Canyon has confirmed that a new cockpit for the Aeroad CFR and CF SLX is in the final stages of testing, with select pro riders – including Mathieu van der Poel and Nairo Quintana – to use the updated integrated handlebar at the Tour de France.
Canyon launched the new Aeroad in October 2020 but issued a stop ride notice in March 2021 after van der Poel's CP0018 Aerocockpit snapped during a one-day race in Belgium. Our original story runs below this update.
Van der Poel, Quintana and the rest of the riders on Canyon's sponsored teams had switched to an externally routed handlebar in the interim, with the new Aeroad frame drilled to accommodate cables.
However, van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) has been spotted riding an internally routed setup on a training ride ahead of the Tour, which starts on Saturday (26 June). Quintana (Arkéa–Samsic) also appears to be using the new cockpit and Canyon has confirmed to BikeRadar that it is an updated design.
The same cockpit will be made available to customers, according to Canyon, and the German direct-sales brand says it has communicated the latest update to existing Aeroad riders awaiting a fix, as well as customers who have a new bike on order.
We've asked Canyon for more details on the new cockpit – and the original issue addressed – and will update this story if we hear more.
In other Tour de France tech news, Pinarello has launched the new Dogma F, and check out our round-up of Tour de France bikes for more on who's riding what.
Original story (3 March 2021) continues below.
Canyon has asked current Aeroad CFR and CF SLX owners to stop riding their bikes after Mathieu van der Poel's handlebar snapped during the Le Samyn one-day race in Belgium.
Canyon's sponsored professional cycling teams, including Alpecin-Fenix, Movistar and Canyon/SRAM, have also switched bikes – to the previous-generation Aeroad and Ultimate all-rounder – following the incident.
Van der Poel finished the race with the handlebar on his Aeroad snapped roughly halfway down the right-hand drop. The handlebar is being analysed by Canyon's development and quality control departments, according to a statement issued by the company.
“On Tuesday 2 March, at one of the opening classics races 'Le Samyn', a part of the handlebar of our Alpecin-Fenx pro Mathieu van der Poel (NED) quite obviously broke off during the race," reads the statement.
"Experts from the Canyon development and quality management departments immediately began analysis and testing to understand the cause of this incident.
"The affected cockpits (CP0018 and CP0015) [are] only installed on the current Aeroad models CF SLX and CFR. The Aeroad CF SL model is not in any way affected by this issue.”
The statement continues: "Canyon is therefore informing all affected Aeroad customers and asking them to stop using their bike for the time being."
Canyon's CP0018 and CP0015 integrated handlebars were developed for the new Aeroad, launched in October, and feature an adjustable design, whereby the 'wings' of the bar can be widened or narrowed by 20mm.
They can also be removed without needing to disconnect the gear or brake cables, to enable the bike to be packed for shipping or travel.
Canyon founder Roman Arnold said: “Mathieu fortunately did not fall. We want to ensure with absolute certainty that no one comes to harm before we fully understand the root cause.”
The company's CEO, Armin Landgraf, added: “We are doing everything we can to equip affected Aeroad models as quickly as possible with a cockpit that meets both our and our customers’ demands for total quality and safety.”
