With only a week or so before the start of the Vuelta, the UCI put out their latest update on approved wheels for use in competition. There are three brands represented this time, Spanish wheel manufacturer DRWL (DoctorWheel), Japanese brand Sacra, and Austrian band Xentis. All have their first wheels added to the list.
Only four wheels were added, so we have some space to talk about the brands and wheels. DRWL sees their T-38 tubular approved in this round. At 38mm tall, it sits on the shallower end of their 20/38/45/50/60mm tubular
DRWL sees their T-38 tubular approved in this round. At 38mm tall, it sits on the shallower end of their 20/38/45/50/60mm tubular lineup. They offer some customization in your choice of Novatech or DTSwiss hubs (Chris King and PowerTap are also available through custom orders directly from DRWL), SRAM/Shimano or Campy freehub, and four options for sticker colors. The rims are made from Toray T700 carbo and have a UD finish. Once you select your hub, they are hand built with 20 spokes up front, 24 in the back. Pricing starts at 621.00€.
Sacra see’s their first edition to the UCI Approved Wheel list with their 4G-50-TU. With a name like that, you’d be correct if you guessed that someone in the brand spent time at Shimano. Yoshitada Tanaka worked in Shimano’s R&D team before moving on to create his own brand. The 50mm tubular wheelset claims to weigh in at 1385 grams, and costs $1320. There isn’t a whole lot of info on their site, but the graphics on the rim are painted, not a sticker. Sacra also offers lubes, super low friction chains, and an interesting saddle height adjustment device that allows you to adjust saddle height while riding.
The most well known of the three brands, Xentis, also has their first two wheels added to the list. The Squad 2.5 and 5.8 fill the shallow and taller ends of the line up. The 2.5 is 25mm tall, while the 5.8 is…58mm tall. There are also 4.2 and 7.5 options available. All but the 7.5 come in tubular and clincher variants, leaving the tallest option in clincher only. The front hub is an all carbon affair, with a claimed weight of just 59g. The rims are 24.6mm wide, and the wheelset weights in at 995g.
The 5.8 also features the carbon hub, along with Xentis’ Active Tubulator (think of the dimples other brands use) to remove the airflow around with rim to make them more aerodynamic. It’s a unique look, thats for sure. At 1350g, they are a light weight set of deep, wide wheels that should help you get up climbs as fast as you knock out the flats.
Wheel Additions
DRWL
T38 – 38 mm rim – 20/24 spokes
Approved 8/9/17
Sacra
4G-50-TU – 50 mm rim – 20 spokes
Approved 8/9/17
Xentis
Squad 2.5 – 25 mm rim – 20 spokes
Approved 8/9/17
Squad 5.8 – 58 mm rim – 20 spokes
Approved 8/9/17
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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