{"id":58582,"date":"2024-01-16T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/34ae5799-e073-434d-a37b-3944a161204b"},"modified":"2024-01-16T17:59:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T16:59:47","slug":"analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis | Campagnolo is out of the WorldTour \u2013 what now?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

How did we get to this point, what does it mean for the future and what needs to happen for Campagnolo to turn things around? <\/p>

By Oscar Huckle\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 16 January 2024 at 16:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Campagnolo, the iconic Italian groupset manufacturer, isn\u2019t sponsoring a WorldTour professional team in 2024.<\/p>

Perhaps the writing was on the wall for Campagnolo already, given its dwindling WorldTour presence in recent years.\u00a0<\/p>

Last season, for example, Campagnolo sponsored only one team \u2013 AG2R Citro\u00ebn \u2013 down from four in 2021 (all four now use Shimano groupsets).<\/p>

Nevertheless, Campagnolo\u2019s ousting from the WorldTour is a worrying outcome for a brand steeped in racing history \u2013 a far cry from the status it used to enjoy.\u00a0<\/p>

As digital writer Jack Evans predicted in our road tech trends<\/a> for 2024, could we, in fact, be saying arrivederci<\/em> to Campagnolo\u2019s days as one of the Big Three groupset manufacturers?\u00a0<\/p>

I certainly hope not. As a long-time Campagnolo user, I think it\u2019s a big shame the Italian brand finds itself in this situation.\u00a0<\/p>

In the absence of any formal statement from Campagnolo or the pro teams involved, though, many questions remain.<\/p>

Do Campagnolo\u2019s groupsets and components simply perform worse than those from Shimano or SRAM? Or are there financial or commercial reasons driving Campagnolo\u2019s exit from the WorldTour?<\/p>

Perhaps most critically, though, what does Campagnolo need to do to recapture its status as the groupset manufacturer of choice for elite racers and amateur riders alike?<\/p>

Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>

Super Record Wireless is not a proven performer yet\u00a0<\/h2>
Super Record Wireless is Campagnolo’s latest flagship groupset. – Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In 2023, Campagnolo released Super Record Wireless<\/a>, its first wireless electronic groupset<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

This was a seismic announcement for Campagnolo, which until that point was the only member of the Big Three with its electronic groupset (Super Record 12 EPS<\/a>) still fully wired.\u00a0<\/p>

However, Super Record Wireless proved quite the divisive update, with the brand removing its revered thumb shifter<\/a> and introducing a new shifting logic.\u00a0<\/p>

While we\u2019re still yet to receive a groupset for a long-term review, my first ride impressions<\/a> were mostly positive.\u00a0<\/p>

Super Record Wireless retains the brand\u2019s class-leading braking, and the shifting was quick and precise.<\/p>

\"Campagnolo
The removal of the thumb shifter proved controversial. – Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

That said, I was unsure of the updated lever ergonomics, particularly the sharp cut-out on the underside of the shifter.\u00a0<\/p>

Is the overall performance of Super Record Wireless comparable to Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200<\/a> and SRAM Red eTap AXS<\/a>, though? My initial feeling is it is.<\/p>

Given this, I don\u2019t believe Campagnolo has disappeared from the upper echelon of professional racing due to performance reasons.<\/p>

After all, it\u2019s worth remembering it\u2019s only a few years since Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/a> blitzed the 2021 Tour de France<\/a> \u2013 winning the general, mountains and young rider classifications<\/a> (and three stages along the way) \u2013 using a Colnago V3Rs<\/a> equipped with Campagnolo Super Record 12 EPS.<\/p>

Why is Campagnolo out of the WorldTour?\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Ben
The now-Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team will be on Van Rysel bikes for 2024. – Basile Barbey \/ Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Whether or not Super Record Wireless is a top performer is secondary, though \u2013 no matter how good a product is, if the money\u2019s not there, it\u2019s unlikely to get a platform in professional racing.\u00a0<\/p>

It appears Campagnolo simply cannot compete financially with the behemoths that are Shimano and SRAM.\u00a0<\/p>

Beyond the pro peloton, the vast majority of bikes sold to amateur riders are now specced with Shimano or SRAM because the duo are better able to compete on price at the original-equipment (OE) level.<\/p>

Has this trend dented Campagnolo\u2019s financial health to the point at which it can no longer afford to sponsor a top-level professional team? It\u2019s certainly possible.<\/p>

After all, teams and riders rarely get to use the kit they think is \u2018best\u2019, they simply use what they\u2019re paid to (most of the time<\/a>).<\/p>

Ultimately, money talks, and if Campagnolo can\u2019t match the deals Shimano and SRAM are offering pro teams and bike brands then it\u2019s no surprise to see so many dropping the Italian brand.\u00a0<\/p>

Sport-luxury \u2013 the right market to chase?\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Specialized
This Specialized S-Works Aethos with Campagnolo Super Record Wireless retails for a heady \u00a315,000. – Specialized<\/figcaption><\/figure>

When Davide Campagnolo, grandson of founder Tulio, introduced Super Record Wireless at the media launch last year, he referred to the groupset as the pinnacle of \u2018sport-luxury\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>

Super Record Wireless is intended as a no-expenses-spared groupset that uses the very best materials to show what the brand is capable of.\u00a0<\/p>

However, without supporting releases such as Record or Chorus Wireless, I question if this is the right market to go after.\u00a0<\/p>

As with most brands, riders have historically entered the Campagnolo gateway at various levels.\u00a0<\/p>

The entry-level Xenon groupset was reasonably popular on cheaper road bikes but has long been discontinued.<\/p>

Likewise, the various incarnations of its Chorus groupset<\/a> have always been a big hit, offering most of Record and Super Record\u2019s features at a more palatable price.\u00a0<\/p>

While it remains to be seen if Campagnolo will officially axe Chorus or Record 12, there\u2019s certainly less on offer to convince riders without very deep pockets to switch to Campagnolo from Shimano or SRAM nowadays.\u00a0<\/p>

\"Campagnolo
Super Record Wireless is a pricey way to enter the Campagnolo-verse. – Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The \u00a34,499 price of entry for Super Record Wireless is prohibitive for enticing riders into the Campagnolo ecosystem \u2013\u00a0many people just don\u2019t have that amount of money to spend on a groupset.\u00a0<\/p>

The decision to be perceived as a luxury brand, pivoting away from racing and having fewer cost-effective groupset options, certainly seems odd.\u00a0<\/p>

After all, you see far fewer dream-spec bikes with Super Record Wireless<\/a> than more conventional options.\u00a0<\/p>

Campagnolo was already a niche brand and this strategy seems to be digging itself deeper into a niche inside of a niche.\u00a0<\/p>

If Campagnolo doesn\u2019t release any affordable performance options quickly, I suspect more increasingly frustrated users of its groupsets will flock to Shimano and SRAM, while new riders may not even give it a second thought.<\/p>

Does Campagnolo need to sponsor a WorldTour team?<\/h2>
\"Campagnolo
Campagnolo’s WorldTour omission feels alien. – Campagnolo<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Of course, it\u2019s perfectly reasonable to question whether Campagnolo needs to sponsor a WorldTour team<\/a> in order to sell groupsets and components to amateur riders.<\/p>

Is it a smart financial decision to compete with Shimano or SRAM if a return on investment isn\u2019t guaranteed?<\/p>

Campagnolo isn\u2019t just any component brand, though. Its history is in bike racing and that\u2019s where it made its name.\u00a0<\/p>

The brand boasts a whopping 42 Tour de France wins, with a sizable margin over any other groupset manufacturer. Shimano is in a distant second place with 12 (with a further seven disallowed wins from the Lance Armstrong era).\u00a0<\/p>

Without a WorldTour presence, Campagnolo may alienate core fans who appreciated the brand for its unrivalled racing heritage.\u00a0<\/p>

Super Record has always been a \u2018racers’ groupset’, and therefore needs its performance to be proven at the highest level to maintain this credibility.<\/p>

\"Ben
Pros put groupsets through their paces. – Luc Claessen \/ Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

But there\u2019s also the benefit of pro feedback, which is one of the most useful ways a brand can learn what improvements it needs to make for future generations.\u00a0<\/p>

Pro riders are among the most demanding of their equipment, continuously pushing components to their limits \u2013 and often beyond. If Campagnolo doesn\u2019t sponsor a WorldTour team, then the performance level and reputation of its equipment risks falling behind Shimano and SRAM.\u00a0<\/p>

Of course, we here at BikeRadar regularly put groupsets through their paces, but the demands of elite racers are different from those of journalists and amateur riders.<\/p>

How is Campagnolo meant to learn how to improve Super Record Wireless for racers if no top-level pros are using and abusing it on a daily basis?<\/p>

Furthermore, a WorldTour presence guarantees a certain level of media coverage. Without the exposure, Campagnolo risks becoming less relevant to cycling fans.\u00a0<\/p>

I find it disheartening that Campagnolo almost certainly won\u2019t feature in our tech galleries this year when BikeRadar attends the 2024 Tour de France.\u00a0<\/p>

What does Campagnolo need to do to put itself back in the game?\u00a0<\/h2>

More accessible electronic groupsets<\/h3>
\"Condor
A Chorus Wireless groupset could be the rejuvenation Campagnolo needs. – Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Fundamentally, Campagnolo can\u2019t afford to keep neglecting the broader consumer market.<\/p>

Prior to the release of Super Record Wireless, I put together a wishlist of things I wanted to see from Campagnolo<\/a> and I stand by most of my points.\u00a0<\/p>

As already noted, Campagnolo needs to offer more tiered wireless electronic groupsets \u2013 ideally at the Record and Chorus level, but especially the latter.\u00a0<\/p>

If a Chorus Wireless groupset were released, it could be enough to tempt riders away from Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8170<\/a> or SRAM Force AXS<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

It\u2019s worth remembering Campagnolo\u2019s 11-speed electronic EPS groupsets were\u00a0offered down to the Athena<\/a> level (which sat below Chorus, but is now discontinued).\u00a0<\/p>

Shimano and SRAM almost certainly make more money from the likes of 105 Di2 \/ Rival AXS than Dura-Ace or Red.<\/p>

Perhaps the same wasn\u2019t true for Campagnolo (and that explains why its cheaper electronic groupsets were phased out), but without these more accessible entry points, I worry Campagnolo will find it hard to attract a wider base of riders.<\/p>

Don\u2019t forget about mechanical<\/h3>
\"Campagnolo
Campagnolo could really carve itself a niche if it continued to pursue mechanical groupsets. – Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Campagnolo should also reinvest in mechanical shifting at the higher tiers \u2013 that seems an obvious way for it to stand apart from Shimano and SRAM.\u00a0<\/p>

While Record 12 and Chorus 12 remain in Campagnolo\u2019s catalogue (for now), I don\u2019t want them to be discontinued if Wireless equivalents are released, like the brand axed Super Record 12 when it launched Super Record Wireless.\u00a0<\/p>

Shimano has abandoned mechanical shifting at both the Dura-Ace and Ultegra level, with 105 R7100<\/a> its sole 12-speed mechanical offering for road bikes.\u00a0<\/p>

\"SRAM
SRAM is fully committed to electronic groupsets. – Scott Windsor \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

SRAM has completely abandoned development of new mechanical groupsets for road bikes, with Apex Eagle<\/a> (a 1x gravel groupset<\/a>) and its legacy Apex<\/a>, Rival and Force 1<\/a> groupsets its only remaining options for drop-bar bikes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

This could be especially helpful for Campagnolo because, though there are now cheaper electronic groupsets available (such as Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 and SRAM Rival eTap AXS), the mechanical equivalents still tend to be far cheaper.<\/p>

By offering high-performance mechanical groupsets at prices more riders can afford, Campagnolo could serve the sizable portion of the market that still \u2013 if the comment sections on our articles and YouTube channel<\/a> are anything to go by \u2013 wants reasonably priced mechanical shifting options.<\/p>

What about gravel?\u00a0<\/h3>
\"FiftyOne
Ekar was a big success for Campagnolo. – Oscar Huckle \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Campagnolo Ekar<\/a> proved a hit for the Italian brand and it\u2019s far more commonly specced on new gravel bikes<\/a> than any of its road bike groupsets.\u00a0<\/p>

The Italian brand managed to capture the rapidly growing gravel market by introducing 13-speed (Shimano\u2019s GRX<\/a> and SRAM\u2019s XPLR<\/a> groupsets are both 12-speed, with Shimano only jumping from 11-speed in 2023) and sticking with mechanical shifting.\u00a0<\/p>

Many have clamoured for an electronic variant of Ekar and, given the brand has developed its Wireless technology for the road, a potential Ekar Wireless groupset could further disrupt the gravel market.\u00a0<\/p>

Hopefully just a learning experience\u00a0<\/h2>
\"Tadej
Campagnolo has some work to do if it wants to relive its recent Tadej Poga\u010dar heyday. – Tim de Waele \/ Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Whatever the reason for Campagnolo\u2019s disappearance from the WorldTour, everyone can surely agree it has work to do if it wants to recapture its status as one of the Big Three groupset manufacturers.\u00a0<\/p>

It needs a WorldTour presence because racing is core to its values and the coverage can help to excite audiences and inspire them to use its products.\u00a0<\/p>

Campagnolo\u2019s fortunes aside, one fewer member of the Big Three could result in slower groupset developments given there\u2019s less competition and therefore less impetus to innovate.<\/p>

Putting heart before head, many will argue that the omission of Campagnolo from elite racing is tantamount to the removal of a part of cycling\u2019s soul.\u00a0<\/p>

Likewise, in order for the brand to capture a wider range of riders beyond the professional sphere, Campagnolo must offer more at a more accessible level than it currently does.\u00a0<\/p>

Campagnolo has always done things on its own terms and while that\u2019s worked in the past (such as with its late first hydraulic disc brake effort that ended up bettering its competition), there\u2019s no ignoring the success Shimano and SRAM seem to be having with their cheaper offerings.\u00a0<\/p>

Hopefully, 2024 is just a blip in Campagnolo\u2019s storied history in cycling and it gives the brand the time to regroup and come back stronger than ever before.\u00a0<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How did we get to this point, what does it mean for the future and what needs to happen for Campagnolo to turn things around? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":58583,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"11"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now.jpg",2560,1623,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now-300x190.jpg",300,190,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now-768x487.jpg",768,487,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now-1024x649.jpg",800,507,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now-1536x974.jpg",1536,974,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/analysis-campagnolo-is-out-of-the-worldtour-what-now-2048x1298.jpg",2048,1298,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"How did we get to this point, what does it mean for the future and what needs to happen for Campagnolo to turn things around?","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/58582"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}