When it comes to professional cycling, few debates are as heated as the choice between an aero road bike and a lightweight climbing bike. In the 2025 season, this debate reached a new height. While men’s WorldTour teams almost unanimously favored aerodynamic machines, women’s teams showed a more diverse mix, with several riders opting for lightweight setups on key climbing stages.
So why do the two pelotons make different choices? And is it time for the UCI weight limit to be reconsidered?
Aero Bikes Dominate the Men’s Peloton
In the 2025 Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar won the yellow jersey on the Colnago Y1R, an aero road bike built for speed. His main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, rode the Cervélo S5, arguably the most aerodynamic road bike currently in the peloton. Even on mountain stages, both riders stuck with their aero setups.
The trend is clear: aero road bikes have become light enough to handle high mountains, often weighing just 200–300 grams more than a pure climbing bike. Simon Yates proved this at the Giro d’Italia, smashing records on the Col de Finestre aboard a Cervélo aero machine.
For men, the speed of the peloton—averaging 43.4 km/h at the 2025 Tour—means aerodynamic gains far outweigh minimal weight savings. Every watt saved in reduced drag can be decisive.
Women Still Split Between Aero and Lightweight
Contrast this with the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, where Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won stages on the lightweight Cervélo R5, while Maëva Squiban claimed victories on the Colnago V5R climbing bike. Out of nine stages, only Marianne Vos’s victory came on the full-aero Cervélo S5.
Why this difference? One reason is speed. At the women’s Tour, the average pace was 39.1 km/h. At that velocity, aerodynamic advantages are smaller: roughly a 5-watt saving compared to the men’s 7-watt saving for the same drag reduction. While aero still matters, the payoff is less pronounced.
Rider Size and Bike Fit
Another overlooked factor is rider height and frame size. Men’s riders average 1.82 m tall, while women’s teams average 1.69 m. This translates into different frame sizes: men often ride 56 cm frames, women around 51 cm.
Smaller frames weigh less, meaning the weight advantage of a climbing bike becomes more relevant for women. At the 2025 Tour, Vingegaard’s 51 cm aero bike weighed 7.385 kg, while Matteo Jorgenson’s 58 cm climbing bike came in at 7.03 kg—despite being a much larger size.
For smaller riders like Maëva Squiban (1.66 m), some aero frames like the Colnago Y1R simply don’t fit well. In contrast, the Colnago V5R offers more size options, making it a natural choice.
The UCI Weight Limit: Outdated or Necessary?
The UCI 6.8 kg minimum weight rule, introduced in 2000, is increasingly controversial. Veteran rider Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has called it “completely outdated.”
Here’s why:
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A 78 kg rider has a system weight where the bike makes up just 8.7%.
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A 58 kg rider sees the bike count for 11.7% of their system weight.
That’s a huge relative disadvantage for lighter riders, often women. Reducing bike weight below 6.8 kg could help level the playing field. Yet current rules prevent teams from taking full advantage of modern lightweight carbon technology.
Comfort and Rider Feel
Beyond pure numbers, fit and feel often dictate bike choice. Smaller riders frequently report that climbing bikes feel more natural, especially on long ascents. Aero bikes, with stiffer frames and integrated cockpits, can feel harsh or limit adjustability.
As Moolman-Pasio explains: “Your bike should feel like an extension of your body. If it’s too stiff or doesn’t fit, you lose efficiency on climbs.”
That’s why many women still opt for climbing bikes with traditional cockpits, narrower handlebars, and more size options—even if aero might theoretically offer gains.
Conclusion: Two Pelotons, Two Realities
For the men’s peloton, aero road bikes are now the default—light enough to handle climbs, yet fast enough to dominate on flats. For women, lightweight road bikes remain a strong choice, especially for smaller riders and mountain stages where comfort and fit outweigh marginal aero gains.
As technology evolves and the UCI weight limit comes under scrutiny, we may see these differences narrow. Until then, the split between aero and lightweight will remain one of the most fascinating dynamics in professional cycling.
👉 Whether you’re choosing a carbon aero frameset for flat, high-speed racing, or a lightweight climbing bike for the mountains, remember: the best road bike is the one that fits your body, your riding style, and your goals.
