This Bianchi puts an end to rim brakes in the World Tour, in 2025 there will only be disc brakes in competition

In the past season, there were still two bikes in the peloton with caliper brakes. Both of them for time trials. The Giant Trinity, which was recently renewed by the Taiwanese brand just over a month ago, and now the last defender of conventional brakes falls, the Bianchi Aquila RC from Arkéa-B&B Hotels, which has just been presented by the Italian firm.

Bianchi renews its time trial bike Aquila RC, the last one remaining with rim brakes in the World Tour

Although disc brakes have been the norm in competitive cycling for a few years now, at least at the highest level, once all the controversies surrounding their implementation have been silenced, the next February 9, when the time trial stage of the Étoile de Bessèges is held, will be the definitive end for rim brakes in the World Tour.

Until last season, there were still two time trial bike models with rim brakes, mainly because they had not yet undergone the usual renewal that all bikes go through. A month ago, Giant launched its new Trinity, and yesterday, Bianchi did the same with the Aquila RC, the bike that the Arkéa-B&B cyclists will use in the fight against the clock.

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The new Bianchi Aquila RC features a completely redesigned frame weighing only 1.4 kg. Obviously, aerodynamic work has been intense, as seen in the perfect integration of its cockpit, the deep head tube, or the usual solution of a monolithic bottom bracket area where the junction between the seat tube and the seatpost extends.

The seat tube also plays an important role in this new Aquila RC as its geometry has been modified to make it more vertical and make it easier to position the cyclist with the new biomechanical and aerodynamic trends. Bianchi has paid special attention to ergonomics, making its handlebar completely configurable to the millimeter.

The only downside that can be applied to this bike, a parameter that is almost obsolete due to the long development of a time trial bike, is the wheel clearance. This Bianchi Aquila RC has been optimized to use 28mm tires, which has been the norm for the past two years, but it seems that it is becoming outdated as 30mm tires are becoming more common, increasing the tire volume endlessly.

In any case, Bianchi has created a spectacular machine that we will soon see in the best races in the world.