Cervelo R5
Climbers and racers who want Cervelo without S5's deep aero cockpit. Soloist is the value race sibling.
Cervelo's lightweight race bike. It does not try to be an S5. Climbing, precise, and still a low WorldTour stack/reach chart.
Climbers and racers who want Cervelo without S5's deep aero cockpit. Soloist is the value race sibling.
Cervelo's lightweight race bike. It does not try to be an S5. Climbing, precise, and still a low WorldTour stack/reach chart.
Climbers and racers who want Cervelo without S5's deep aero cockpit. Soloist is the value race sibling.
Cervelo's lightweight race bike. It does not try to be an S5. Climbing, precise, and still a low WorldTour stack/reach chart.
Racers and fast club riders who want the modern Tarmac. If you came off an SL7, check that the stack/reach still matches your size.
The current Specialized race bike: lighter than SL7, still aero, and famously 'it just disappears' if the fit is right. Size by stack/reach — the 54/56 split is where a lot of riders hop.
Racers who like Cannondale's handling and want the serviceable frame. Synapse is the taller sibling; SuperX is the CX/gravel race cousin.
The fourth-generation EVO keeps the third generation's geometry but goes lighter, slipperier, and back to a threaded BSA bottom bracket. Same fit as the 2020–2022 bike, easier to live with.
| Measurement | ![]() CerveloR5 2024 | ![]() CerveloR5 2023 | ![]() SpecializedTarmac SL8 2025 | ![]() CannondaleSuperSix EVO 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stackmm | 568 | 568 | 544−24 | 545−23 |
| Reachmm | 391 | 391 | 384−7 | 387−4 |
| Head tube angle° | 73.0 | 73.0 | 73.0 | 71.2−1.8 |
| Seat tube angle° | 73.0 | 73.0 | 74.0+1.0 | 74.0+1.0 |
| Chainstaymm | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Wheelbasemm | 993 | 993 | 978−15 | 1010+17 |
| BB dropmm | 74 | 74 | 72−2 | 72−2 |
| BB heightmm | — | — | 268 | — |
| Standovermm | — | — | 768 | — |
| Part | R5 56 | R5 56 | Tarmac SL8 54 | SuperSix EVO 54 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stem | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm | 100 mm |
| Bar | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm | 420 mm |
| Crank | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm | 172.5 mm |
That spec retails for £8,250 and is said to weigh 7.16kg in a size 56. You can read Sam's full review here. The Specialized Tarmac SL8 will be at the ...
# Specialized Tarmac SL8 Expert #### VERDICT: - Very Good - Quite good - Not so good ### Specialized SL8 Expert: Ride The SL8 was noticeably comfortable, but there was a sense o…