To celebrate 80 years since its founding AND Bastille Day, Lapierre has unveiled the Xelius DRS 80th Anniversary, a highly limited-edition version of its flagship road frameset.
With only 100 individually numbered pieces for sale, this special release honours the dedication to performance that has defined the renowned French brand since Gaston Lapierre established it in 1946.
The Design Story: Kinetic Dust
The anniversary frameset introduces a new Kinetic Dust colourway concept, which illustrates the emotional residue of performance. Visually, this design is represented by particle dispersion across the frame, with the density increasing in areas put under the highest stress, such as the bottom bracket, aero fork, and the junction of the seat stays and top tube. The backward scattering of the dust also embodies the continuous forward movement.
The finish is brought to life through three symbolic colours. Dark Blue represents Lapierre’s DNA and legacy while also symbolising the calm before intensity. Teal signifies the moment pain transforms into momentum, and Champagne conveys quiet satisfaction and a personal victory.
UCI WorldTour-Proven
The Xelius DRS 80th Anniversary utilizes the race-proven sixth-generation Xelius DRS frameset which Team Picnic PostNL will compete on during Stage 10 of the 2026 Tour, Bastille Day (14th July). That date has been specifically chosen to honour the brand’s proud French roots, as well as the historic milestone.
Beneath the commemorative design, the Xelius DRS features signature 3D Tubular Technology for exceptional comfort. Built with an ultra-premium UD Factory Lab carbon layup, the frame achieves a raw weight of just 740g and delivers a 15% aerodynamic improvement over its predecessor, the Xelius SL3.
The Heritage Story
Founded in the heart of Dijon by Gaston Lapierre in 1946, the brand began as a small, family-run business. Over the decades, its focus shifted from producing utility workhorses like the 1980s La Poste bicycle to engineering elite racing technology.
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Lapierre had established itself as a multi-discipline pioneer. The brand revolutionized the off-road scene with its patented FPS full-suspension technology before later becoming an early leader in e-mobility by launching some of the first premium eMTBs. This mastery of expert engineering seamlessly carried over to the tarmac, where Lapierre released its first full-carbon road frames at the turn of the millennium, which were soon present in the world’s most prestigious races.
This relentless pursuit of performance continued with the introduction of the Xelius in 2010. Since then, the brand’s Burgundy-based engineering team has continuously evolved this esteemed model, which has been ridden to stage victories at all three Grand Tours, setting the stage perfectly for this latest iteration.
Lapierre’s Global Brand Manager Dorian Tabeau said: “When we were designing this frameset to celebrate the brand’s 80th anniversary, we wanted to embrace the philosophy of Lapierre, which is why we focused on the raw, emotional reality of cycling.
“The ‘Kinetic Dust’ artwork captures the beautiful grit of performance – the transition from pain to momentum, and ultimately, to success. Eighty years of heritage isn’t a static milestone for us; it’s a story of continuous forward motion rooted in our home of Dijon.”
Pricing and Availability
Only 100 Xelius DRS 80th Anniversary framesets are available globally, with small, medium and large sizes retailing at €4,499. Click here to find out more.
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