Lighter, more aerodynamic and better performance: Campagnolo launches new Bora wheels

With the release of its first fully wireless groupset, Super Record Wireless, and the resurrection of the Hyperon climbing wheel, 2023 proved to be a busy year for Campagnolo. The historic Italian brand shows no signs of slowing down in 2024 having officially unveiled the latest versions of its popular Bora Ultra WTO and Bora WTO range of wheels, and they’ve received some significant upgrades.

A familiar name in the world of cycling, Campagnolo first launched its Bora wheels over 30 years ago and they’ve undergone plenty of changes since then. Now, according to the Italian brand, it has arrived at the highest-performing version of them yet, which delivers a more aerodynamic and lighter package than ever before.

Like the previous models, they retain the G3 spoke layout, which has a host of performance benefits while also providing their trademark look, but there are some on-trend changes. Sure to cause some consternation among rim-brake aficionados, both wheelsets are only available in a disc-brake version, while the 23mm internal width optimises the rims for wider tyres which many cyclists are now using.

There are three sizes available for both wheelsets - either a 35mm, 45mm or 60mm rim depth - with prices starting at $2,790 and €2,590 for the Bora WTO and $4,090 and €3,690 for the Bora Ultra WTO.

• Read more: Campagnolo announces Hyperon wheelset aimed at the most ‘refined cyclists’

Lighter and more aerodynamic…what else?

Campagnolo’s Bora wheels are its premium performance options, sitting alongside the Hyperon which takes care of the pure-climbing side of things.

In modern cycling vernacular, performance boils down to two things: aerodynamics and weight. Virtually every new cycling product targets aero gains and the shedding of grams, and Campagnolo has followed a similar tact with the latest Bora wheelsets.

Both are lighter than their predecessors by 135 grams according to Campagnolo, which isn’t much in the context of a full bike but is significant for a set of wheels, where the scope for cutting weight is narrow. This has partly been achieved through the adoption of H.U.L.C. (Handmade Ultra-Light Carbon) moulding process. According to Campagnolo, this results in “an excellent balance of carbon fibre and resin”, but doesn’t “compromise performance in the three typical pedalling conditions: slipstream, uphill and downhill”.

© Campagnolo / @campagnolosrl

Campagnolo has used a new carbon lay-up to cut weight

Most of the aerodynamic gains have been made by redesigning the integration between the rim and the tyre, with the contact area now sporting a drop-shaped profile. It’s a small change but has big implications if Campagnolo’s figures are anything to go by, with a claimed reduction in air resistance over the previous model of 13%, which rockets up to 80% at a 15-degree side wide.

More minor gains are made through the completely concealed spoke nipples, achieved through Aero Mo-Mag technology.

© Campagnolo / @campagnolosrl

Campagnolo has changed the way the spokes integrate into the rim

Familiar look but rarely seen

Despite the changes, the wheels still bear a striking resemblance to the previous version. That’s not surprising as they’ve been optimised rather than revamped and have kept the key ingredient that gives them their distinguished look, the G3 spoke pattern.

As the name suggests, both wheelsets have spokes which are structured into groups of threes, with big gaps between each group. For the Bora Ultra WTO wheelsets there are seven of these groups while the Bora WTO range manages to squeeze one extra in. All of this improves stiffness, says Campagnolo, whilst also improving energy efficiency - essentially, more of a rider’s power gets converted into forward motion.

© Campagnolo / @campagnolosrl

The G3 spoke pattern has carried over from the previous version of the wheels

The G3 structure also helps them stand out against other wheels but don’t try spotting them in the WorldTour peloton as there won’t be any on show. After Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale’s switch to Shimano, the historic Italian brand will be absent from cycling’s top tier in 2024.

• Read more: 2024 Men's WorldTour bikes: A guide to the bikes, groupsets, and tech of the top-tier teams

Back when the wheels were first released over 30 years ago, narrow tyres were the automatic choice, but tyre widths have been on an upward trend since then. Pro riders appear to have settled on 28mm for the time being, although some still go higher, and Campagnolo has catered to increasing tyre widths with a wider internal rim depth. The added width ensures that more of the tyre will contact the road, which Campagnolo says “benefits aerodynamics and trajectory control”.

Availability

In a switch-up to the line-up, there are three sizes of both wheelsets available. The 77mm option hasn’t been included in the updates while the 33mm size has changed to 35mm. It’s joined by a 45mm and 60mm option (each of which are included in the specific wheelset’s name).

The Bora Ultra WTO is the range-topping option which packs in some extra tech, most notably CULT (Ceramic Ultimate Level Technology) bearings. It also has a price tag to match its status, with models starting from $4,090 and €3,690. The Bora WTO comes in a little cheaper at $2,790 and €2,590.

Explore the full range of wheels on Campagnolo’s website, linked here.

Campagnolo

Campagnolo is one of the world’s leading components manufacturers. The company specialises in groupsets, both mechanical and electrical, as well as wheels for road, gravel, triathlon and track bikes.