter. The ideal playground for the S5, a bike designed to slice through the air—and at high speed, if possible.

We immediately notice Cervélo’s design choices: for a production bike in size 51, it features a 38-cm-wide cockpit, 165-mm cranks, and a large 54-tooth chainring. That’s all it takes to maintain an aggressive riding position, with your shoulders tucked in and an angle between your hips and thighs that encourages a forward-leaning posture. The first few bursts of speed to get out of the parking lot are therefore surprising, giving the impression of having little leverage when standing on the pedals and being unable to fully extend the legs.

The bike is extremely stiff, at least as much as the previous version. The front and rear of the bike respond as a single unit, and there’s no point in relying on any spring effect from the frame or wheelset to compensate for an imperfect move while out of the saddle. The S5 is a bike for pros—or at least for (very) well-trained athletes. It demands flawless coordination between the upper and lower body to remain efficient, and, if possible, maintaining a good cadence. But when everything comes together, it’s a real powerhouse. The bike is very fast, and reaching and maintaining 40 km/h seems easier here than with most bikes on the market.

Beyond this lateral stiffness, the Cervélo S5 doesn’t jar the rider longitudinally. The 29-mm tubeless tires, perfectly suited to the wide rims, ensure comfort and grip. The bike feels stable in corners while bouncing very little on rough surfaces. This characteristic allows you to maintain a high pace, even on the many bike lanes with imperfect pavement found in the Netherlands.

Impressive Stability

Demanding from a performance standpoint yet forgiving in terms of endurance, the Cervélo S5 stands out above all for its incredible stability. Despite its wide tubes, very tall wheels, and minimal clearance between the tubes and wheels, violent, gusty crosswinds, and despite our smaller build, we’ve never felt so secure on a bike of this caliber, and we’ve never experienced such efficiency under such conditions. This was already the strong point of the previous version, but here, with new wheels, Cervélo adds even more speed to this balance.

People sometimes talk about bikes that are demanding, stiff, or hard to ride dynamically. The Cervélo S5 falls into this category. So it’s not for everyone. You need to be fit or experienced to get the most out of it. But its road-hugging feel and its unwavering composure in gusts of wind are also very reassuring. They provide a sense of calm that lets you focus on the effort and the gear ratios you’re using. That’s also why we believe the new S5 is far more versatile than it appears—and ultimately better suited to a wide variety of terrain than its profile and stiffness might suggest.

The new Cervélo S5 at a glance…

Pros: aerodynamics, stiffness, stability. Cons: best suited for highly trained cyclists.

Frame: new Cervélo S5 – Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 – Power meter: 4iiii Precision Pro Gen3+ DUAL – Wheelset: Reserve 57/64 (DT Swiss 180 hubs) – Tires: Vittoria Corsa Pro 700×29 – Handlebar/stem: Cervélo HB19 – Weight: 7.440 kg without pedals in size 51 Prices: Frame kit: €5,999
S5 SRAM Force AXS: €9,999 S5 Ultegra Di2: €9,999 S5 Dura-Ace Di2: €13,999