Bryan Coquard's Look 795 Blade RS: Cofidis’ do-it-all superbike

Look’s newest superbike, specced with rare Kronos chainrings and Corima wheels

12:11, Saturday 30th September 2023

Tom Hallam-Gravells

Online Production Editor

Bryan Coquard's Look 795 Blade RS

Cofidis
- Nationality France
- Founded 1997
- Team Principal Cédric Vasseur
- UCI Code COF
- Bike Sponsor Look
Bryan Coquard
- Team Cofidis
- Nationality France
- Age 32
- UCI Wins 52
- Height 1.69m
Vuelta a España
- Dates 26 Aug - 17 Sept
- Race Length 3,133 kms
- Race Category Elite Men
Look
Founded by Jean Beyl in 1951, Look has become one of the most iconic cycling brands of all time.
Shimano
Shimano is a bike component manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. The company is one of the industry’s most popular manufacturers and it makes up around three-quarters of the bicycle component market by value.
Sella Italia
Selle Italia is a saddle manufacturer based in Asolo, Italy. The company prides itself in being one of the market leaders for high-end saddles across the world.

After an eight-year hiatus, Look reunited with Cofidis for the 2023 season. The French team previously used its bikes between 2009 and 2014, before moving across to Orbea and then De Rosa.

The French duo are back together for 2023, though, striking a multi-year sponsorship that will see Cofidis ride Look bikes for the foreseeable future - the exact length of the deal hasn’t been confirmed. More specifically, the team has been using the Look 795 Blade RS throughout the 2023 season, although it only officially broke cover at Eurobike in June.

We caught a closer glimpse of Bryan Coquard’s Look 795 Blade RS bike at the recent Vuelta a España ahead of stage 4.

Aerodynamic and lightweight in one package

In modern cycling, there are two routes brands are taking. Some have dedicated aero and climbing bikes. Others are combining both into one all-around package, a 'one-bike-does-all' solution. That’s the route Look has taken with the 795 Blade RS.

Dropped seatstays are a common sight in the pro peloton

Brands traditionally couldn’t combine both elements as it meant compromising; adding more aerodynamic features came with a significant weight penalty. Now brands can add these features while keeping the weight low, and Look says that a race-ready 795 Blade RS can weigh as little as 7kg. That’s a little over the UCI’s 6.8kg weight limit but is on par with many other superbikes.

Visually, the overall shape of the bike appears to be on-trend, including dropped seatstays which the vast majority of brands now use. According to Look, “each tube section is specifically shaped to reduce drag and optimise handling precision,” and the French brand conducted wind tunnel testing to optimise the design.

The fully integrated cockpit improves aerodynamics

One of the results of this aerodynamic approach is a fully integrated cockpit and the bike is tuned in every possible way for racing. That includes the “unapologetically aggressive” geometry.

Lesser-seen Kronos chainrings

Kronos chainrings are more common on track bikes

Coquard’s groupset choice is regular in one way, yet very irregular in another. The team uses Shimano Dura-Ace, by far the most popular groupset in the pro peloton.

But Cofidis swaps out the Shimano chainset for a conglomeration of Kronos chainrings, an SRM Origin power meter and Look carbon cranks. Kronos is an unusual brand to see on a road bike, having traditionally created components for track bikes.

Corima lightweight wheels

Coquard wasn't using Corima's top-tier wheelset

Look may be new for 2023, but Cofidis teamed up with wheel brand Corima at the beginning of 2022. It offers a range of wheels, but Coquard interestingly used the Corima WS Evo wheelset.

These aren’t Corima’s top-tier wheels; that title is held by the MCC EVOs, which have very distinct 12-spoke patterns.

The wheels were paired with Michelin Power Cup tyres in 25mm. A few years ago that would have been standard, but 28mm has taken over as the dominant width.