Cinelli's Two Souls: The Future-Fast vs. The Forever-Steel

I’ve always had a soft spot for Cinelli, a brand that, in my mind, is synonymous with classic Italian steel and timeless cycling style. So, it was fascinating to see them launch their new 2026 flagship range, which basically presents two bikes that are the polar opposites of each other. It feels less like a product launch and more like a Rorschach test for what kind of cyclist you are.

On one hand, you have the Aeroscoop. This is Cinelli’s "unapologetic reimagining of the ultimate carbon road racing machine." It's all about pure, pro-level speed. It’s a sub-7kg, stiff, lightweight (950g frame) carbon aero bike designed to compete. It even has those distinctive, split seatstays that look like they borrowed notes from Pinarello and Trek.

And Cinelli is coming out swinging. They claim that in Tour magazine's wind tunnel tests, the Aeroscoop measured 205 watts of drag at 45km/h. More specifically, they claim this is better than what Tour found for the Specialized Tarmac SL8. That's not just a product claim; that's picking a very specific, very popular fight.

On the other hand, you have the Speciale Corsa XCR. This is the Cinelli I know. It's a "masterpiece" handmade in Milan from legendary Columbus XCR stainless steel tubing. It’s an absolute stunner, but it’s not a retro-grouch build; it cleverly merges modern tech with its heritage, using 3D-printed hidden lugs for a seamless look, full internal routing, and a UDH hanger.

Now, here’s the part that really gets me thinking. The Speciale Corsa XCR is everything the Aeroscoop is not. It’s heavy, with a claimed frame weight of 1,990g (that's more than double the Aeroscoop) and complete builds around 8.1kg.

And the price? The steel Speciale Corsa XCR is the more expensive bike.

A top-tier Aeroscoop (Dura-Ace) will run you €9,900. The starting price for the Speciale Corsa XCR (also Dura-Ace) is €12,500. A frameset for the steel XCR will cost $7,490 in the US, while the Aeroscoop frameset is €4,500.

I love this. Cinelli has essentially laid out the two souls of modern road cycling. You can have the pinnacle of lightweight, aerodynamic efficiency, a tool for pure speed. Or, for more money, you can have a heavier, slower, artisan-crafted "forever bike" that’s all about the ride, the heritage, and the material.

It's the future versus the timeless, both presented as the "best." Which path do you choose?

(And, in a very 2026 move, you can apparently ride both of them on Rouvy soon. So, I guess I can try both before I... well, before I just continue to admire them from afar.)