The TOUR Aerodynamics Ranking 2026: These are the eleven fastest road bikes in the world
Jens Klötzer
· 18.04.2026
The stated wattage figures are the result of standardised and independent wind tunnel testing by TOUR. They apply to the model variant and equipment specified in each case; the sorting is based on the measured value in the standard condition. Changes to equipment features - in particular tyres, handlebars, wheels or drives - can slightly shift the ranking, which is why we have deliberately refrained from giving specific rankings. We go into more detail about the potential of each bike based on the equipment tested.
CURRENT POWER: 196 watts*
What does it take to build the fastest bike in the world? Dedication, design expertise and manufacturing technology. The small three-man company Stromm from the USA seems to have combined these well. In 2026, Stromm took the crown for the fastest bike ever measured by TOUR with 196 watts for 45 km/h in the wind tunnel. On the one hand, this is due to the design with slender tube profiles. On the other hand, the add-on parts are also trimmed for maximum speed. Single cranks, aero tyres, high wheels and very narrow handlebars offer the wind little surface to attack. The Raktt is particularly fast in frontal airflow, which dominates when there is little wind or when riding very fast. The bike buys this title with below-average frame stiffness. The design is more suitable for solo rides than for precision manoeuvres in a tightly packed field of riders. The equally low bottom bracket stiffness is not noticeable when climbing, but the defined feeling that stiffer bikes convey is missing when pedalling hard. Anyone who has a heart for shooting, likes to ride brands outside the mainstream and appreciates sitting on the fastest bike in the world at the moment will find the Raktt a congenial partner.
- Model: Stromm Raktt SRAM Red AXS
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (1x12)
- Impellers: Zipp 454 NSW
- Tyres: Continental Aero 111 TR/Grand Prix 5000 S TR 29/30 mm
MERIDA REACTO: 197 watts*
Compared to its predecessor, the Reacto makes a huge leap forward and improves from 208 to 197 watts, which is the second-best value we have ever measured for a production bike. The huge improvement is the result of a holistic approach. Not only have the frame, fork and cockpit been improved, but the components have also been carefully selected, at least for the One model that we tested, which is trimmed for maximum speed. The wheels and aero tyres are perfectly matched. As a result, the front wheel does not stall during our 20-degree turn. The slim head tube and lower fork blades are noticeable at the front. The last two to three watts are taken up by the Classified hub gear, which saves the front derailleur, together with the aero chainring. The geometry is almost comfortable compared to the other extremists, somewhat calmer overall, but not boring. The bike can handle cobblestones, but is also a joy to ride on a fast domestic circuit. It can be ridden uphill and downhill without compromise. If you want a fast road bike for everything, the Reacto One is an excellent basis.
- Model: Merida Reacto One
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura Ace/Classified (2x12)
- Impellers: DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut
- Tyres: Continental Aero 111 TR/Grand Prix 5000 S TR 29/30 mm
STORCK AERFAST.5: 198 watts*
With the Aerfast, industry veteran Markus Storck gradually approached the top of the world's fastest aero racers. Sometimes the frame was optimised, sometimes the fork, and the handlebar unit also underwent several updates. With the model presented in 2024, whose frame has been revised in line with the new UCI regulations, the manufacturer from Idstein has finally reached its goal: the Aerfast.5 Pro requires 198 watts in our test set-up. Storck pulls out all the stops to achieve this: In addition to the frame set with flat tube shapes, the single drive unit, extremely high carbon wheels and Conti aero tyres stand out. At 7.2 kilograms, the bike's weight is still okay, but it is extremely hard to ride. With a setup more suitable for everyday use with a double drivetrain, different wheels and standard tyres, the bike would weigh in at 203 watts.
- Model: Storck Aerfast.5 Pro
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (1x12
- Impellers: DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut 52
- Tyres: Continental Aero 111 TR/Grand Prix 5000 S TR 26/28 mm
SIMPLON PRIDE 2: 199 watts*
Launched in 2021, the Simplon Pride clearly stood out from the competition at the time with its aggressive design language. Simplon was the first manufacturer in the world to apply the UCI's modified technical regulations and, together with the aero experts from Swiss Side, pushed the new frame shapes almost to the limit. The result: an aero best of 199 watts, which was to last for almost four years. At the time, neither aero tyres nor a single drivetrain were under discussion, so a few more watts could be squeezed out. The Simplon is still one of the fastest in the world and it is to be hoped that it will be upgraded soon: The company from Vorarlberg is currently in a restart phase following insolvency.
- Model: Simplon Pride 2 Dura-Ace
- Drive Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12)
- Impellers: DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut 62
- Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One 25 mm
VAN RYSEL RCR-F: 200 watts*
French sporting goods giant Decathlon's entry into professional sponsorship was accompanied by a huge boost in the development of its racing bikes: the Van Rysel own-brand models have been among the world's best in terms of technology ever since. The RCR-F aero bike presented at the end of 2024 was one of the fastest road bikes in the TOUR test from a standing start. Equipped with aero tyres from Continental and wheels from the Swiss Side brand, whose aero expertise was also used in the development of the frameset, the RCR-F hit the 200 watt mark. However, the rather high weight and a rock-hard chassis are also concessions here.
- Model: Van Rysel RCR-F Pro CF Dura-Ace
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12)
- Impellers: Swiss Side Hadron² Ultimate 625
- Tyres: Continental Aero 111/Grand Prix 5000 S 26/28 mm
FACTOR ONE: 202 watts
In the wind tunnel, the One performs on a par with other well-known designs (Canyon Aeroad, Cervélo S5), but can't set itself apart. This is a slight disappointment, but largely the result of a suboptimal choice of tyres: The 28 Conti TT tyres effectively inflate 31 millimetres wide on the Black Inc wheels Nevertheless, the bike is very fast in absolute terms and can still be accelerated with better tyres: As a test, we put a set of DT Swiss ARC 1100 65 tyres, fitted with the slim Conti Aero 111 in 26 millimetre width, on the bike. The Factor One broke through the 200 watt threshold and landed at 198.2 watts. Without the front derailleur, which we removed for the experiment, the bike pushes itself to 196.8 watts - where it belongs according to the design language.
- Model: Factor One Dura-Ace
- Drive Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12)
- Impellers: Black Inc Sixty Two
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR 28
RIDLEY NOAH FAST: 202 watts
Ridley sent an aerodynamics-focussed setup to the test: it dispenses with the front derailleur and instead combines a single aero crank with a wide-ratio SRAM Force XPLR 13-speed transmission from the gravel bike. The 65 millimetre high DT Swiss wheels are fitted with Conti's Aero 111 tyres, a bank when it comes to aero performance. In the wind tunnel, Ridley's recipe impresses with very good all-round performance. We measured a weighted average of 202 watts for the Noah Fast. A very good value, which makes it a true aero bike. This is not a surprise, as Ridley has its own wind tunnel to fall back on during development. A highly configurable fun machine for fast riding, without the premium surcharge that other brands demand.
- Model: Ridley Noah Fast 3.0
- Drive SRAM Force XPLR (1x13)
- Impellers: DT-Swiss ARC 1400 (65 millimetres)
- Tyres: Continental Aero 111 TR 29 mm
SCOTT FOIL: 203 watts
The silhouette and the name raise high expectations, which the Scott was able to fulfil in the test: It leaves many of its competitors behind, especially in the aero rating. Equipped with aero tyres from Schwalbe, the test bike on show achieved 203 watts in the wind tunnel test. Although the frameset is one of the heavier models, Scott manages to keep the total weight under seven kilograms with a few tricks. This is mainly due to the spectacular Syncros wheels, which are baked with the spokes in one piece. The Foil also disproves the notion that aero bikes are uncomfortable per se: The elaborate strut construction provides better suspension than most others.
- Model: Scott Foil RC Ultimate
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (2x12)
- Impellers: Syncros Capital SL Aero 60
- Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One Aero TLE 28 mm
CANYON AEROAD: 204 watts
When it was launched two years ago, the Aeroad achieved a podium place in the wind tunnel ranking - only the Cervélo S5 and the Cannondale SystemSix (now no longer available) were slightly faster. As things stand, the 204 watts achieved by the bike in production trim are a long way off the world's best. However, this value is without tricks such as a single drive or aero tyres, but with a narrow 25-millimetre front tyre. With a little tuning, Matthieu van der Poel's workhorse is definitely a candidate for the world's best and a mercilessly good complete package: lots of speed, low weight and reasonable comfort - only a few can offer this combination.
- Model: Canyon Aeroad CFR
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12)
- Impellers: DT Swiss ARC 1100 (50 millimetres)
- Tyres: Continentral Grand Prix 5000 S TR 25/28mm
CERVÉLO S5: 204 watts
The predecessor of the current S5 set a benchmark for a long time with 202 watts. The renovated 2025 version doesn't set a new record; with Shimano Ultegra, high reserve wheels and Vittoria's Corsa Pro tyres, we determined that the new S5 requires 204 watts. Nevertheless, the Cervélo still belongs to the elite circle of the fastest competition bikes in the world, as neither aero tyres nor a single-speed drivetrain have helped here either. With a different set-up, the bike could push itself a little further forward. However, the fast speedster requires other compromises: Even with the most expensive equipment, it weighs 7.5 kilograms and offers little riding comfort.
- Model: Cervélo S5 Dura-Ace
- Drive/gear shift: Shimano Dura-Ace (2x12)
- Impellers: Reserve 57/64 TA
- Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR 29 mm
COLNAGO Y1RS: 204 watts
Superstar Tadej Pogačar is a talent of the century, but he also has top material at his disposal: In our wind tunnel test, we determined an aero performance of 204 watts for the Boliden Y1RS from Colnago. The aerodynamic potential of our test bike with Fulcrum wheels and (effectively measured) 30 millimetre wide Pirelli tyres was far from exhausted. With fast DT Swiss wheels and the flow-optimised Conti front tyre, which we fitted to the bike on a trial basis, the Colnago Y1RS was even able to just break the 200 watt mark, mind you with a double crankset and front derailleur. However, at well over seven kilograms, the bike is comparatively heavy.
- Model: Colnago Y1RS SRAM Red
- Drive/gear shift: SRAM Red AXS (2x12)
- Impellers: Vision SC 45
- Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Race TLR 28 mm
Jens Klötzer
Editor
