New Van Rysel aero bike spotted at the Tour de France

New Van Rysel aero bike spotted at the Tour de France

Van Rysel FCR looks set to join the RCR Pro

Tim de Waele / Getty Images

Published: July 2, 2024 at 12:25 pm

Updated – 02/07/2024: This article was originally published on Friday 28 June, ahead of the start of the 2024 Tour de France, but has been updated with new images after three stages of the race.


We’ve spotted a new Van Rysel aero bike, the FCR, at the Tour de France.

Van Rysel, Decathlon’s premium bike brand, entered the WorldTour at the start of 2024, with the European multi-sport retailer also assuming co-sponsorship of the Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale team.

Until now, the team has been riding the Van Rysel RCR Pro, the brand’s all-rounder. Like many of the latest Tour de France race bikes, it attempts to balance aerodynamics and low weight, with the frame weighing a claimed 790g.

While a growing number of brands are simplifying their ranges by offering one do-it-all race bike – Trek is the latest to jump on board with that trend by redesigning the Madone and discontinuing the Émonda – Van Rysel appears to be heading in the other direction.

We spotted the new aero bike at the Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale team hotel ahead of the 2024 Tour de France.

Van Rysel FCR at the 2024 Tour de France
The Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale team is using a new Van Rysel aero bike at the Tour de France. - Tim de Waele / Getty Images

While we were quickly shooed away from the new bike in Florence, we did get an initial look, and a number of the team's riders, including Oliver Naesen, Sam Bennett and Felix Gall have been riding it during the opening three stages.

The new bike appears to be named the FCR (it’s on the top tube).

Van Rysel FCR outside the Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale truck at the 2024 Tour de France
We originally spotted the new bike outside the team's mechanics' truck in the days leading up to the Grand Départ in Florence, Italy. - Kai Eves / Our Media

An FCR was first teased by Van Rysel last year but that looked closer to the RCR in design; this new machine is significantly more aerodynamic in its tube shapes.

Van Rysel’s aero road helmet is also named the FCR, so there’s a theme here.

Oliver Naesen on the new Van Rysel FCR at the 2024 Tour de France
Van Rysel also offers the FCR aero helmet, pictured here on the head of Oliver Naesen. - Dario Belingheri / Getty Images

The head tube is notably deeper and more heavily truncated than the RCR Pro, while the down tube and seat tube also sport a more rectangular design than the team’s current bike.

Head tube on the new Van Rysel FCR aero bike at the 2024 Tour de France
The head tube is extremely deep, with the fork also integrating with a wind-cheating ridge at the top of the down tube. - Tim de Waele / Getty Images

The aero touches continue at the rear of the bikes, with knife-like, bladed seatstays on the FCR.

Compared to the RCR Pro’s more flowing, rounded design, the fork has a deeper profile, with a squared-off base at the dropouts.

Comparison of the stack between the bikes of Oliver Naesen (left) and Sam Bennett (right)
The bike uses a Deda cockpit and aero spaces. Check out the difference in stack between the bikes of Oliver Naesen (left) and Sam Bennet (right). - Getty Images

The bike we’ve seen at the Tour de France has a Deda integrated cockpit, with aero spacers at the rear to help the front-end cut through the wind.

Felix Gall riding the Van Rysel FCR at the 2024 Tour de France, with Nicolas Prohomme on the Van Rysel RCR behind him
Felix Gall (front) is pictured here on the new Van Rysel FCR, with his team-mate, Nicolas Prohomme on the existing Van Rysel RCR Pro. - Tim de Waele / Getty Images

That’s all we know for now, but look out for this one over the next three weeks. You can’t miss it, thanks to the distinctive ‘camouflage’ paint job.

We’ll bring you more, when we know more.