Wilier-Triestina claims its carbon GTR Team Potenza is "ideal for the racer and the leisure cyclist", describing its geometry as ‘endurance’. The GTR comes with Campagnolo’s Potenza, in this case the full groupset along with Campagnolo’s Khamsin wheels for a unified look.
While this is aimed more towards the endurance rider, in typical Italian style Wilier hasn’t deviated hugely from its race bike geometry, so there’s no super-tall head-tube or ultra-relaxed frame angles, just a marginally shorter reach and taller front end.
But even that’s enough to make a difference, especially given the Wilier’s comfort, and that’s with the modest 25mm Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres; there’s room for 28mm rubber if you need more.
All the usual frame and fork features are present and correct: sculpted aero head-tube, tapered full-carbon fork with Kammtail aero-profile legs and internal cable routing.
Further familiar modern touches include a semi-compact Shimano Di2 and Campagnolo EPS-ready frame, dropped seatstays and, unlike some of the others here, a 27.2mm seatpost, which seems the sensible choice on a more comfort-minded machine.
The frame is neatly constructed from Mitsubishi’s 46Ton carbon, which enables Wilier to achieve a frame weight not much more than a kilo for the GTR Team.
Even without a massive bottom bracket shell I couldn’t induce any noticeable flex when climbing, though I’d have preferred the 34x29 bottom gear that some earlier GTR Teams came with to this bike’s tougher 34x27, but overall it climbs well.
It may not be the lightest bike, but 8.4kg is a long way from heavy. Light-touch steering and a responsive frame ensures fast, safe, accurate and confident descending.
While not being super speedy, the Wilier is still a nimble, nifty-handling bike, though it would benefit from a slightly lighter wheelset.
The Potenza groupset works well, with the usual swift shifting across the block and feedback-heavy shift action.
Where the GTR Team really scores is in its comfort. I took this for a few spins over my local gravel tracks, towpaths and broken road surfaces and it proved a consistently excellent companion.
I’d go for wider rubber if I was doing this regularly, but both frame and fork took the sting out of road buzz well. Good bar tape helps at the front, and I got on very well with the Selle Italia saddle. The cockpit components are standard FSA aluminium.
I tested the 2018 Wilier GTR Team. The 2019 model has the same frameset and will now come in red or black with Shimano Ultegra as the standard groupset, with Campagnolo Potenza available to order. It’s definitely worth considering too. It has a high-quality, well-finished frame, and if you value long-distance comfort over performance and like a little Italian accompaniment to your ride, this bike will deliver mile after mile.
