Lapierre Xelius DRS review in our 2025 road bike comparison test

In our 2024 race bike comparison test, Lapierre enter the race with the new Xelius DRS, which, is the successor to the Aircode, offering a smooth blend of climbing DNA and aero efficiency, thus aiming to leave a mark in the pro peloton with its all-round character. At first glance, the Xelius DRS promises to be light, fast, and responsive. But how did Lapierre’s all-rounder perform in our review compared to the hottest racebikes, and can it still handle even the steepest climbs?

French bike manufacturer Lapierre is well-known for its race and mountain bikes, as well as its decades-long partnership with the Groupama FDJ team. Just like Specialized with their Tarmac SL8, Lapierre focus on evolution rather than revolution. The new Xelius DRS – where DRS fittingly stands for “Drag Reduction System” in true Formula 1 style – lives up to its name, aiming to compete with other all-round race bikes with aero ambitions.

Unveiled in October 2024, the Lapierre Xelius DRS relies on its predecessor’s proven climbing DNA while taking over aero elements from the Aircode. Just three years after the last Xelius model, Lapierre are responding to the ever-faster pace of professional racing.

Aerodynamics meets climbing DNA: A closer look at the Lapierre Xelius DRS

Lapierre are pursuing an ambitious goal, perfectly in line with current trends: the Xelius is now designed to perform aerodynamically on flat stages too, which makes it a true all-rounder. Inspired by Thibaut Pinot’s feedback, who wanted a faster bike for descents, the Xelius DRS was redeveloped from the ground up.

A standout feature of the new design is the striking head tube, which is paired with an aerodynamically shaped fork crown. Similar to Specialized’s approach with the S-Works Tarmac SL8, Lapierre aim to make the Xelius more versatile by combining its lightweight construction with the aero elements of the Aircode DRS, hoping to return it to the professional peloton. The result is intended to be a symbiosis of climbing and aero performance, which wants to make the bike a strong option both in the mountains and on flat stages.

Just as striking are the long, extended seat stays, which attach further back on the top tube and are designed to increase flex in the frame and thus to dampen vibrations. The 3D Tubular design, which was updated again this year, has become something of a Lapierre signature feature and is also used on their latest gravel bike, the Crosshill CF.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Top tube	520 mm	531 mm	547 mm	568 mm	587 mm	605 mm
Seat tube	440 mm	458 mm	489 mm	518 mm	547 mm	577 mm
Head tube	105 mm	120 mm	140 mm	160 mm	180 mm	200 mm
Head angle	72°	72°	73°	73°	74°	74°
Seat angle	74°	74°	74°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°
Chainstay	405 mm	405 mm	405 mm	405 mm	405 mm	405 mm
BB Drop	67 mm	67 mm	67 mm	67 mm	67 mm	67 mm
Wheelbase	969 mm	981 mm	989 mm	1005 mm	1014 mm	1032 mm
Reach	376 mm	383 mm	393 mm	403 mm	415 mm	428 mm
Stack	501 mm	516 mm	538 mm	557 mm	580 mm	599 mm

Race-ready all-rounder? The spec of the bike

The Lapierre Xelius DRS in review comes equipped with a complete Shimano complete DURA-ACE groupset (without power metre) and, retailing at €8,300, sits at the lower end of the test field in terms of price. That said, it’s not not the flagship model in the Xelius range, and with the more expensive spec variants,you get a UD-SLI Team Series frame with a premium carbon layup that aims to reduce the Xelius DRS’s weight even further. At 7.36 kg, our test bike in size L falls into the middle of the test field in terms of weight, but is still heavier than BMC’s and Canyon’s aero specialists.If you already own power meter pedals, the lower price point is a nice perk, if you don’t, you might want to consider getting some. The Shimano DURA-ACE drivetrain ensures reliable, precise shifting, and consists of a climb-friendly 52/36 chainring and 11–34 cassette, thus providing a useful bailout gear for steep climbs. While the Xelius might not be the lightest bike in this test, it carries its climbing DNA in its gearing setup. The frame accommodates tires up to 32 mm wide.

The ERC1400 wheelset, which was developed in close collaboration with DT Swiss, combines 35mm and 45 mm rims and strikes an excellent balance between comfort and stiffness. Aerodynamically optimised in wind tunnel tests with the frame, the wheels are designed to ensure maximum efficiency. Lapierre chose these shallower, lighter rims over the stiffer, narrower DT Swiss ARC variant intentionally to prioritise comfort on longer rides and rougher roads while keeping weight down.

Peak chaser or versatile all-Rounder? The Lapierre Xelius DRS in review

Does the Xelius DRS stay true to its roots as a climbing machine, or have Lapierre managed to create a real all-rounder? Can this bike make a comeback in the pro peloton and at the same time win over the Rari Racing Team? The moment you swing your leg over its saddle, the Xelius makes it clear that it’s built uncompromisingly for performance. The moderately sporty geometry allows for an efficiently low sprinting position, which, compared to the Canyon Aeroad and Wilier Filante SLR, is still compact enough to negotiate intense climbs.
On steep gradients, the Xelius’s climbing DNA becomes evident: the short chainstays and short wheelbase result in a direct response with each pedal stroke. Like the S-Works Tarmac SL8, the Lapierre is nimble on climbs and doesn’t swallow up your energy during quick sprints despite its slightly heavier system weight.

Riding downhill, the Xelius surprises again, impressing above all with its agile, precise handling. As a result, it inspires tons of confidence and at the same time gives you great control over the bike, even in high-speed corners. When riding super fast, however, the bike tends to get a bit twitchy, making handling more challenging and less intuitive. When larger forces act on the bike in fast turns, the stiffness of the frame and fork reinforce the direct, responsive feel.

When sprinting, the Xelius DRS is very efficient, although it lacks the aerodynamic prowess of more aero-focused bikes, like the BMC and Canyon, and even the S-Works, which follows a very similar concept. Despite the more relaxed riding position, which is slightly more upright than the Canyon Aeroad CFR, you can reach high speeds incredibly fast. Deep-section rims could add a final boost of aero performance.

The wide DT Swiss ERC wheels add comfort to the relatively stiff Xelius, though in sprints, you might feel that they swallow up a few watts. A stiffer wheelset with deeper rims could help maximise the bike’s aerodynamic potential. Stiffer wheels would also improve responsiveness, while deeper rims would increase the bike’s high-speed stability, albeit at the expense of agility in tight turns.

Like Trek with the Madone’s IsoFlow technology, Lapierre rely on their own comfort feature: the 3D Tubular design. Unlike the ultra-comfortable Madone, however, the Xelius DRS’s long seat stays only moderately dampen vibrations and impacts – even with the 28 mm Continental GP5000 tires. We’re missing the expected wow factor, and, instead, the Xelius is a relatively firm ride, with the rather rigid cockpit only making things worse.

The new Xelius DRS cockpit is a straightforward design without much flare, which doesn’t quite match the sportier, more comfortable options from Wilier, Canyon, and BMC. The top bar offers a comfortable grip, while the semi-integration ensures flexibility for bar swaps. That said, you can still feel the brake lines under the tape – a problem that could be addressed with thicker wrapping.

Lapierre remain faithful to the Xelius’s climbing heritage, blending it cleverly with aero features to deliver solid all-round performance. The Xelius impresses with agile handling and powerful acceleration, though it requires an experienced rider to control its twitchy nature at higher speeds.

Tuning-Tipp: For improved aerodynamics, consider deeper rims or the new DT Swiss ARC1100 38 mm wheels with Continental Aero 111 tires.

What kind of racers is the Lapierre Xelius DRS built for?

The Xelius DRS is primarily aimed at experienced racers who are ready to push their power to the limit. It demands high performance but rewards your efforts with direct power transfer, though at the expense of comfort. The agile, not overly-intuitive handling makes it less suitable for beginners, and requires a skilled rider. The Xelius shines in races with significant elevation and tight corners, where its climbing DNA truly comes into play. While there are more efficient bikes for flat courses and pure sprints out there, the Xelius can still hold its own at high speeds, though upgrades like stiffer, deeper wheels could provide added benefits.

Conclusions about the Lapierre Xelius DRS review

The Lapierre Xelius DRS is an uncompromising race bike that impresses above all with its direct power transfer, which ensures excellent sprinting and climbing performance. It feels rather stiff on rough surfaces but impresses with an agile character and precise handling in corners and descents. The wheels add a touch of comfort, though they fall slightly short of the bike’s aerodynamic ambitions. The lighter top-tier model weighs 230 g less, so we can only assume that it’s even a better climber. Overall, the Xelius is a responsive all-rounder with a competitively priced top-tier spec.

More info at lapierrebikes.com.

The test field

This bike was tested as part of the 2024 race bike comparison test – an overview of this comparison test and all other tested race bikes can be found here:

All bikes in review: BMC Teammachine R 01 | Canyon Aeroad CFR | Cervelo Soloist | Falkenjagd Aristos RSR | Lapierre Xelius DRS 9.0 | Specialized Tarmac SL8 | Trek Madone SLR 9 | Wilier Filante SLR

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Words: Jan Fock Photos: Jan Richter