‘On the edge of the UCI rules’ – Canyon engineer opens up about Marlen Reusser’s new Worlds-winning time trial bike

Marlen Reusser and Zoe Backstedt raced to 1st and 2nd place in the Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial World Championship on Sunday, both aboard unreleased Canyon time trial bikes – the all-new Canyon Speedmax CFR – which set tongues wagging online.

Reusser (Switzerland) beat Backstedt (Great Britain) by 40 seconds, while third-place Franziska Koch (Germany) finished 6 seconds behind Backstedt.

The bike was used in the women’s and men’s time trial events yesterday; we also saw Iván Romeo (Spain) ride a version of the bike to 15th place in the men’s event, 2:13 behind flying winner Remco Evenepoel. (Image credit:  NurPhoto / Contributor)

Canyon launched a new Speedmax CFR triathlon bike earlier in the year, but this bike is a new standalone UCI-compliant TT version that has been designed with pro riders in mind. Canyon told me its development timeline runs to around two and a half years.

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This side-on shot of Backstedt’s bike provides a useful look at the details. Swipe across to compare.

(Image credit: Tim de Waele / Staff)

Here’s Canada’s Olivia Baril on the current Speedmax model.

(Image credit: Tim de Waele / Staff)

Different Speedmax models were used during the world’s time trial events, which makes comparisons even easier.

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From the above pictures, it’s easy to see that the new bike has a totally new fork profile as well as a blind dropout. Canyon explained that two new patents had been registered that pertain to the new fork leg design; UCI ruling changes also allowed them to navigate existing Hope track frame patents for similar fork leg profiles.

The fork legs, which also feature an integrated timing chip mount, are clear for all to see and represent the biggest difference. But there’s also a deeper headtube, as well as a narrower toptube.

An aero bottle goes with the frame and looks similar to the design of the Colnago TT1 with its squared-off, integrated design.

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The chainstays and dropout shape on the new bike are also different, and the upper seatpost also shows a small change. A lot has been altered on this new model.

The new bikes feature ‘CFR’ logos on the top tube, Canyon’s top-flight bike category, and a ‘Prototype’ UCI seat tube frame sticker can also be seen.

The aero water bottle is marked ‘Aerofuel TT’ whilst Canyon currently offers a magnetic ‘Fuel’ aero bottle; this one is a brand-new component.

Developing a new Speedmax

On the development of the new bike, Canyon explained that there wasn’t much room for progression when it came to the new Speedmax. It explained that the bike was essentially maxed out and very similar performance-wise to its competitors.

The answer for Canyon and Schuchnigg was what they call the double crown front forks to direct airflow around a rider’s legs, for improved aerodynamic performance.

The brand started seeing gains by widening the fork legs, but changing UCI rules put a limit on just how much they could do. The bike, across many dimensions, butts right up against several UCI rules now.

“We increased the fork legs, made them higher, made them wider, and we found out that by putting the fork legs and the spacer set up in the same line, there was a lot to improve there.

“This was almost two years ago from now, and then by the beginning of this year, a new UCI rule was implemented. There was a limit on the inner width of the fork legs. Before that, actually, our concept was to go even wider because we saw a wider setup actually was faster.” Schuchnigg explained.

Part of the aero gains come from the wide fork legs, which deflect air around the outside of a rider’s legs. The leg profiles change at the rear trailing edge; they are a lot wider at the top section, and this helps control that airflow around the legs.

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The aero bottle pushes into place here.

(Image credit: Canyon)

The aero cage has been designed around the frame tubes.

(Image credit: Canyon)

How much faster is it?