Best of Test 2025: The 3 best road bikes in the wind tunnel - lightning-fast aero bikes

A new record was set in the aerodynamics test in 2025. The Simplon Pride II has held it since 2022 with 199 watts. Road bikes have not really become any faster since then, although the UCI regulations give manufacturers new freedom in terms of frame shapes.

The 2025 mark was undercut by Storck, albeit by a tiny margin of just one watt, which is within the measurement accuracy - and with a trick: the Aerfast.5 Pro came for the wind tunnel test with a single drivetrain without a front derailleur - and thus a gear ratio that is not really complete for a road racing bike.

On the other hand, other models are breaking the 200 watt barrier: with the Colnago Y1Rs (199 watts) and the Van Rysel RCR-F (200 watts), new bikes are entering this league. Interesting insight: The greatest potential for improvement at the moment appears to lie less in the frames and wheels than in the tyres: With the Conti Aero 111 tyre, which was fitted to the front wheel in all three measurements, savings of up to four watts are possible.

>> Best of Test 2025: The most comfortable road bikes of the year

>> Best of Test 2025: The 3 best bikepacking bags of the year

>> Best of 2025: The most exciting MTB innovations in a review of the year

>> Best of Test 2025: The best road and gravel bikes from 2025 put to the test

>> Best of Test 2025: The three best competition road bikes in our tests

3rd place: Colnago Y1Rs - wheel upgrade changes ranking

We were very curious about the aerodynamics of the new Colnago Y1R. The bike is eye-catching not only because of its shape, but also because it serves as a workhorse for superstar Tadej Pogačar. While the test editors are usually pretty good with their bets on aero quality based on visual impressions, they were divided on the new Colnago: arrow or cucumber? The frame shape and history made it hard to tell, as this is the first real aero road bike from the Italians.

In the end, it proved to be an arrow, even if we had to give it a bit of a push. The wheels on the test bike didn't fulfil their potential, but 204 watts was still fast. With DT Swiss and aero tyres, the bike climbs safely onto the podium: 199 watts. Disadvantages: complicated, heavy, moderately comfortable and stable - and extremely expensive. Tadej Pogačar, however, is rushing from victory to victory.

• Weight: 7.4 kilogrammes
• Aerodynamics: 204 watts
• TOUR overall grade: 2,1
• Price: 12,300 Euro

>> The Colnago Y1Rs in a detailed test

2nd place: Van Rysel RCR-F

The tension was comparably high with the RCR-F from the Decathlon brand Van Rysel. With the RCR-R, the all-rounder from Equipe Decathlon-AG2R, the developers from Lille had already proven that they were willing and able to attack the established competition technically. Its 207 watts are a top result for an all-round racer. If the aerodynamically optimised RCR-F were to significantly undercut this value, the bike would be among the fastest right from the start.

Confirmation came in the spring: With 200 watts in standard trim, the bike is one of the best in the professional peloton, without any tricks or gimmicks. The equipment variant we tested is just as suitable for everyday use as it is available to order and, at 9000 euros, is reasonably inexpensive. The aero tyres also help here, but are part of the standard equipment.

• Weight: 7.5 kilogrammes
• Aerodynamics: 200 watts
• TOUR overall grade: 1,9
• Price: 9499 Euro

>> The Van Rysel RCR-F in a detailed test

1st place: Storck Aerfast.5 Pro

Markus Storck already harboured ambitions for the title of the fastest racing bike in the world with its predecessor, the Aerfast.4, but had to narrowly beat the Simplon Pride at the time. With the Aerfast.5, presented at the end of 2024, it worked out.

Storck pulled out all the aerodynamic stops when setting up the test bike for the record: the extremely high carbon wheels with aero tyres are typical features of fast bikes, the very narrow handlebars with a hint of handlebar tape are perhaps still a matter of taste.

The single drivetrain with aero chainring, on the other hand, is at least debatable. The limited twelve-speed transmission with 50-33 in the lowest gear is too thick even for undulating terrain. But even with the standard gear range - the second chainring and front derailleur can be ordered as an option and means an aerodynamic disadvantage of around three watts - the Aerfast.5 is still one of the fastest bikes on the planet.

Compromises that can hardly be changed concern the hard suspension and the rather high weight compared to similarly equipped bikes. On the other hand, the price is comparatively attractive: with the fast DT Swiss wheels and a top groupset from Shimano or SRAM, the bike remains under 9,000 euros.

• Weight: 7.3 kilogrammes
• Aerodynamics: 198 watts
• TOUR overall grade: 1,9
• Price: 8799 Euro

>> The Storck Aerfast.5 Pro in a detailed test