Cinelli because of its privileged position as Columbus’ factory neighbour was amongst the first in the world to use XCR, Columbus’ seamless stainless steel tubeset, and gain an expertise with it. Columbus XCR is the world’s most high performing tubeset. The costs and risks (the raw material has an extremely elevated price and the superior cold-drawn process Columbus favours makes risk of material waste very high) of manufacturing this mean that only a limited amount of the tubesets are produced, relative to the heavy request. This explains the extremely exclusive nature (30 pieces for 2011) of this new interpretation of the classic Cinelli XCR frame produced in collaboration with Rapha.
This new model is specifically designed for the rigours of criterium racing. Extremely stiff, resistant material and tight geometries favouring reactive handling and high-cornering load geometries.
The style is, of course, classic Rapha, with just a hint of the theatricality and humour of Italian cycling escaping at the seams, inevitably! Go here to order your XCR Criterium Racer.
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