Race wheel technology tends to trickle down slowly, if at all. The aerodynamic insights that win Grand Tours often stay locked in flagship price tiers while more accessible wheels make do with last generation's thinking. The Roval Rapide CL III breaks that pattern, bringing the same rim profiles and depth philosophy from the CLX III directly into a wheelset that costs considerably less. The front wheel runs 51mm deep—the same depth that Roval determined captures roughly 90 percent of a wheelset's total aerodynamic benefit—while its rear counterpart drops to 48mm to prioritize acceleration.

That inverted depth arrangement represents Roval's rethinking of where drag reduction actually matters. In undisturbed air ahead of the rider, a deeper front rim slices through wind more efficiently than a shallower one. Behind the rider's body, the rear wheel operates in turbulent flow where additional rim depth yields diminishing returns. Reducing rear depth cuts rotational mass where it affects acceleration response most directly. The CL III front wheel delivers the aero benefit; the rear wheel delivers the snap.

DT Swiss 350 hubs anchor the build, offering the same ratchet engagement mechanism found throughout the Swiss manufacturer's range. The 36-tooth star ratchet provides 10 degrees of engagement, meaning power transfer begins almost instantly when you start a pedal stroke. Stainless steel cartridge bearings handle the rotational loads, providing long service intervals between maintenance. For riders already running DT Swiss hubs elsewhere in their stable, spare parts and service familiarity translate directly.... Read More