Italian bike brand Wilier has released an all-new TT bike in the shape of the Supersonica that has been designed with input from Groupama-FDJ rider Stefan Küng. The key statistic from the new bike is that it is claimed to be 16% more aerodynamically efficient than the Turbine SLR which this bike replaces.
The Supersonica SLR is the first bike that has been developed with input from Groupama-FDJ since Wilier started sponsoring the team this year. The project was led by Wilier’s innovation lab together with Swiss champion Stefan Küng and all the staff of the Groupama-FDJ performance centre.
Read more: Küng hints that a new Wilier time trial bike is in the works ahead of Paris Olympic Games
In a press release ahead of the bikes launch, Küng said: “I am very happy and also very impressed by the work done by Wilier. It was a very tough challenge. When the contract between Wilier and the team was signed in August 2023, they immediately focused 100% on the Supersonica project.
“Developing a bike from scratch in 9 months is already a difficult task, but developing the best time trial bike in 9 months is even more so. Seeing all the people who have been involved, who have worked on it for such a long time, who have followed and listened to me, is a strong motivation for me to give it my all on the day of the race.”
“The bike is designed for speed, you can feel it as soon as you get on. After riding the first prototype in early 2024, we made some changes. The second prototype arrived soon after and it responded perfectly to the requests I made. I can’t wait to ride it and, above all, to win.”
On the way to creating the final product, the brand made two complete prototypes along with 50 hours of computer simulations and 30 hours of wind tunnel and velodrome testing. The end result is a bike that Wilier says is “the pinnacle of innovation in time trial bikes.”
Read more: How much speed can you buy?
It is not purely the bike that is new, with Wilier also developing a tailor-made service for optimising a rider’s position on the bike. Using an optical scan of the rider’s forearms, custom extensions can be created out of either 3D-printed titanium or carbon fibre. This is something that is common for the best riders in the WorldTour, but not something that is usually readily available for recreational riders.
Jérémy Roy, material performance manager at Groupama-FDJ said: “The Supersonica project is the first genuine project developed from scratch together with Wilier.
“Wilier’s innovation lab department spent an enormous amount of time on it and the results came in record time. After so many virtual tests, followed by multiple wind tunnel tests, we are proud to see this fast and modern bike that took shape in less than a year. I must say that a solid foundation has been laid for the future of our partnership.
“The performance features can be seen in the extreme attention to detail: revised geometry, remarkable aerodynamic efficiency, improved rigidity and a new improved handlebar. After carefully following every single stage of the project, I am really excited and I can’t wait for Supersonica to make its debut in the race with Stefan Küng.”
Read more: Ollie Bridgewood’s 18 minute time trial
Pricing and availability
The bike will be available to purchase with only Küng’s L/XL frame size available this year, with a XS/S and M frame sizes coming to market next year. As you might expect from a bike that comes with a tailor-made extension service, the bike does not come cheap. There are two complete builds and a frameset available.
- Supersonica SLR frameset – €9,000
- Supersonica SLR Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Miche KleosRD Crono lenticular/SPX3 wheelset and Profile Design ACS PRO extension – €20,500
- Supersonica SLR Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Miche KleosRD Crono lenticular/SPX3 wheelset and customised extension in carbon or titan at €27,400
The Supersonica SLR will make its debut on the opening stage of the Tour de Suisse on June 9 where Stefan Küng will be hoping to rack up the bike’s first win.
What do you make of the new Supersonica SLR, do you think it is hot or not? Let us know in the comments section below. For all the latest from the world of bike tech make sure to check out the tech news section of the GCN website.