Cervelo R5 Dura-Ace Di2 Bike

The Cervélo R5 has been part of pro cycling's most memorable moments for over two decades — from the R5CA that redefined what a light race bike could be, to Wout van Aert's iconic day on Mont Ventoux, to Pauline Ferrand-Prevot's Tour de France Femmes victory. The R5 isn't a new concept. It's a proven quantity at the highest level of the sport, refined over generations until Cervélo concluded the only way forward was to rebuild it from scratch.

The Cervelo R5 Dura-Ace Di2 Bike is the result of that rebuild: a complete race machine that weighs 5.97kg in size 56 — a full 900 grams under the UCI's 6.8kg minimum weight limit. The frame alone is 651 grams. The fork is 298 grams. Those figures matter on long mountain stages when the difference between accelerating and getting dropped is decided in watts per kilogram. But Cervélo's point, and what separates this R5 from simply being a light bike, is that it's also stiff enough to transfer power from the sport's biggest engines, responsive enough to handle technical descents with confidence, and stable enough to hold a line at speed. Light and fast are not a compromise here. They're the same thing.

The Dura-Ace Di2 build at $14,150 pairs that frame with Shimano's flagship 12-speed electronic drivetrain, a 4iiii Precision Pro Gen3+ dual-sided power meter integrated into the crankset, and the Reserve 34/37 carbon wheelset on DT Swiss 180 hubs. Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR G2.0 700x26 tires and a CeramicSpeed SL bottom bracket for Cervélo's proprietary BBright shell complete a build spec that leaves almost nowhere to upgrade. The HB18 integrated carbon cockpit comes in 15 size combinations — your authorized Cervélo retailer fits it at no additional cost.

Design Benefits

1. 5.97kg in size 56 — 900g under the UCI limit. The frame and fork together weigh 949 grams. That's the foundation, and Cervélo carried that obsession through every component selection on the build for a total reduction of 326 grams compared to the previous generation. On a bike designed for mountain racing, every gram removed is a gram that doesn't have to be carried over thousands of meters of vertical gain.
2. Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 — the benchmark for electronic shifting. The R9250 derailleur and R9270 lever/caliper combination represents Shimano's top-tier offering. The system is precise, weatherproof, and has an established record of reliability across professional racing and training. It's the shifting standard against which other electronic drivetrains are measured.
3. 4iiii Precision Pro Gen3+ dual-sided power meter, included. Full left/right power data from a factory-integrated meter — not an afterthought add-on. Dual-sided measurement captures any imbalance between legs and gives you the complete picture of your output, whether you're training to a structured plan or racing.
4. Reserve 34/37 carbon wheels on DT Swiss 180 hubs. The asymmetric depth pairing — 34mm front, 37mm rear — is a deliberate choice: the shallower front reduces steering sensitivity in crosswinds, while the deeper rear maintains aero efficiency. DT Swiss 180 hubs are among the lightest and most reliable in road cycling, with a 36-point engagement system and a track record in the professional peloton.
5. CeramicSpeed SL bottom bracket. The BBright shell is Cervélo's proprietary press-fit standard, designed to maximize stiffness in the bottom bracket area. The CeramicSpeed SL unit reduces drivetrain friction at the source — measurable watts recovered at the pedal stroke, compounding over the course of a long race or ride.

Final Take

The R5 Dura-Ace Di2 is built for riders who are serious about climbing and serious about racing. The weight figures aren't marketing language — they're the outcome of systematic, component-by-component reduction across the entire build. The Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain is the most reliable electronic shifting system in the sport, the dual-sided power meter is included in the base spec, and the Reserve/DT Swiss 180 wheelset is a genuine race-day choice. At $14,150, this is a complete race bike that asks very little of the rider except to show up prepared to climb.