Wilier has announced the new Verticale SLR, the successor to the Zero SLR and claimed to be the lightest model in the company's history. The frameset weight, including fork, bar/stem, seat post, through axle, and other hardware, is claimed to be 1,651g compared to the Zero SLR's 1,798g, a weight reduction of just under 10%.

The Verticale SLR is the lightweight bike that the Willières-sponsored Groupama-FDJ and Astana Qazaqstan World Tour teams will use in the mountain stages of the upcoming Tour de France. Groupama-FDJ's Lenny Martinez has already won the 2024 Mercan Tour Classic on a prototype Verticale SLR.

Martinez says: "The Verticale is a great bike. It is lighter than the Filante SLR and responds really well when the road starts to climb. It is lighter than the Filante SLR and reacts really well when the road starts to climb, like when I won the Mercan Tour Classic on this bike, which is still a prototype. [We have been testing the Verticale SLR for several weeks and a detailed review can be found here.

When compared to the Zero SLR, the new bike's weight reduction is primarily due to the frame, fork, and bar/stem combo; Wilier claims to have reduced frame weight from 766g to 648g and fork weight from 320g to 296g. Our XL size test bike weighed 6.8 kg, but anything less would be expected to violate the UCI.

The new frame has a mix of three Toray carbon fiber grades: Toray 800, Toray 1100, and M46JB, including the top-of-the-line T1100. In the fork, the fibers are twisted to improve stress management, and the fork blades are asymmetrical to compensate for the various stresses caused by disc brakes.

The new seat post clamping mechanism tightens from the bottom of the top tube rather than from the top. This results in a triangular junction between the top tube and seat tube, rather than the clamp housing of the Zero SLR.

The seatpost has also been redesigned to reduce weight: at 152 g, it is 10 g lighter than the Zero SLR. It also comes with two bolts for mounting race numbers and Wilier's specially designed rear light.

Wilier has redesigned the front derailleur hanger so that it can now be mounted in two positions, one for the front derailleur and one for the rear derailleur. This allows for the 50/34t and 52/36t cranksets used by the general public, while the pros can install a crankset with a 56t chainring.

The frame geometry is almost identical to the ZERO SLR and the stack is the same, but reach is reduced on the smaller frames and increased on the larger ones.

Turning to the new carbon monocoque V-bar/stem, Wilier claims a weight of 310g for the 100x40mm bar size, compared to 339g for the Zero SLR. The new bar design includes a flared hood that brings the arms 30mm closer together when riding than when dropped.

This is an increasingly common aero design feature found on Trek Madone and others. Willières also adjusted the bar geometry from the Zero SLR, revising the reach and drop and changing the angle to the top. The improved clamping mechanism is designed to distribute the stresses on the steerer and stem more evenly, and the hose routing has been improved for easier replacement. The handlebars are also compatible with other Wilier premium bikes.

Wilier offers V-bars in six sizes: stem length 90mm or 100mm, drop width 400mm; stem length 110mm, 120mm, 130mm, 150mm, drop width 420mm.

Wilier offers not only framesets and will sell the Vertical SLR in seven build specs. All full specs are fitted with Wilier's current fleet of Miche wheels, Kleos 36 or Kleos RD 36.

Available in six frame sizes, from XS to XXL, the Verticale SLR comes in four colors: black with copper accents, velvet red, Groupama-FDJ Team Replica, and the new Astana Kazakstan climbing bike in the upcoming Tour de France Hulk Green, a new color that will be Astana Cazaxtan's climbing bike in the upcoming Tour de France.

The Wilier Verticale SLR frameset is priced at £5,500 / $6,900 / €5,800.

Full bikes start at £9,000 / $12,000 / €9,900 for the Ultegra Di2 spec. Topping the UK specification is the SRAM Red AXS with power meter, priced at £12,500/$15,300/€13,000.

There is also a Campagnolo Super Record WRL-spec bike for $15,700 in the US and €13,400 in Europe, but this model is not available in the UK.