Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1 first ride review

When the new Cannondale SuperSix EVO broke cover underneath riders from EF Education–EasyPost, it looked pretty much the same as the previous version of the bike, save for a few aero tweaks.

Bike design has evolved since Cannondale last released a SuperSix – tyre clearances are more generous and integration has got a whole heap better – so I was somewhat underwhelmed based on those early glimpses.

The SuperSix spy shots had me thinking Cannondale’s new race bike was more about just putting something new on the table rather than genuinely moving things forward.

But the official release of the fourth-generation Cannondale SuperSix EVO shows the brand has resolved some of the small niggles of its predecessor, making for a wonderfully complete ride.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1 build

I tested the Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1. At £10,500, the bike has the sort of specification you’d expect of a flagship bike, even if the 810g frame isn’t considered top-spec by Cannondale.

That honour is reserved for the £12,500 Lab71 SuperSix EVO, which has a claimed frame weight of 700g.

The Hi-Mod 1 is built up with SRAM Red eTap AXS and Cannondale’s latest road bike wheels, the R-SL 50s. The 50mm-deep rim is mated to Cannondale’s own hubs, with DT Swiss 240 internals via DT Aerolite spokes.

At a claimed 1,520g, the wheels are competitively lightweight compared to some of the best road bike wheels.

The front end of the SuperSix EVO can be used with Cannodale's new SystemBar R-One. This is what will come on stock bikes. Instead, my test ride came with Cannondale’s One stem and a carbon Vision Trimax aero wing bar, as used by EF Education-EasyPost.

The Prologo Dimension Nack NDR saddle is one of the best short road bike saddles around and it's light too, so seems an ideal match for the EVO. The tyres are Continental’s sublime Grand Prix 5000s – set up tubeless as they should be.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1 geometry

The geometry of the EVO is a case of 'if it ain’t broke don’t fix it'.

It's basically the same as that of the 2018 EVO 2 Disc. This isn’t necessarily a problem – the bike's geometry and handling have impressed since its release.

The important numbers remain largely unchanged, with only small increases to accommodate the growth in tyre clearance from 30 to 34mm.

Larger riders have less choice with the removal of 60 and 62cm bikes, replaced by a single XL model at 61cm.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1 ride impressions

Within the first few kilometres of my ride out of Girona and into the hills, my overriding feeling was one of familiarity.

Before heading out to Spain, I took my SuperSix EVO 3 for a spin to refresh my memory on how it rides

Initially, the Hi-Mod 1 felt pretty much indistinguishable from my SuperSix, although it was 600g lighter at 7.25kg.

The relatively flat roads out of Girona gave me chance to press hard on the pedals. Despite being so skinny, the post and saddle combination felt compliant yet impressively stable.

The low mass of the bike impressed as soon as we started climbing. The deep-section wheels may not be the climber's choice, but the low overall weight of the bike means you can reap the aero benefits without feeling handicapped on ascents. I can see the new EVO being the basis of plenty of lightweight climber's bikes in the future.

The Red AXS shifting is rapid and reliable. It handles shifting when you’re out of the saddle with no fuss or fumbling of the chain.

The open twists and turns of the Girona hills are a great proving ground for a bike such as the SuperSix EVO. Its sure-footed handling at speed and ability to hold a tight line is only enhanced by the faith I have in the GP 5000 tyres that were fitted to my test bike.

Cannondale has gone with a 25mm tyre, which is great for largely smooth southern European roads, but I’d be switching these for a 28mm when riding in the UK.

It’s easy – if not advisable – to ride the SuperSix EVO on the edge of reckless speed thanks to its eagle-eyed accuracy on challenging roads, SRAM’s controllable braking and the superb grip of the tyres.

This all comes together to form road bike nirvana.

I’d like to find out if the R-One bar has the edge over the Vision bar and standard stem I had on my bike. However, I’ve no complaints about either the shape or the ride quality of the carbon Trimax bar.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1 bottom line

Overall, the SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 package blends exceptional on-road comfort with stunning handling. It inspires confidence both uphill and, especially, downhill.

In short, it's a bike I didn't want to stop riding.

For years, theSuperSix EVO has sat alongside the Giant TCR as the benchmark for top-class race machines – that's high praise indeed.

The best compliment I can give Cannondale’s latest SuperSix EVO is it continues this legacy with aplomb.

The big question for me, however, is would I trade up my EVO 3 for the EVO 4? The answer is not yet. I’m still loving my bike and I can happily live with BB30, steering bump stops, funny dropouts, and not quite as much tyre clearance.

However, if I was coming in fresh looking for one of the very best lightweight race bikes to date, the 2023 SuperSix EVO would be on the shortest of shortlists.