So it seems just like the rumors are true and there’s a brand new 13-speed Campagnolo Tremendous File 13 WRL SC street groupset within the works. An eagle-eyed pal 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 lots we are able to pick 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 for the reason that introduction of Campy Ekar’s 13-speed gravel groupset, we’ve questioned how lengthy it might take till the Italian element maker would add yet one more gear to their street bike gruppo as nicely. Now, after launching their first WRL wi-fi street groupset simply a few years in the past, it seems 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 a variety of carbon or molded carbon composite building 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 date off from a whole product launch.
However, it’s not fully clear that this outer cage is a closing manufacturing piece although, so perhaps we’ll see some change in shaping earlier than it his the market.
Campagnolo was solely actually out of top-tier street racing for a single season. However this 12 months 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 seems to have the identical detachable and rechargeable battery mounted to the internal parallelogram hyperlink, similar 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 aren’t any different wires on this wi-fi shift setup.
Additionally, there’s just a little label there saying SR13WRLSC, which I learn as Tremendous File 13sp Wi-fi SC.
Tremendous File already bought a extra reasonably priced S model final fall in matte carbon. So, is it doable that this model will turn out to be an SC variation?
In fact, we counted the cogs to verify.
Sure, it truly is 13-speed!
The R13 chain was the primary affirmation, chasing seems the identical because the C13 chain of Ekar & Ekar GT, simply now with hole pins on the street 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 street. And which is able to use their newest N3W freehub customary, 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 be new. It includes a revised design, in comparison with present Campagnolo Tremendous File WRL.
The general share is sort of comparable, as is the carbon outer cage. Nevertheless it seems to be shorter general, tucking the hyperlinks increased up into the principle composite physique, whereas protecting 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 look 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 discovered 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 direction of 13-speed and wi-fi in a versatile system, it may imply good issues for each street and gravel choices sooner or later.
Parting ideas & Campy Tremendous File 13 WRL hypothesis
A number of occasions within the evolution from 8 to 13-speeds, Campagnolo has been the primary to roll out extra gears and infrequently to debut among the lightest dropbar groupsets. This new Tremendous File 13 WRL prototype definitely ‘seems’ lighter with its skinny arms, huge cutouts, and a heavy dose of carbon or a minimum of carbon composites. However there’s quite a bit we nonetheless don’t know.
Wanting carefully at this prototype rear derailleur, I discover that the parallelogram is positioned a lot additional beneath the normal derailleur hanger bolt than every other present Campy derailleur, maybe hinting extra on the curving Campagnolo shift patent we coated 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 street derailleur could also be attempting to ship extra chain retention, as nicely. May that sign some gravel crossover? The P-knuckle doesn’t look giant sufficient to accommodate any type of clutch, however Ekar GT did significantly simplify Campy’s gravel resolution final 12 months, 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!
