Cannondale’s much-teased, fourth-generation SuperSix EVO headlines with claims of improved aerodynamics and lower weight, while also promising a more user-friendly design.
At 770g for the new, top-tier Lab71 frame, it’s the lightest SuperSix EVO ever. As for aerodynamics, Cannondale claims the new EVO is 12 watts more efficient at 45kph than the previous-generation bike.
Take a quick look at the new bike and, at first glance, it doesn’t look very different from the third generation.
However, as we predicted, the new design also brings a return to a threaded bottom bracket and up-to-date tyre clearances.
While the frame shape has changed subtly, it shares the EVO 3’s geometry, mirrors its head tube and bottom bracket stiffness figures, and offers the same compliance through the rear end, according to Cannondale.
All told, it’s a bike with big boots to fill. The third generation of Cannondale’s all-round race bike arrived in 2020 as a radical redesign, introducing aero tubes to what was previously a round-tubed bike focused primarily on lightweight comfort. The result was a bike that won our Road Bike of the Year award back in 2020.
New Cannondale SuperSix EVO | What you need to know
- A halo Lab71 frame option joins the Carbon and Hi-Mod versions
- At a claimed 770g for the Lab71 frame, it’s the lightest EVO ever
- Switches to a threaded BSA bottom bracket shell
- New proprietary Delta steerer uses a standard headset
- Geometry, stiffness and compliance all retained from the previous EVO
- 12 watts more efficient at 45kph than third-generation SuperSix EVO
- 12 watts more efficient than the Trek Emonda SLR at 45kph, according to Cannondale, and four watts faster than the Specialized Tarmac SL7
- Five specs – all electronic – available at launch, with mechanical (and more electronic) models to follow
- Both Lab71 and Hi-Mod framesets are available
- New one-piece cockpit designed in conjunction with MomoDesign
- New Aero-Gripper bottle and cage system claimed to save three watts
The more things change, the more they stay the same
The silhouette of the new SuperSix EVO looks very similar to the outgoing model, though the down tube has been reshaped and the interface between frame and fork simplified. The seat tube profile has also changed and the seatstays have dropped, bringing influences in from Cannondale's aero-focused SystemSix.
Under the skin, however, is where you’ll find the biggest changes. It's an intriguing blend of less proprietary tech and new proprietary tech, without, on the face of it, the downsides of unique hardware.
Starting at the front-end, the new fork uses a ‘Delta’ steerer tube.
Cannondale says this triangular-shaped steerer has enabled it to greatly reduce the head tube sizing of the EVO, while still allowing for fully integrated cable routing.
The new design also enables the use of any handlebar and stem combination.
This includes Cannondale’s all-new R-One SystemBar one-piece cockpit (more on that later).
The bike works with Vision cockpits, as used by the EF Pro Cycling team, too. These use FSA’s ACR internal-routing design.
Fans of trackstands and low-speed manoeuvres will appreciate that the new design has enabled Cannondale to remove the steering stops found on the previous EVO.
The most user-friendly change to the front end, however, is the adoption of a standard 1-1/8in to 1.5in headset.
This opens up a wealth of options for replacements and upgrades, and means no searching for stockists of proprietary parts.
Following the Cannondale Topstone and Cannondale Synapse, the SuperSix EVO moves away from BB30 and adopts a threaded BSA/ISO bottom bracket.
Again, it’s another positive move for aftermarket upgrades and replacement availability.
Cannondale has refined the seat tube design in the name of aerodynamics.
Cannondale said the requirement to fit a Shimano Di2 battery inside the frame previously limited its options when it came to seat tube shape.
The battery on Di2-equipped bikes is now housed in the down tube. Cannondale’s lead engineer and aerodynamics expert, Nathan Barry, told us this change enabled Cannondale to optimise the seat tube, narrowing it down significantly.
“By repositioning the Di2 battery in the bottom of the down tube, it allowed us to give the seat tube and seatpost the ideal aerodynamic shape,” Barry told BikeRadar. "This is where we saw some of the biggest gains in drag reduction.”
Seeing the EVO in silhouette doesn’t really reflect how the new post and seat tube really look in the flesh.
The previous D-shaped seatpost was a slender 25mm in effective diameter.
The new flatter, deeper, more aero post is only around 15mm wide, yet still retains the same stiffness characteristics as the previous version, Cannondale says.
Elsewhere, Cannondale has also moved away from its Speed Release axles.
These saw the threaded end of the thru-axle thread into a standard dropout but, at the handle end, the dropout was slotted to enable the wheel to be removed with the axle in place.
The new EVO uses the lightweight Syntace thru-axle standard, which has helped drop a little weight from the bike overall, and allowed for a clean-looking, hidden dropout on the fork.
The geometry of the EVO basically remains unchanged, though the chainstays have been lengthened slightly to accommodate an increase in tyre clearance, up from 30mm to 34mm.
Cannondale has also replaced the two largest-sized frames in the EVO 3 range (60cm and 62cm) with a single, 61cm frame.
| | 44 | 48 | 51 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 61 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat angle (degrees) | 74.3 | 74.3 | 74.3 | 73.7 | 73.3 | 72.9 | 72.3 |
| Head angle (degrees) | 70.9 | 71.2 | 71.2 | 71.2 | 73 | 73 | 73 |
| Chainstay (mm) | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 |
| Front centre (mm) | 582 | 589 | 598 | 611 | 594 | 637 | 624 |
| Seat tube (mm) | 400 | 438 | 477 | 515 | 534 | 567 | 600 |
| Top tube horizontal (mm) | 512 | 520 | 528 | 546 | 562 | 578 | 603 |
| Top tube actual (mm) | 469 | 479 | 489 | 509 | 523 | 541 | 564 |
| Head tube (mm) | 160 | 114 | 130 | 154 | 165 | 188 | 220 |
| Fork offset (mm) | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
| Trail (mm) | 60 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 58 |
| Bottom bracket drop (mm) | 74 | 74 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 69 | 69 |
| Bottom bracket height (mm) | 268 | 268 | 268 | 271 | 271 | 273 | 273 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 981 | 987 | 996 | 1,610 | 994 | 1,607 | 1,024 |
| Standover (mm) | 698 | 727 | 756 | 788 | 807 | 836 | 866 |
| Stack (mm) | 505 | 520 | 535 | 555 | 575 | 595 | 625 |
| Reach (mm) | 370 | 374 | 378 | 384 | 389 | 395 | 403 |
Weights and measures
Cannondale announced the brand’s new super-premium sub-brand Lab71 just prior to launching the 2023 SuperSix EVO.
The EVO is the first bike to get the Lab71 treatment, adding a new flagship tier above the usual range-topping Hi-Mod models.
The Lab71 edition of the SuperSix EVO gets a new carbon fibre layup, alongside the use of Cannondale’s 'nano-resin'.
Road bike product manager Sam Ebert remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of the upgrades over the Hi-Mod frame, only to say: “The new Series 0 carbon construction found on the Lab71 SuperSix EVO makes use of cutting-edge materials and processes rarely seen in the bike industry due to their complexity and cost.
“This advanced fibre and nano-resin composite has exceptional tensile and compressive strength properties, which allows Cannondale engineers to achieve more with less material.”
The result, Cannondale says, is an EVO that weighs 770g for a fully painted and build-ready size 56cm frame.
As for a complete 56cm bike (with bottles and cages in place), that tips the scales at the UCI minimum weight of 6.8kg (14.99lb).
The Hi-Mod and Carbon bikes aren’t exactly heavyweights either. The Hi-Mod frame weighs in at 810g (56cm, painted, all hardware), and the standard Carbon model 930g (56cm, painted, all hardware).
Aside from weight reductions the new design is also said to perform better in the wind tunnel.
Nathan Barry worked extensively on the bike's design to reduce drag yet retain the stiffness and compliance of the frameset from EVO 3, says Cannondale.
Barry claims the Lab71 edition of the new EVO, using the new SystemBar and 50mm-deep wheels, saves 12 watts of power at 45 km/h (28mph) over the previous EVO.
"Under the same test conditions, we benchmarked it against the Trek Emonda SLR and saw a 12-watt improvement. Against Specialized’s Tarmac SL7, we saw a four-watt improvement,” he says.
Cannondale didn't provide details of its test protocol, however.
The new R-One SystemBar found on the Lab71 and Hi-Mod models moves away from Cannondale’s pseudo-one piece Knot/HollowGram cockpit, in favour of a slender, fully integrated option. This was developed in conjunction with automotive design team, MomoDesign.
“The SuperSix EVO’s fully-integrated SystemBar R-One carbon handlebar and stem uses drag-reducing shapes while hitting the ergonomic shaping and compliance required for a pro-level race bike,” says Ebert.
New bike, new wheels
Alongside the new frameset, Cannondale has developed a new wheelset for the EVO.
The new wheels have a rim profile evolved from the previous HollowGram/Knot wheels, with a 50mm-deep rim that’s 32mm wide externally and 21mm wide internally. The rims are hooked (as opposed to hookless), tubeless-ready and laced to the HollowGram hubs with bladed aero spokes.
The 50s come in two models. The premium R-SL 50 wheelset, found on the Hi-Mod and Lab71 bikes, has DT Swiss 240 internals, while the cheaper R 50 wheelset, found on the Carbon bikes, uses DT Swiss 350 internals.
The R-SL wheelset has a claimed weight of 1,520g a pair, with the Rs at 1,620g a pair.
Small details
Cannondale has looked beyond just the bike and into the essential accessories, too.
Nathan Barry told us “Aero(dynamic) tests historically haven’t used a bicycle in full race trim [Cannondale didn’t specify whether this test includes pedals or bike computers, etc].
“I wanted to make the EVO faster in the real world too, and that meant looking at bottle design and cages."
The new Aero Gripper cage and bottle are slimmer than a standard cage, so when not loaded with a bottle it sits within the boundaries of the down tube edges and doesn’t increase drag.
With the two cages and bottles in place, Cannondale claims the EVO sees a 3- to 4-watt aero improvement at 45kph / 28mph compared to standard round bottles.
Cannondale says this is because the aero bottle essentially acts as a fairing, increasing the effective size of the down tube aerofoil to close to that of its SystemSix aero road bike.
The dedicated aero bottle uses a standard top and has a flat bottom, so unlike most aero bottles, it stands when you're trying to fill it.
The aero cages can also hold and grip standard round bottles, so if you need to grab a new bottle mid-race or event, there are no worries about compatibility.
Cannondale claims the aero cage and bottles will bring aero savings to “any bike” and will be available to buy separately too.
Of course, not every bike will have a down tube width that matches the profile of the aero cage, but it could be a simple, low-cost upgrade for many bikes.
New Cannondale SuperSix Evo range overview
At launch, the range is somewhat concise and, starting at £6,250 / $5,500 / €6,799 – not exactly cheap.
Prices rise to £12,500 / $15,000 / €14,999 for the flagship Lab71 bike.
Cannondale told us ongoing supply-chain challenges mean it can’t expand the EVO range out to where it wants it to be.
That, along with new groupsets coming to market (such as the new SRAM Force AXS), means it won’t be expanding the EVO 4 range fully until 2024.
Cannondale expects models with both mechanical and cheaper electronic groupsets to arrive soon.
For the remainder of 2023, the EVO range (much like Specialized did with Tarmac SL7/SL6) will contain a mix of both the EVO 4 and EVO 3 framesets.
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Lab71
- Price: £12,500 / $15,000 / €14,999 / AU$17,499
- Frame: Lab71 SuperSix EVO, Ultralight Series 0 Carbon
- Fork: Lab71 SuperSix EVO, Ultralight Series 0 Carbon, 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Rims: HollowGram 50 R-SL, Carbon, 20h front, 24h rear, 50mm deep, 21mm IW, tubeless-ready
- Hubs: (F) HollowGram, sealed bearing 12x100mm centerlock / (R) HollowGram, 12x142mm centerlock w/ DT Swiss 240 internals
- Spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite, straight-pull
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000, 700 x 25c
- Crankset: Shimano Dura-Ace R9200, 52/36
- Bottom Bracket: CeramicSpeed BSA
- Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace, 12-speed
- Cassette: Shimano Dura-Ace R9200, 11-30, 12-speed
- Front derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9250
- Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270, wireless, 2x12-speed
- Handlebar: Cannondale SystemBar R-One – low drag, full carbon integrated bar/stem, internal routing
- Bar tape: Fizik Tempo Bondcush Soft, 3mm Cannondale
- Cockpit: SystemBar R-One – low drag, full carbon integrated bar/stem, internal routing Integrated,
- Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace R9270
- Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo 00 Carbon
- Seatpost: Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 20mm offset (51-61cm)
- Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Sizes 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
- Colour: Jet Black (Satin) w/ Marble Oxblood (Gloss) and Smoke Brushed Chrome (MOX)
- Extras: Cannondale Gripper Aero Bottles & ReGrip Aero Cages, Dual Socket Bottom Bracket Tool, Shimano EC300 charging connector
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Lab71 frame
- Price: £4,750 / €5,499 / $6,000 / AU$6,999
- Frame Lab71 SuperSix EVO, Ultralight Series 0 Carbon, integrated cable routing w/ Switchplate, 12x142 Syntace thru-axle, BSA 68mm threaded BB, flat mount disc, integrated seat binder, SmartSense compatible
- Fork Lab71 SuperSix EVO, Ultralight Series 0 Carbon, integrated crown race, 12x100mm Syntace thru-axle, flat mount disc, internal routing, 1-1/8" to 1-1/4" Delta steerer, 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Colours: Stealth Gray w/ Lavender, Jet Black, Black Chrome, and Acid Lime (WOW), Fine Silver (Satin) w/ Jet Black (Gloss), EF Pink, and Light Pink (REP), Jet Black (Satin) w/ Jet Black (Gloss), and Smoked Brushed Chrome (BLK)
- Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
- Extras: Cannondale Gripper Aero Bottles & ReGrip Aero Cages, Dual Socket Bottom Bracket Tool
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 1
- Price: £10,500 / €13,499 / $13,500 / AU$17,499
- Frame: SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Carbon
- Fork: SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Carbon, 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Rims: HollowGram 50 R-SL, Carbon, 20h front, 24h rear, 50mm deep, 21mm IW, tubeless ready
- Hubs: (F) HollowGram, sealed bearing 12x100mm centerlock / (R) HollowGram, 12x142mm centerlock w/ DT Swiss 240 internals
- Spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite, straight-pull
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000, 700 x 25c
- Crankset: SRAM RED AXS Carbon, 48/35
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB BSA
- Chain: SRAM RED, 12-speed
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1290, 10-28, 12-speed
- Front derailleur: SRAM RED AXS
- Rear derailleur: SRAM RED AXS
- Shifters: SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD, 2x12
- Handlebar: Cannondale SystemBar R-One - low drag, full carbon integrated bar/stem, internal routing
- Bar tape: Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm
- Saddle: Prologo Dimension NACK NDR, Carbon Rails
- Seatpost: Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 20mm offset (51-61cm)
- Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
- Colour 1: Mercury w/ Raw Carbon, Brushed Chrome, and Smoke Black (MRC)
- Colour 2: Tinted Red w/ Jet Black, Brushed Chrome, and Candy Red (TRD)
- Extras: Cannondale Gripper Aero Bottles & ReGrip, Aero Cages, SRAM AXS charger
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod 2
- Price: £8,250 / $8,300 / €8,999 / AU$11,999
- Frame: SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Carbon
- Fork SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Carbon, 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Rims: HollowGram 50 R-SL, Carbon, 20h front, 24h rear, 50mm deep, 21mm IW, tubeless ready
- Hubs: (F) HollowGram, sealed bearing 12x100mm centerlock / (R) HollowGram, 12x142mm centerlock w/ DT Swiss 240 internals
- Spokes: DT Swiss Aerolite, straight-pull
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000, 700 x 25c
- Crankset: Shimano Ultegra R8200, 52/36
- Bottom bracket: Shimano BSA 68
- Chain: Shimano Ultegra, 12-speed
- Cassette: Shimano Ultegra R8200, 11-30, 12-speed
- Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150
- Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170, wireless, 2x12
- Handlebar: Vision Trimax Carbon Aero, 31.8mm
- Stem: Cannondale C1 Conceal, Alloy, 31.8, -6°
- Bar tape: Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm
- Saddle: Prologo Dimension NACK NDR, Carbon Rails
- Seatpost: Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 20mm offset (51-61cm)
- Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
- Colour 1: Mercury w/ Raw Carbon, Brushed Chrome, and Smoke Black (MRC)
- Colour 2: Tinted Red w/ Jet Black, Brushed Chrome, and Candy Red (TRD)
- Extras: Cannondale Gripper Aero Bottles & ReGrip, Aero Cages, Shimano EC300 charging connector
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod frameset
- Price: £3,750 / $4500 / €4,199 / AU$5,299
- Frame: SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Carbon
- Fork SuperSix EVO Hi-MOD Carbon, 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Seatpost: Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 20mm offset (51-61cm)
- Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61
- Colour 1: Jet Black w/ Smoke Black and Fine Silver (SBK)
- Colour 2: Laguna Yellow w/ Smoke Black and Olive Green (LYW)
- Extras: Cannondale Gripper Aero Bottles & ReGrip Aero Cages
Cannondale SuperSix EVO 1
- Price: £10,500 / €13,499 / $13,500 / AU$17,499
- Frame: SuperSix EVO Carbon
- Fork SuperSix EVO Carbon, integrated crown race, 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Rims: HollowGram 50 R-S, Carbon, 20h front, 24h rear, 50mm deep, 21mm IW, tubeless ready
- Hubs: (F) HollowGram, sealed bearing 12x100mm centerlock / (R) HollowGram, 12x142mm centerlock w/ DT Swiss 350 internals
- Spokes: Formula Grand Forza, Double Butted, straight-pull
- Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black, 700 x 25c, reflective strip
- Crankset: SRAM Force DUB, 48/35
- Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB BSA
- Chain: SRAM Force, 12-speed
- Cassette: SRAM XG-1270, 10-33, 12-speed
- Front derailleur: SRAM Force AXS
- Rear derailleur: SRAM Force AXS
- Shifters: SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD, 2x12
- Handlebar: Vision Trimax Carbon Aero
- Stem: Cannondale C1 Conceal, Alloy, 31.8, -6°
- Bar tape: Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm
- Saddle: Prologo Dimension Tirox NDR, Ti Rails
- Seatpost: Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 20mm offset (51-61cm)
- Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
- Colour: Mystique Gray (Tint) w/ Midnight Blue and Brushed Chrome (MYG)
- Extras: SRAM AXS charger
Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
- Price: £6,250 / $5,500 / €5,899 / AU$8,399
- Frame: SuperSix EVO Carbon
- Fork: SuperSix EVO Carbon 55mm offset (44-54cm), 45mm offset (56-61cm)
- Rims: HollowGram 50 R-S, Carbon, 20h front, 24h rear, 50mm deep, 21mm IW, tubeless ready
- Hubs: (F) HollowGram, sealed bearing 12x100mm centerlock / (R) HollowGram, 12x142mm centerlock w/ DT Swiss 350 internals
- Spokes: Formula Grand Forza, Double Butted, straight-pull
- Tyres: Vittoria Rubino Pro Bright Black, 700 x 25c, reflective strip
- Crankset: Shimano Ultegra R8200, 52/36
- Bottom bracket: Shimano BSA 68
- Chain: Shimano Ultegra, 12-speed
- Cassette: Shimano Ultegra R8200, 11-30, 12-speed
- Front derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150
- Rear derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150
- Shifters: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170, wireless, 2x12
- Handlebar: Vision Trimax Carbon Aero, 31.8mm
- Stem: Cannondale C1 Conceal, Alloy, 31.8, -6°
- Bar tape: Cannondale Bar Tape, 3.5mm
- Saddle: Prologo Dimension STN NDR, steel Rails
- Seatpost: Cannondale C1 Aero 40 Carbon, 0mm offset (44-48cm), 20mm offset (51-61cm)
- Connectivity: Cannondale Wheel Sensor
- Sizes: 44, 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61cm
- Colour 1: Deep Teal w/ Orchid, Goldfinger, Turquoise (DTE)
- Colour 2: Raw carbon w/ Disco Black and Fine Silver (RAW)
- Extras: Shimano EC300 charging connector
