Let’s not sugarcoat it: the 2025-26 offseason was brutal for Visma | Lease a Bike. The Dutch super-team watched some of their biggest engines walk out the door. Olav Kooij and Tiesj Benoot bolted for Decathlon CMA CGM, Dylan van Baarle returned to Soudal Quick-Step, and Cian Uijtdebroeks left for Movistar. The exodus didn’t stop there: Thomas Gloag, Attila Valter, and Julien Vermote also departed, while Daniel McLay and Tosh Van der Sande retired.
But Richard Plugge and his management team aren’t panicking. Instead of splashing cash on expensive, established stars, they’ve doubled down on structural discipline, cutting-edge AI data, and a massive Grand Tour gamble.
In this article, I break down Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s 2025 Cervélo R5 Bike size and full setup, component by component, with a special focus on her bike fit and sizing choices. For cycling enthusiasts, gearheads, and fans of Ferrand-Prévot’s multidiscipline dominance, here’s an inside look at what powered her to the yellow jersey.
When Pauline Ferrand-Prévot attacked on Stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, ascending the legendary Col de la Madeleine, she wasn’t just riding with power and panache – she was riding one of the most refined climbing machines in the UCI Women’s WorldTour: the Cervélo R5. But it wasn’t just any R5. This was a meticulously fitted 48 cm frame, customized for Pauline’s physique, riding style, and climbing objectives.
Ferrand-Prévot races for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, (Meet the 2025 Tour de France teams and their bikes) one of the premier teams in the UCI WorldTour Women’s circuit. With her Olympic MTB gold medal, World Championships across disciplines, and now a return to road racing, she brings an unmatched palmarès to the peloton.
A Compact Weapon: 48 cm Frame Size
Standing at approximately 165 cm tall, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot rides a 48 cm Cervélo R5 frame – the smallest size offered by Cervélo in this model. This compact geometry allows for agile handling and a lower center of gravity, both of which are essential on steep alpine climbs like the Col de la Madeleine.
What’s especially notable is that she is racing on a new iteration of the Cervélo R5 that has not yet been released on Cervélo’s website as of August 3rd, 2025. According to multiple reports, this model was developed in close collaboration with Team Visma | Lease a Bike and shares the same geometry as the latest Cervélo S5, aligning with the team’s request for performance parity across bike platforms.
The R5 frame is engineered for stiffness-to-weight optimization. It’s a pure climber’s bike that excels under the immense torque a rider like Pauline can produce. At this size, the bike remains feather-light while preserving responsiveness.
that excels under the immense torque a rider like Pauline can produce. At this size, the bike remains feather-light while preserving responsiveness.
Crank Length: Optimized for 48 cm Performance
Pauline uses 165 mm crank arms – a length that’s not only shorter than the more traditional 170 or 172.5 mm cranks, but also the standard specification for Cervélo’s 48 cm frame size. This isn’t a coincidence – it’s a result of meticulous fit optimization that aligns with Cervélo’s own sizing philosophy.
Across the Women’s WorldTour peloton, 165 mm has become the norm for riders on smaller frames. This crank length supports:
A more aero and compact pedal stroke
Better hip clearance
Quicker cadence and efficient power transfer, especially during climbs
For Ferrand-Prévot, it also reflects her MTB and cyclocross heritage, where high cadence and fast leg speed are crucial. On the R5, it complements her body geometry and riding style perfectly, ensuring biomechanical efficiency throughout the toughest stages.
Pauline rides with a Cervélo one-piece integrated handlebar and stem, a design update from the previous Vision cockpit seen on earlier R5 models. Her cockpit setup includes a 360 mm handlebar width and a 90 mm stem length, both matched to her compact 48 cm frame.
This bar-and-stem combo offers a fully integrated front-end with hidden cabling for a clean, aerodynamic profile. The narrow width improves frontal efficiency, while the 90 mm stem keeps her position responsive yet stable on tight mountain switchbacks. It’s a setup tailored for climbing, with comfort and control dialed in for aggressive uphill efforts and confident descending.
Full Bike Setup: 2025 Cervélo R5 Team Visma | Lease a Bike Edition
Frame: Cervélo R5, 48 cm
Fork: Cervélo
Headset: FSA
Axles: Cervélo
Handlebar & Stem: Cervélo integrated one-piece cockpit (360 mm width / 90 mm stem)
Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB Ceramic, BBright
Crankset: SRAM Red AXS 2X with Quarq Power Meter, 165 mm crank arms
Chain: SRAM Red, 12-speed (waxed with Silca Super Secret Chain Wax)
This setup isn’t just about grams and gears. Every detail is optimized for performance. The Reserve 34/37 wheels, for instance, are specifically chosen for climbing stages: the shallow 34 mm front provides stability and reduced weight, while the 37 mm rear balances stiffness with lightweight climbing efficiency.
Meanwhile, Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR 29 mm tires give her grip and confidence on descents while reducing rolling resistance on the climbs. Paired with SRAM Red hydraulic disc brakes and ceramic bearings, she’s able to push the limit on technical sections with maximum control.
Pauline’s cockpit and drivetrain choices reflect her cross-discipline experience. A responsive, short-reach cockpit and tight gearing range allow for quick reactions, whether that’s a seated surge on a 10% gradient or managing a switchback descent.
And let’s not forget her SRAM Red chain is waxed with Silca Super Secret Chain Wax, ensuring optimal drivetrain efficiency and cleanliness in the mountains.
What She Wears on the Bike
Pauline races in full Team Visma | Lease a Bike official AGU kit, including the custom-fitted jersey and bib shorts (cuissard).
Shoes: Nimbl, white edition
Socks: DeFeet EVO Jet
Gloves: Gripgrab
Sunglasses: Oakley
Helmet: Giro
These choices combine comfort, ventilation, and performance. The Nimbl shoes are known for their stiffness and lightweight construction essential for climbing. The DeFeet socks and Gripgrab gloves reflect the Visma team attention to both function and fine details.
Off the bike, Pauline is often spotted wearing Nike apparel, as both the men’s and women’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike squads are sponsored by Nike for all casual and off-bike clothing. While Nike has not issued a global press release, the partnership is confirmed by the team and appears to be managed through Nike Netherlands or the brand’s EMEA regional division. The collaboration focuses specifically on lifestyle and travel apparel, not racewear, aligning the team’s off-bike presence with Nike’s brand identity. It blends casual athletic style with the professionalism you’d expect from a multi-discipline world champion.
Stage 8: The Queen Stage of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes
The Col de la Madeleine is one of cycling’s most revered climbs. On Stage 8, Ferrand-Prévot attacked with roughly 7 km to go and distanced all her GC rivals including Vollering and Niewiadoma. Her Cervélo R5, fitted to perfection, was the silent partner in this attack, translating every watt into forward motion.
In her post-stage interview, she credited her team and her “amazing machine” for the performance. Watching her dance on the pedals, body steady, cadence high. It’s easy to see how much of a role her bike fit and setup played in the triumph.
Final Thoughts: Why Bike Fit Still Rules the Game
At the pro level, marginal gains make massive differences. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s setup is the result of years of data, testing, and refinement. While her power, tactics, and resilience won her the stage, the precision of her bike setup made it possible.
The 48 cm frame, 165 mm cranks, and 360 mm handlebar width might seem like small numbers. But in the high mountains of the Tour de France Femmes, they added up to something huge: a yellow jersey.
Whether you’re a racer or weekend warrior, there’s a lot to learn from this. Fit before flash. Balance before bling. And always ride a machine that fits you like a second skin. As proven by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s 2025 Cervélo R5 Bike Size, the right fit is the ultimate performance upgrade.
Jonas Vingegaard 2025 Cervélo S5 size for the Tour de France 2025 is a prime example of a bike tailored for speed, stiffness, and precision handling. Standing at 1m75, the Danish climber raced the entire three-week Grand Tour on a size 51 Cervélo S5, even through the toughest mountain stages. This reflects a growing trend in the pro peloton of using aero bikes across all terrains.
Racing for Team Visma | Lease a Bike in the 2025 UCI WorldTour, Vingegaard once again proved his Grand Tour prowess. He finished 2nd overall in the Tour de France 2025, just behind Tadej Pogačar, and repeated the same result earlier that year at the Critérium du Dauphiné, confirming his strong return to form after his early-season crash. Vingegaard is also scheduled to race the Vuelta a España 2025 in August, aiming to close the season on a high note.
Vingegaard’s 2025 Tour de France Bike – Cervélo S5 Setup
Jonas Vingegaard 2025 Cervélo S5 size 51
Jonas Vingegaard’s 2025 Cervélo S5 is fully optimized for performance and aerodynamics. The bike features a very compact setup, aggressive geometry, and race-proven components. The fit is highly personalized to Vingegaard’s preferences, including a long stem and narrow handlebars, and 160mm crank length.
Bike Specifications:
Frame: Cervélo S5 2025, size 51
Cockpit: Cervélo S5 integrated bar/stem (120 mm stem, 360 mm width center-to-center)
390 mm top (outside-outside at the top)
420 mm drop (outside-outside in the drops)
~300 mm inner-hoods width
Groupset: SRAM Red AXS 1×12 speed
Crankset: SRAM X-Sync, 160 mm crank length
Chainring / Cassette: 52T chainring with 10-36T cassette
Chain: Waxed SRAM chain with WolfTooth chain guard
Brakes: SRAM Red disc, 160 mm front / 140 mm rear rotors
Wheels: Reserve 57 mm front / 64 mm rear (with DT Swiss 180 hubs)
Switched to Reserve Variante 42 mm / 49 mm wheels on Mont Ventoux stage
Helmet: Lazer Genesis / Volante / Strada KinetiCore (depending on stage profile)
Sunglasses: Oakley
Shoes: Nimbl cycling shoes (white)
Gloves: Yes — Vingegaard consistently wears gloves, unlike many modern pros, I mean the Gen Z. Jonas is a Millenial generation being born in 1996.
Bar-End Plugs: CloseTheGap “SaveMyBar” protectors
Bike Fit & Performance
Jonas rides a smaller 51 cm Cervélo S5 frame. Noticeably more compact than the 54 cm Cervélo R5 he used in 2023 (Also read: Jonas Vingegaard 2023 Bike size here), as covered in my previous review. While the R5 was favored for its lightweight climbing geometry, the shift to the S5 in 2025 reflects a broader strategy by Visma | Lease a Bike: prioritize aerodynamics over grams, especially since UCI weight limits apply regardless of rider size.
To optimize fit and control, Vingegaard compensates for the smaller frame with a long 120 mm stem and ultra-narrow 360 mm handlebars, achieving a low frontal profile ideal for solo efforts and high-speed descents. The S5’s 74.5 mm bottom bracket drop further lowers the rider’s center of gravity, enhancing stability and aero gains.
Another significant evolution is Jonas’s switch from 172.5 mm crank arms in 2023 to 160 mm in 2025. A bold move that would have been unthinkable just a couple of years ago. Yet it aligns with the team’s pursuit of efficiency and pedaling fluidity in aggressive race positions.
The decision to race the Cervélo S5 throughout the mountains was clearly calculated. With smart wheel swaps like the Reserve Variante setup for climbing days, and a lightweight 1x SRAM Red AXS drivetrain, the team maximized stiffness and drag reduction without compromising on total bike weight.
🏁 Performance Recap
Vingegaard’s second-place finish at the 2025 Tour de France confirms his place at the top of pro cycling. His all-aero approach, minimalist drivetrain, and compact fit show a rider and team obsessing over every detail. The use of the same Cervélo S5 across all terrains is a testament to confidence in the equipment and optimization of setup.
📡 For more Tour de France 2025 bike tech and pro gear breakdowns like Jonas Vingegaard 2025 Cervélo S5 size, stay tuned to DMCX.com. We’re decoding pro cycling, one bike at a time.
This post is about Jonas Vingegaard’s 2023 Bike size. The 2022 Tour de France winner races the UCI World Tour season with the Jumbo Visma team. Vingegaard attracted public attention by finishing second at the Tour de France 2021 and confirming his talent by winning the 2022 Tour de France in front of Tadej Pogacar.
