When Felix Gall crossed the line in Paris at the 2025 Tour de France, he did more than secure fifth place overall, his best-ever Grand Tour result. He also underscored the arrival of a new force in elite cycling: Van Rysel.
Riding for the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team, Gall and his teammates competed on Van Rysel machines throughout the race, including the XCR for the crucial time trial stages. The result placed Van Rysel firmly among the sport’s most respected performance brands, capable of delivering on the world’s biggest stage.
A Performance Brand Born in the North of France
Founded in 2019 and based in Lille, Van Rysel is a relatively young brand with deep performance roots. Its name – Flemish for “from Lille” – reflects not only its geographic identity, but also its ethos: meticulous, data-driven engineering combined with real-world race testing.
Inside its headquarters, Van Rysel operates its development lab, R&D centre, and in-house production workshop, with engineers, designers, and athletes collaborating under one roof. Fortuitously. they are able to use the ONERA Wind Tunnel in the same city (Office National d’Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales nearby. Think of ONERA as France’s NASA) for aerodynamic development and validation. The team at Van Rysel made contact with some cycling enthusiasts at the aerospace research facility who were keen to help with the development of the new bike. Having everything in house or very close at hand has allowed the brand to move quickly, from its first WorldTour bike to today’s expansion into triathlon.
Van Rysel XCR Tri: The Move Into Triathlon
At the 2024 Kona Ironman World Championship, Van Rysel, entered the triathlon market with the launch of the XCR Tri, its first dedicated triathlon bike.
Co-developed with Swiss Side, aerodynamics specialists with more than five decades of Formula 1 expertise, the XCR Tri is built on the same UCI-legal platform used by Van Rysel’s WorldTour team, but adapted to meet the unique needs of triathletes.
“We started with a UCI-legal frame for our pro cyclists,” says Jeremie Debeuf, Van Rysel’s Product Manager, “but then spent significant time transforming it for triathletes. The demands of triathlon – especially Ironman racing – are very different, particularly when it comes to fit, comfort, and fueling over long distances.”
Cockpit Customization
The standout feature of the XCR Tri is its highly adjustable cockpit, which Van Rysel designed to support both aerodynamic efficiency (CdA) and long-distance comfort.
“We developed a cockpit with multiple bar angles, stack options, spacers, and extension configurations,” says Debeuf. “We believe it meets the needs of 95 percent of triathletes out of the box. Whether you’re a pro racing for four hours or an amateur racing for six or seven, you need to hold a position that is fast and sustainable.”
And athletes have responded accordingly. Since its launch, feedback has consistently praised the comfort and fit adjustability as defining features of the bike, Debeuf shares.
Wind Tunnel and Race Testing: Validated at Every Level
The XCR Tri underwent extensive wind tunnel testing, including sessions with Van Rysel’s WorldTour riders Bruno Armirail, Clement Berthet, and Felix Gall, who pushed early prototypes to the limit in time trial conditions. The brand also partnered with Denis Chevrot, a two-time Ironman European Champion, to validate the design under real-world triathlon conditions.
“We wanted to make sure the position wasn’t just fast in theory, but also usable for hours at a time,” says Debeuf. “Denis was instrumental in validating its practicality for Ironman racing.”
Tri-Specific Storage and Integration
The XCR Tri also incorporates smart, race-day storage without compromising its aerodynamic profile. The team applied further wind tunnel testing to optimize the hydration and nutrition setup including the position of bottle mounts, a bento box, and, on one of the models, a lower-frame toolbox.
“We looked at every detail,” Debeuf explains. “The toolbox fits tire levers, a CO2 cartridge, an Allen key, and a valve extender – everything you need for self-sufficiency, without affecting your aero setup.”
Two Builds: Ultegra Di2 and Rival AXS
The XCR Tri is available in two builds: the Ultegra Di2 and the Rival AXS. The key differences are that the Ultegra Di2 comes equipped with Shimano’s semi-wireless 12-speed groupset and includes a toolbox integrated at the base of the frame, while the Rival AXS version uses SRAM’s fully wireless 12-speed system and does not include the lower frame toolbox.
Both share the same high-modulus carbon frame, delivering a blend of stiffness and weight savings. The size medium, as an example, weighs in at 1493 grams for the frame and 470 grams for the fork. The cockpit adjustability and frame geometry are the same for both models.
Pro-Level Performance Without the Price Tag
What truly sets the XCR Tri apart is its ability to deliver WorldTour-level engineering at a lower price point. The line starts at $6,500 USD (roughly $9,000 CAD), positioning it well below many high-performance triathlon bikes with similar specs. Van Rysel aims to bring elite design to a wider range of athletes.
In March 2026, there will be a large influx of Van Rysel’s premium products into Canada. Notably, they will be in Decathlon stores and select premium cycling retailers. Those retailers include six Bicycles Quilicot locations in Quebec, four Bike Depot stores in the Greater Toronto Area, three The Bike Shop spots in Calgary and Steed Cycles in North Vancouver. With the online sales component of some of these shops, Van Rysel expects to have most of Canada covered.
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