Roval's approach to the Rapide CL III turns matched-depth aero convention on its head, and the front wheel is where that thinking lives most clearly. A 51mm rim up front sits where 90% of the aero gains are, paired in the wheelset with a lighter 48mm rear for acceleration. Sold here as a front-only wheel, this is the deeper half of that system — the piece doing most of the aerodynamic work on any given course.

The rim measures 51mm deep with a 35mm external width at its widest point and a 21mm internal width , a profile Roval developed around 28mm tires as the fastest pairing. Rolling resistance testing across three internal rim widths, three tire sizes, and multiple pressures on smooth and rough drums identified the 28mm tire on a 21mm internal rim as the setup with the lowest coefficient of rolling resistance. The wide external profile smooths the transition between tire and rim, which pays off in crosswinds where a narrower rim would stall.

FlatStop Bead Hooks require 39% more force to flat , a durability feature that matters on a tubeless race wheel where impacts against the rim edge are the usual failure point. All of the rims are hooked and tubeless , so the wheel accepts either tubeless setups or standard clincher tires with tubes depending on preference.... Read More