£11,800 Astana’s pro-Tour design gets assistance
Weight 10.74kg (XL) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (50/34t, 11-30t) Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace hydraulic disc Wheels Wilier SLR42KC carbon Motor system Mahle X20 250W motor, 236Wh battery, Mahle Pulsar One display, iWoc integrated controller Finishing kit Filante hybrid one-piece carbon bar/stem, Filante carbon seatpost, ProLogo Dimension saddle, Vittoria Corsa Speed 28c tyres
WILIER’S FILANTE SLR IN ITS standard guise is the bike of choice for pro-Tour team Astana, and superstar sprinter Mark Cavendish. Put this Hybrid version alongside the SLR and only the bottom bracket shape (where the charge port is) and the iWoc controller in the one-piece bar/stem give away the Hybrid’s powerful secret.
Like Orbea, Wilier has chosen Mahle’s rear hub-drive X20 system for its flagship e-road bike. The compact 1,339g X20 motor and small-capacity 236Wh battery are controlled by the iWoc controller or the wireless head unit (or you could use a Garmin GPS).
Battery balance
Wilier set out to make the lightest e-road bike it could here, hence the small battery, and given the impressive range this seems a smart choice. At a mere 10.74kg, the Hybrid simply doesn’t feel like an ebike it’s so light. The frame weight is just 1,100g, which includes reinforcement for the battery, an oversized BB and reinforced chainstays. The fork, at 360g, is also impressively light.
This top-flight model comes with a full Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, Wilier carbon wheels and carbon finishing kit. The range starts at £8,940 for an Ultegra Di2 model with alloy wheels. Shimano’s Dura-Ace Di2 performs brilliantly, as you’d expect. The shifting is quick, smooth and accurate and the braking is full of power and subtle on feel.
Wilier’s one-piece bar and stem has a great shape. The flattened tops and compact drop make for great multiple hand holds, and the carbon has just enough give to null road vibrations and cosset your hands over ruts and ripples. A superb ProLogo Dimension saddle on an aero-shaped seatpost matches the front end’s firm yet forgiving feel.
Wilier’s 42mm-deep tubeless-ready carbon wheels impress too, with their 21mm internal rim suitable for bigger tyres, and they’re wrapped in Vittoria’s very rapid Corsa Speed 28c rubber.
What motor?
I’m a big fan of the regular Filante’s whippet-like acceleration and sharp handling. The Hybrid is a close match, but Wilier has tempered the handling and eased the super-aggressive ride position. That means on my XL bike the reach is reduced to 389mm (from 395mm) and the stack increased to 604mm (from a very low-slung 57
