Fourth-gen Cannondale SuperSix EVO: an evolution that's still super

The American brand has tweaked its flagship model to great effect, writes Sam Gupta

Cannondale has launched the fourth generation of its SuperSix EVO race bike. After what is probably the worst kept secret of the year – it has been ridden and photographed since the beginning of the season with the EF Education First Easypost – we can finally take a look at what the new bike is all about.

The main source of all the speculation has been the ‘LAB71’ designation. Cannondale has announced a new echelon of bikes above Hi-MOD which previously was their range topping offering.

According to Cannondale, a bike with the LAB71 logo will make use of a new carbon-fibre layup – which Cannondale is calling its Series 0 layup.

Although the new SuperSix at present is the only bike with a LAB71 model in the range, we can expect LAB71 versions of the SystemSix, Topstone and more in the mtb world once those bikes get refreshes.

The new carbon layup is promising to be lighter than ever before, resulting in the top-spec Dura-Ace LAB71 SuperSix in a 56cm claimed to come in on the UCI weight limit of 6.8 kilos.

More aero, same stiffness Lighter, but what about aerodynamics? Of course the new bike is more aero. Cannondale is claiming that the new fourth generation is 12 watts faster at 45kph or 28mph than the third generation. This is thanks to some new tube profiles, which in some parts look flatter and more stretched out.