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R5 SRAM Force eTap AXS Bicycle
Description
The 2026 Cervelo R5 arrives with a focused mission: build the lightest race bike Cervelo has ever produced without giving up the stiffness that makes a climbing bike accelerate under a World Tour rider. The frame is just 651 grams (size 56), and the fork is 298 grams, and Cervelo turned attention to every single component on the bike for a total weight reduction of 326g from all Cervelo components. The result is a complete bike that in a size 56 builds up to just 5.97kg, a full 900 grams under the UCI's minimum weight limit in top-spec trim, with the Force AXS build landing slightly heavier due to its component mix.
Geometry is where the new R5 makes its biggest philosophical shift. While the handling geometry on the new R5 is nearly the same, aside from a small change to BB drop to account for 29mm tires, Cervelo changed the fit geometry to match that of the S5. That translates to roughly 5mm less stack and a marginally longer reach than the previous R5, putting riders in a lower, more aggressive position that mirrors the aero platform. For Visma-Lease A Bike riders swapping between the two bikes mid-season, this alignment removes the fit adjustment period. For everyone else, it signals that Cervelo now considers the R5 a full-tilt race bike rather than a lightweight all-rounder.
The frame retains the R5's traditional silhouette but with pencil-thin seatstays, a refined seat cluster, and slimmed tube profiles throughout. While tube sets and shapes are largely smaller than before, overall bottom bracket stiffness has increased by 13 percent. Tire clearance goes to 34mm, though Cervelo expects most riders to run 28-30mm rubber for road racing. UDH compatibility at the rear dropout brings the R5 in line with current derailleur standards, and a direct-mount front brake interface eliminates the need for a caliper adapter.
Features
The Force AXS build sits in the middle of the R5 lineup, below the flagship Red AXS and Dura-Ace Di2 versions but sharing the same frameset. SRAM's Force AXS delivers 2x12-speed wireless electronic shifting with a 48/35T crankset paired to a 10-33T cassette, a range that covers everything from flat leadouts to sustained climbs at double-digit gradients. The Force crankset includes an integrated Quarq power meter reading from the spider, providing training-grade accuracy without a separate unit bolted to the crank.
Force HRD hydraulic disc brakes handle stopping duties with 160mm rotors front and rear, which is where you want to be for extended alpine descents. Reserve 34|37TA ST wheels paired with DT Swiss 240 hubs anchor the wheelset — the same rim profile as the top-tier SL version, with a slightly heavier hub choice that trades a small weight penalty for durability and the ratchet-based reliability DT Swiss is known for. Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR tires mount tubeless-ready at 700x28c.
The HB18 one-piece carbon bar/stem is the cockpit's biggest change from the previous generation. The all-new HB18 bar/stem not only dropped nearly 150 grams from the weight of the bike, but it also helps the bike be two Watts more aerodynamic than the previous R5. Cervelo offers 15 different width and length combinations, and your authorized retailer will swap to the correct configuration at purchase — a policy that matters given the integrated design doesn't allow post-purchase adjustment the way a two-piece cockpit does. The D-shaped SP33 carbon seatpost runs with meaningful exposed length to take the edge off rough tarmac without introducing flex in the pedaling plane.
- Carbon frame and fork, 651g frame and 298g fork claimed in size 56
- Fit geometry matches the S5 platform for riders switching between models
- Clearance for tires up to 34mm, with 28-30mm as the intended race setup
- UDH-compatible rear derailleur hanger and direct-mount front brake interface
- SRAM Force AXS 2x12-speed wireless electronic drivetrain
- SRAM Force AXS crankset with integrated Quarq power meter, 48/35T
- SRAM Force 10-33T cassette, 12-speed
- SRAM Force HRD hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm rotors front and rear
- Reserve 34|37TA ST carbon wheelset with DT Swiss 240 hubs, Center Lock
- Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed TLR tires, 700x28c tubeless-ready
- Cervelo HB18 one-piece carbon handlebar/stem, 15 size combinations available
- Cervelo SP33 D-shaped carbon seatpost
- Cervelo Aero bolt-on thru-axles with removable handle tool
- BBright press-fit bottom bracket shell, 79mm asymmetric
- Available in Five Black/Bronze and Five Black/Silver
Geometry
| Size | Stack | Reach | Head Tube Angle | Head Tube Length | Front Center | BB Drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 497mm | 363mm | 71° | 93mm | 574mm | 74.5mm |
| 51 | 522mm | 371mm | 72° | 114mm | 576mm | 74.5mm |
| 54 | 547mm | 380mm | 73° | 137mm | 578mm | 72mm |
| 56 | 572mm | 389mm | 73° | 163mm | 594mm | 72mm |
| 58 | 597mm | 398mm | 73° | 192mm | 611mm | 69.5mm |
| 61 | 622mm | 407mm | 73° | 218mm | 628mm | 69.5mm |