Van Rysel RCR-F Pro

A proper pro race bike at a (relatively) non-pro price

- Words Matthew Loveridge

The first thing you need to know about the Van Rysel RCR-F is that it has the best-shaped drops I have ever held in my hot little hands, and likely the best drops ever made. That might seem like an odd detail to start on, but it's so unusual to see actual innovation on one of the major contact points of a bike that it merits attention.

Developed in partnership with component maker Deda, the RCR-F's Ergodrops look much like any other one-piece bar at a glance, but the drops themselves feature an ovalised cross-section that fits perfectly inside the hand, providing exceptional purchase. Grabbing them elicits one of those 'why aren't all bikes like this?' reactions and sets the tone for a well thought-out piece of design.

The RCR-F is Van Rysel's full blown WorldTour-level aero bike. It is singularly focussed on serving the needs of the Decathlon pro team including the likes of incoming star sprinter Olav Kooij and Austrian Felix Gall, who took fifth overall at the 2025 Tour de France.

With a primary focus on aero rather than weight, Van Rysel says the bike is best suited to courses that climb less than 1,500m per 100km. According to road product manager Jérémie Debeuf, 'every line of the RCR-F was drawn to reduce drag as much as possible'.

Quick Van Byke

The RCR-F's development included extensive CFD work, wind-tunnel time using 3D printed prototypes, and working with team riders to get real-world feedback, which Debeuf says influenced the final design's frame stiffness as well as the ergonomics and dimensions of the cockpit.

Debeuf is coy about specific comparisons to rival aero bikes but claims that 'it was the fastest bike in the WorldTour' during development. He also points to independent wind-tunnel testing by Germany's Tour magazine in which the RCR-F narrowly beat rivals from Canyon, Cervélo and Scott among others, coming close to achieving an all-time best performance.