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Marianne Vos and Wout van Aert lit up courses from Namur to Zolder in the winter of 2021, culminating in Marianne’s dominant performance at World Championships in Fayettevile, USA. Vos and van Aert have a dozen World, European, and National titles between the two of them, and know a thing or three about cyclocross racing. We used their input to perfect every detail of the R5-CX—just ask the 2023 World Champ, Fem van Empel.

FRAME SIZING

How do I determine what bike size I need?

The age-old question, isn’t it? There are many factors that go into bicycle sizing and fit, particularly for high-performance bikes. Without being able to measure you and see you on a bike, precise fit information is difficult to supply. It’s also not unusual for someone to be able to ride two different sizes depending on their goals, flexibility, and fit tolerance. That said, we have some fantastic retailers, and we’d encourage you to go start a conversation with them about what you want from your new bike.

CHASING RAINBOWS

Fem’s frequently climbed to the top step of the podium in the 2023 season—fourteen times to be precise. But in Hoogerheide, it wasn’t a large glass of beer, an oversized rubber duck, or a large wheel of cheese she walked away with, but the rainbow-striped jersey of the World Champion. 

PUTTING THE W IN WATERLOO

The R5-CX debuted on the World Cup under Marianne Vos with a commanding win at Waterloo followed by another top step in Iowa. It has since added 29 wins under van Empel, Vos and van Aert, including National and Worlds titles.

INSPIRED BY THE R5, BUT A BIKE ALL ITS OWN

You might recall that this isn’t our first ‘cross bike. In 2007, we made two R3 Cross frames for Jonathan Page, one of which he rode straight to being the first American on a World Cup Podium. Like the R3 Cross, the R5-CX draws much of its performance and design from the R5, but with some key differences. The handling and fit are unique to this model, and based on Wout and Marianne’s input. And while we’ve kept the asymmetric cups of BBRight, we've threaded them into a T47-sized hole. While a unique-to-us implementation, it uses standard inboard and outboard T47 cups.

THE ULTIMATE CX FRAME

The D-shaped seat post (with double clamps, stock), not only adds compliance but was a specific request from Wout and Marianne to keep the saddle facing forward in the event of a crash. All cables route internally, and the frame is only compatible with electronic drivetrains to limit grit and water ingress. There's gobs of clearance for gobs of mud, and it’ll be available in four sizes—51, 54, 56, and 58cm.