New Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO and Bora WTO wheels are wider and lighter but disc-brake only

Lightest Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 35 weighs in at 1,285g

By Oscar Huckle

Published: Tuesday, 30 January 2024 at 13:00 PM

Campagnolo has announced a revamped line-up of its Bora WTO and Bora Ultra WTO wheelsets, with both options featuring a wider 23mm internal rim width. 

The Italian brand’s flagship aero road bike wheel range has also been updated with a host of smaller details to shave weight, with the lightest Bora Ultra WTO 35 wheelset claimed to weigh 1,285g.

There will be six wheelsets in the range: the Bora Ultra WTO 35, 45 and 60, and the Bora WTO 35, 45 and 60.

The revamped wheels also spell the end of rim brake wheels in Campagnolo’s Bora line-up.

The Bora WTO wheels are priced from £2,311.99 / $2,790 / €2,590 depending on the freehub option, while the spendier Bora Ultra WTOs start at £3,293.99 / $4,090 / €3,690. Australian pricing is to be confirmed. 

Meet the new C23 rim 

The new rim measures 23mm internally. – Campagnolo

The main unifier in the Bora WTO and Ultra WTO range is the new C23 carbon rim shape, which has a 23mm internal rim width. The carbon construction differs between both ranges, with Campagnolo claiming the Ultra WTO rims weigh 420g per set, and the WTO rims 550g. 

Campagnolo says wider rims “guarantee a larger [tyre] surface in contact with the ground that benefits aerodynamics and trajectory control”.

Many wheel brands now claim a wider rim offers a more rounded tyre shape, which improves handling and smooths the transition between the tyre sidewalls and the rim. The latter, it’s often claimed, confers a small aerodynamic benefit.

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO wheelset
The outgoing Bora wheels are positively narrow in comparison. – Campagnolo

By comparison, the outgoing Bora WTO and Bora Ultra WTOs relied on a 19mm internal rim width. That 23mm internal rim width is on-trend, with other brands such as Zipp and ENVE pushing the envelope further with 25mm widths.

Campagnolo is sticking with hooked rims. This is despite introducing the ‘Mini-Hook’ standard on its Levante gravel wheels, which was claimed to combine the advantages of hooked and hookless rims.

The rims have a teardrop shape (when combined with a tyre), which Campagnolo says has been aerodynamically optimised and can fit “both wide gravel tyres and thinner road tyres” from 25 to 48mm. The brand specifically recommends running 28 to 35mm tyres on the Bora wheels.

The new Bora C23 rim takes cues from the recently resurrected Campagnolo Hyperon wheels, where the rim is manufactured with one join. The brand says this reduces any potential points of weakness.

There will be three rim depths in both ranges – 35, 45 and 60mm – and all will continue to use Campagnolo’s 2-Way Fit technology, which offers compatibility with clincher or tubeless tyres. 

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO range details

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45
The Bora Ultra WTO goes on a weight-saving diet. – Campagnolo

The Bora Ultra WTO borrows more technology from the Hyperon Ultra wheels, beyond the single join.

The wheels feature Campagnolo’s H.U.L.C. (Handmade Ultra-Light Carbon) layup and C-LUX (Campagnolo Luxury) finish.

The H.U.L.C. construction sees the carbon fibre oriented at a specific angle when it is laid up in the mould.

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO rim
As you’d expect for the tall asking price, the rims are luxuriously finished. – Campagnolo

The C-LUX finish gives the wheels a notably smooth, mirror-like appearance, removing the need for lacquer.

Campagnolo continues to use its G3 lacing, which sees seven sets of three spokes laced together in a 2:1 ratio. The brand says the unique layout “improves load bearing, minimises weight and reduces vibrations and rim deformations”.

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO hub
One classy-looking front hub. – Campagnolo

The front hub shell is constructed from carbon fibre, which Campagnolo says saves weight and therefore improves overall performance.

Both hubs spin on Campagnolo’s CULT (Ceramic Ultimate Level Technology) ceramic bearings and are compatible with Center Lock disc brake rotors.

They also use Campagnolo’s N3W Light freehub, which debuted on the Hyperon Ultra. This sees excess material removed from the conventional N3W freehub for a claimed improvement to the wheel’s reactivity.

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO
Aero Mo-Mag technology can be found on the Bora Ultra WTOs. – Campagnolo

The Bora Ultra WTOs use Aero Mo-Mag technology for improved aerodynamics. The oversized aluminium spoke nipples are hidden inside the rim and can be accessed externally to true the wheel with a proprietary tool.

Campagnolo Bora WTO range details

Campagnolo Bora WTO hubs
The Bora WTO wheels use USB bearings and the standard N3W freehub body. – Campagnolo

The second-tier Bora WTO wheelsets use technologies found in the Bora Ultra WTO range but forgo the hidden spoke nipples, H.U.L.C. layup and C-LUX rim finish.

The Bora WTO hubs are constructed from aluminium and use USBs (Ultra Smooth Bearings), which still employ ceramic balls but have more conventional cups and cones. The Bora WTOs also use the standard N3W freehub, rather than the N3W Light.

Campagnolo Bora WTO 35 against a white background
The Bora WTOs use a 3×8 G3 spoke arrangement – Campagnolo

While the wheels continue to use the G3 spoke-lacing pattern, there are eight pairs of three spokes, rather than seven.

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO and Bora WTO pricing and specification 

US and EU pricing for the full range is still to be confirmed. 

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 35

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 45

Campagnolo Bora Ultra WTO 60

Campagnolo Bora WTO 35

Campagnolo Bora WTO 45

Campagnolo Bora WTO 60