So it appears just like the rumors are true and there’s a brand new 13-speed Campagnolo Tremendous File 13 WRL SC highway groupset within the works. An eagle-eyed good friend of ours noticed the Group Cofidis bikes kitted out with the all-new drivetrain on the Might Day Eschborn-Frankfurt UCI WorldTour race yesterday. And whereas we clearly don’t have any concrete particulars but, there’s loads we are able to select from this up-close sneak peek of what fairly clearly is a next-gen 2x 13-speed groupset from the Italian drivetrain specialists.
Let’s take a a lot nearer look!
Campagnolo Tremendous File 13 WRL SC 13-speed prototype
Ever because the introduction of Campy Ekar’s 13-speed gravel groupset, we’ve puzzled how lengthy it will take till the Italian part maker would add another gear to their highway bike gruppo as effectively. Now, after launching their first WRL wi-fi highway groupset simply a few years in the past, it appears like Campagnolo Tremendous File is about to mix 13-speeds and wi-fi digital shifting.
The rear derailleur we see right here is devoid of any branding. However there’s clearly numerous carbon or molded carbon composite development that appears to be out of well-developed molds. And if it’s able to race on the WorldTour with out being hidden, it’s most likely not to this point off from a whole product launch.
However, it’s not completely clear that this outer cage is a ultimate manufacturing piece although, so possibly we’ll see some change in shaping earlier than it his the market.
Campagnolo was solely actually out of top-tier highway racing for a single season. However this yr they’re again within the professional peloton with Group Cofidis. They usually have already got a brand new groupset to race.
So, what do we all know?
13-speeds and Wi-fi!
A detailed look beneath the hood of this prototype Campy rear derailleur appears to have the identical detachable and rechargeable battery mounted to the inside parallelogram hyperlink, identical to Campagnolo Tremendous File Wi-fi and Tremendous File S Wi-fi, each of that are 12-speed. A wired connection hyperlinks the battery to the motor on the B-knuckle. However there are not any different wires on this wi-fi shift setup.
Additionally, there’s slightly label there saying SR13WRLSC, which I learn as Tremendous File 13sp Wi-fi SC.
Tremendous File already acquired a extra reasonably priced S model final fall in matte carbon. So, is it doable that this model will turn into an SC variation?
After all, we counted the cogs to ensure.
Sure, it truly is 13-speed!
The R13 chain was the primary affirmation, chasing appears the identical because the C13 chain of Ekar & Ekar GT, simply now with hole pins on the highway just like the earlier R12 12-speed chains of File & Tremendous File.
As for the 13-speed cassette itself, Group Cofidis arrange their bikes with a 10-33T cluster, making for a wider vary setup than something we’ve seen but from Campy on the highway. And which can use their newest N3W freehub commonplace, launched with Ekar and which might go as small as a 9T cog.
All-new entrance & rear Campagnolo Tremendous File 13 WRL derailleurs
Whereas the rear derailleur is totally new right here, with a sharp-edged cage and extra skeletal look general, the entrance derailleur can also be new. It contains a revised design, in comparison with present Campagnolo Tremendous File WRL.
The general share is kind of comparable, as is the carbon outer cage. But it surely appears to be shorter general, tucking the hyperlinks larger up into the primary composite physique, whereas holding the identical detachable battery.
We additionally spot some branding on the brand new entrance derailleur that merely says, ‘Tremendous File’.
The prototype Campagnolo Tremendous File 13 drivetrain parts themselves seem like all new. However the shifters, brakes, and crankset seem unchanged. Fingers crossed that this means that there could also be some cross-compatibility between present and future wi-fi parts. Perhaps if we’re fortunate Campagnolo can have found out some strategy to make their wi-fi system extra modular like we’ve seen to nice success with SRAM’s AXS platform.
If Campagnolo strikes in the direction of 13-speed and wi-fi in a versatile system, it might imply good issues for each highway and gravel choices sooner or later.
Parting ideas & Campy Tremendous File 13 WRL hypothesis
A number of instances within the evolution from 8 to 13-speeds, Campagnolo has been the primary to roll out extra gears and sometimes to debut among the lightest dropbar groupsets. This new Tremendous File 13 WRL prototype definitely ‘appears’ lighter with its skinny arms, massive cutouts, and a heavy dose of carbon or a minimum of carbon composites. However there’s rather a lot we nonetheless don’t know.
Trying intently at this prototype rear derailleur, I discover that the parallelogram is situated a lot additional beneath the standard derailleur hanger bolt than some other present Campy derailleur, maybe hinting extra on the curving Campagnolo shift patent we lined a number of years in the past.
There are additionally all-new pulley tooth shapes and narrow-wide profiles that we’ve by no means seen from Campagnolo earlier than, suggesting that this prototype highway derailleur could also be attempting to ship extra chain retention, as effectively. May that sign some gravel crossover? The P-knuckle doesn’t look giant sufficient to accommodate any type of clutch, however Ekar GT did drastically simplify Campy’s gravel resolution final yr, so who is aware of?
What we all know for positive is that 13-speed wi-fi Campagnolo Tremendous File is on the horizon.
And our curiosity is piqued!
